Goss International

Pressing Ahead By Mark Michelson Editor-in-Chief It's no secret that the stagnant U.S. economy has wrecked havoc on graphic arts industry suppliers the past three years. And, with many printers hesitant to make major capital equipment expenditures, sheetfed, and especially web, offset press manufacturers may have suffered the most of any industry segment. But—partly based on exhibitor reports from the recently completed GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO exhibition—interest in upgrading pressrooms and in the computer-integrated manufacturing concept (CIM) seem to be building. New press sales levels are still a far cry from the go-go '90s, but press suppliers at the show generally reported

Xerox Corp. has received the 2003 IEEE Corporate Innovation Recognition award for its work that created the DocuTech product line. The IEEE recognized Xerox "for its DocuTech product line, which unified digital electronics, computing and communications with xerography to create the print-on-demand industry," says Michael Adler, IEEE president. X-Rite Inc. has acquired the assets of Monaco Systems, a Massachusetts-based company that develops and distributes color management software to the graphic arts and photo markets. This $10.6 million asset purchase, funded by a combination of cash and stock, (some of which is subject to certain vesting requirements), includes the entire Monaco line of color management

PITTSBURGH—The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) has announced the 13 recipients of the 2003 GATF InterTech Technology Awards. "This year's awards showcase the industry's growing attention to flexographic printing, ink-jet and soft proofing on a contract basis, and digital in-line finishing," says GATF Research Director John Lind. He also observed that automation combined with productivity and ROI continues to be a strong trend among the InterTech nominations. GATF has sponsored the InterTech Technology Awards as a service to the graphic communications industry since 1978. The 2003 award recipients are: Plate Cell Patterning, part of Artwork Systems' Nexus product family, is a software

by chris bauer Read all about it: The latest generation of newspaper presses are more than black-and-white machines churning out The Daily Rag. Color is here to stay—and newspaper press manufacturers are providing a column's worth of features and automated functions to advance newspaper printing beyond its traditional role. "Ever increasing color expansion is an ongoing trend in the American and global newspaper market," says David Stamp, global director of marketing for Goss International. "This drives four-high tower addition projects to existing installed presses—a very topical subject in the United States in 2003." Stamp sees many of his customers investing in press enhancements to

German Trainer Comes to Jersey WESTAMPTON, NJ—Dietmar Block, technical advisor from the Wohlenberg paper cutter factory in Germany, recently held a five-day, in-depth training course here at the headquarters of MBO America to help keep the company's technicians up-to-date on the latest paper cutting techniques. Komori America has consolidated the Komori HRB and Komori Midwest sales territories. Mike VanCalbergh, vice president of sales, Midwest region, now manages the new territory, which covers Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and western Pennsylvania. Dr. Horst Steppat is now responsible for R&D and service at basysPrint in Germany. In his

New Press Heats Up Southwestern Printer PHOENIX—Cereus Graphics has installed a new Komori Lithrone S40 sheetfed offset press. Cereus reportedly is the second printing company in the nation to begin operating the newly designed, 40˝ press after its Graph Expo introduction last fall. Alabama ADAMSVILLE—Precision Graphics has installed a five-color Komori Lithrone 40. arizona PHOENIX—A two-color, 17x22˝ Sakurai 258EPII perfector has been installed by the Arizona Department of Transportation. arkansas LITTLE ROCK—Magna IV has purchased two Model 3F sheetfed presses from Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses. The new 40˝ presses—a six-color with coater and extended delivery and a two-color—joined an existing six-color Model 3F.

MBO America Hosts "Octoberfest" WESTAMPTON, NJ—More than 150 existing clients and prospects, representing both commercial printers and trade binderies, attended MBO America's open house, which was held over three days recently at its headquarters facility here. With more than a dozen pieces of equipment specially set up for the open house, highlights included a B26-S/644 Perfection buckle folder equipped with an ASP-66ME mobile stream delivery unit, a Navigator control system with touchscreen interface and networked to MBO's Data Manager digital integration software. Also, the highest interest was over a B30-S/4 Perfection folder with a preslitter shaft unit, configured with a Herzog &

CPS Corp., a sister company of INX International, has been recognized for its environmental record and has been accepted into the National Environmental Performance Program, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Muller Martini has launched a new digital on-demand finishing division. Andrew J. Fetherman was named manager of the new division. Fetherman was formerly product manager for Muller Martini's press division. That post is now held by Donald Geiger. Kim Graven-Nielsen has been named president and CEO of newly formed Esko-Graphics. The company was created after the merger of Purup-Eskofot and Barco Graphics. Presstek Inc. announced the qualification of its Anthem thermal CTP

BY CAROLINE MILLER Faced with dropping readership, falling advertising revenues and more media outlets, newspaper publishers are looking now more than ever to their in-house production facilities to help them meet the challenges of a volatile business environment. Increasingly, newspapers with printing capabilities are interested in the ability to bring in commercial work to help boost their profits, contends Craig Simon, director of web sales administration for MAN Roland. MAN Roland manufactures the four-page Cromoman, the Uniset, the Geoman and its flagship, 16-page newspaper web press—the Colorman—which was shown at IPEX in a 24-page version. Its top speed ranges to 86,000 copies per hour.

Sun Chemical has named Wes Lucas CEO. He will continue in his role of president. Lucas succeeds Henri Dyner, who has stepped down after more than 28 years with Sun Chemical. Dyner will continue with the company on a part-time basis in an advisory role. CRC Information Systems has announced a new pricing system that will reduce the initial investment in CRC's management software, called The System. Under the new program, companies can acquire The System with no upfront license fee. The customer simply pays for training and software support. IST America has named Karl L. Schmucker web sales representative, responsible for end user applications. Before