Graphic Arts

By Erik Cagle Senior Editor In America's heartland, where people traditionally possess conservative values, a solid work ethic is everything in business, particularly in the manufacturing sector. This is especially true at Kingery Printing, the pride of Effingham, IL, where ethics, strong values and pride in craftsmanship reign supreme. "I was talking to another printer who's located in Chicago one time," begins John Kingery, president and founder of the southern Illinois-based sheetfed and web printing company. "I was complaining that about three out of four people hired turn out to be good employees. His response was, 'You're lucky; here in Chicago, there's only one

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor The front end of the printing process, or what happens "pre" the press, used to be a fairly contained, well-defined set of steps. Then the digital age dawned and, ever since, the changes have kept on coming. Another whole step, premedia, has even been added to the process. At Drupa 2004, computer-to-plate (CTP) production, digital proofing (remote and hardcopy), screening alternatives and, of course, the all-encompassing workflow and CIM concepts were the primary areas of focus in new product development. JDF support was pervasive, but came across more like a background buzz than a force destined to reshape

Canadian Printer Goes High-Tech EDMONTON, ALBERTA—McCallum Printing Group has launched a technologically advanced printing plant to satisfy its customers' needs. The company was developed from the ground up utilizing Heidelberg's most advanced tools. These include a Prinect workflow, a Heidelberg Topsetter P 102 with Satin screening, two Speedmaster 102-6+LX presses, a Stitchmaster ST100 stitcher and Polar 137ED cutting system. Hi-Liter Graphics, located in Burlington, WI, has promoted Angela Damon to vice president of finance and Lynn Breunig to information systems manager. Digital printer Top Graphics has announced the addition of four new shareholders and named Steve Kodner as company president. Tony Hennrich, Michael Hayes and Michael

By Kristen E. Monte This past January, the Web Offset Association (WOA) concluded its search for a new executive director by naming Mary Garnett to the position. Garnett, who filled the open position created with the retirement of Tom Basore, took over on February 16. Garnett previously served as a vice president with Printing Industries of America (PIA) and, in addition to her duties as the new WOA executive director, she is also serving as GATF/PIA's senior staff member responsible for Special Interest Groups and Sections. In 1994, Garnett joined PIA as a director of education and moved up to vice president of education. She holds

Valentine's Day just passed. I'm a hopeless romantic and I went a little nuts with gifts for all the women in my life; one wife, three daughters and four granddaughters. Some people have said that I'm a "man's man." But, I'm confessin' that as I grow older, I'm getting more and more in touch with what some experts refer to as my "feminine side." It's got something to do with men's testosterone leaking out or evaporating or something. Whew! I'm glad to get that little tidbit off my chest. I have to be careful with the rest of this so as not to be

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor The media road tour leading up to Drupa 04 recently made stops in Brussels, Belgium, and Athens, Greece. Judging by the vendor previews offered so far, people making the trek to Düsseldorf for the international trade fair should expect to see incremental advances, not revolutionary changes, in the products shown. The outlook for the global economy—and printing industry—leading up to this year's event is vastly different from the heady days that preceded Drupa 2000, says Albert Follens, general manager, Graphic Systems, at Agfa-Gevaert N.V. The keys to success are increasing manufacturing efficiency and streamlining how business is transacted between

ASHINGTON, DC—A five-year agreement has been reached between the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) and the International Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4) to develop JDF-enabled application testing, product testing and certification programs. Under terms of the deal, GATF will cooperate with CIP4's interoperability and other working groups to develop certification testing methods for different classes of printing and prepress software, systems and equipment. "To specify exactly what individual classes of devices need to do with JDF, CIP4 members are developing Interoperability Conformance Specifications (ICS) that will provide the standard for individual classes of devices," notes James Harvey, CIP4 executive

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA—Atlanta Web Printers has opened its second facility, located in Tucker, GA. Along with the physical expansion of its facilities, the publication printer has also restructured the management team. Jerry Williamson, CEO of Williamson Printing, Dallas, has been named the Graphic Arts Leaders of the Americas (GALA) North American award recipient for 2004 by the Printing Association of Florida. He received his award before hundreds of industry leaders and guests at the 21st annual GALA awards banquet during Graphics of the America 2004 in Miami Beach. F.E. Treis, Arandell Corp. chairman, was recently honored for 60 years of leadership at the

Exhibitors Promise a Super Drupa DUSSELDORF, GERMANY—As an international group of journalists gathered at the fairgrounds for a preview, the countdown to Drupa 2004 clicked past the 100 days threshold. Scheduled once every four years, the 13th installment of this world market for print media, publishing and converting is slated to run May 6-19, 2004. Playing off the Olympic motto ("faster, higher, farther"), the slogan for Drupa 2004 could be "prettier, faster, more reliable," suggests Albrecht Bolza-Schünemann, president of the event and CEO of Koenig & Bauer AG. "Print products are becoming prettier. Print services will have to be delivered ever faster in

By Erik Cagle Senior Editor Equipment in the bindery, as it is in many other manufacturing sectors in our country and around the world, can be extremely unforgiving. An error or a relaxed attitude toward the handling of certain finishing equipment can easily separate you from yours in a hurry. Fingers, heads and lives were parted with in the commercial printing industry during 2003, according to Gary Jones, manager of environmental health and safety at the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF). While rare, these accidents are attention getters: * One young operator lost three fingers while adjusting knives on a three-knife trimmer unit on a saddle