Grafikom

GARY STIFFLER considers himself a good judge of people. A 28-year printing industry veteran, Stiffler’s background includes stints with World Color and Quebecor World. During that time, he also became a shrewd arbiter of talent, appreciating the timber of employees that can enable a company to endure the peaks and valleys of business over the long haul.

RR Donnelley is consolidating the assets of its Minnesota plants in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen under one roof in order to reduce cycle times and minimize handoffs between facilities. The workflow will be re-engineered in a newly configured footprint at Chanhassen, allowing the printer to better meet customers’ transactional marketing communications needs in major metropolitan areas.

Hi, I’m Erik Cagle, senior editor at Printing Impressions magazine. Some of you may recognize my name from bylines in the magazine, while I’ve had the good fortune to meet many of you at places like Graph Expo in Chicago. The powers-that-be at PI have graciously allowed me to pen a blog here on PIWorld.com, which is an honor I truly appreciate.

CHICAGO—RR Donnelley is consolidating the assets of its Minnesota plants in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen under one roof in order to reduce cycle times and minimize handoffs between facilities. The workflow will be re-engineered in the newly configured footprint at Chanhassen, allowing the printer to better meet customers' transactional marketing communications needs in major metropolitan areas. The Chanhassen facility is expected to be fully integrated and operational early next year.

Grafikom, the sheetfed, digital and specialty printing company that spun off from Quebecor World in November of 2005, has ceased operations and is in receivership, according to the Edmonton Journal. The move leaves more than 500 employees in eight facilities out of work.

TORONTO—Grafikom, the sheetfed, digital and specialty printing company that spun off from Quebecor World in November of 2005, has ceased operations and is in receivership, according to the Edmonton Journal. The move leaves more than 500 employees in eight facilities out of work.

Ginsberg Joins Graphic Press LOS ANGELES—Graphic Press has restructured its executive group, naming Randolph Ginsberg its president and Michael Hecht to the post of executive vice president, sales. Ginsberg formerly served as vice president of sales at Hawthorne, CA-based Lithographix. Hecht also spent time at Lithographix as executive vice president of sales. Xerox to Obtain XMPie STAMFORD, CT—With an eye towards growth in personalized printing and multimedia direct marketing, Xerox Corp. has agreed to acquire XMPie for $54 million. New York-based XMPie specializes in variable information software. XMPie will maintain its brand name and function as a standalone software unit. Innovator Gegenheimer Passes SHELTON, CT—Harold Gegenheimer, 95, chairman

TORONTO—Grafikom LLP, a spinoff of Quebecor World with eight facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico, has acquired commercial and package printer Grenville Printing, based here.Grenville has provided sheetfed printing products for many Fortune 500 companies and has developed a niche in the music and consumer goods packaging industries. It also provides new media,…

Grafikom Acquires Speedfast TORONTO—Grafikom LP, a network of companies formerly under the Quebecor World umbrella, has swung its first independent deal since being established last November with the acquisition of Speedfast Color Press. Privately held Speedfast Color Press, a general commercial printer and mailer, has two facilities in Edmonton, Alberta. The deal enhances Grafikom’s holdings in Edmonton, which includes grafikom.Jasper. Mike Steiner, formerly the owner and operator of Speedfast Color Press, will serve as president for the Edmonton operations. Vertis Obtains USA Direct BALTIMORE—Vertis has struck a deal to bring USA Direct, of York, PA, into the fold. USA Direct provides design, printing, personalization and inserting

Just when you thought 2005 was going to be a relative dud in the merger and acquisition realm, along came fall. And that's when the action got hot and heavy. Four monster transactions sent 2005 out with a bang. OK, so we can't count December—after all, we're not clairvoyant. But the deals vibrated through the industry, a couple of which involved the two largest printers in North America. Hey, the late 1990s don't appear to be returning any time soon, but that doesn't mean we won't experience an M&A renaissance. * RR Donnelley broke its prolonged silence by annexing Spencer Press of Wells, ME.