Graphic Arts

This is an open letter to Robert E. Murphy, the veteran leader at Japs-Olson and the chairman of the selection committee charged with finding the next man or woman who will become CEO of the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, one of the commercial printing industry's largest and most powerful associations. Dear Sir, It has come to my attention that the PIA/GATF has received in excess of 350 resumes both from people within and outside the industry vying for the chance to become the virtual czar of the commercial printing industry. While I am certain that there are many qualified applicants already

SEWICKLEY, PA—Class is in session, and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) is welcoming a new pupil. No one will pick on the newbie, despite his large size. That's because this "he" is a four-unit Rotoman web offset press from MAN Roland. The GATF was slated to install the new press in April and May, with an eye toward it going live by early summer. The press was scheduled to ship in March from MAN Roland's Augsburg, Germany, production center. Best of all, the press comes compliments of the press manufacturer. "MAN Roland's donation of this highly automated system, and all the technical support and training that goes

BY CAROLINE MILLER Building an ongoing training program, even in the best of times, tends to be at the bottom of a printer's to-do list. But, when businesses are faced with economic downturns, it often slides right off that list. However, ignoring employee development can be detrimental in the long run, stresses Greg Morrison, regional training manager for Cadmus Communications. "Several years ago, we came to the realization that we wouldn't be successful in the long term without investing in our people. Our employees are our most critical resource," he reports. So Cadmus designed a dynamic training program to address its workers' needs, according

Douglas Clott has been named executive vice president of sales and marketing for EMCO Printers, Everett, MA. Clott's experience in color printing spans nearly 30 years. The Great Lakes Companies, Cleveland, has announced two additions to its staff. Jason Schultz and Mike Miller have joined the company as account executives. Ellie Handford has joined Panel Prints, Old Forge, PA, as a sales representative. She brings with her a strong commercial printing sales background. Judy Eberwein and Kurt Sands have been hired by Niles, IL-based Graphic Converting as account executives. Eberwein has been in display sales for eight years. Previously, she spent 15 years on the creative side

BY MARK MICHELSON With its emphasis on attracting graphic arts professionals from both North and Latin America, the 27th annual Graphics of the Americas (GOA) exhibition, held in early February at the Miami Beach Convention Center, bucked current industry trends of weak buying activity and light trade show traffic. All told, 22,101 people attended the event, which featured over 500 exhibitors representing approximately 1,500 different companies and occupying nearly 1,400 booths. The Printing Association of Florida (PAF), the exhibition organizer, points to several key factors to explain the strong showing in light of recent economic turmoil. "As the first major printing, converting and graphic arts show

CALIFORNIA GARDENA—L.A. Press is up-and-running with a new six-color, 40˝ Mitsubishi Model 3F-13 sheetfed press. IRVINE—Orange County Printing has installed a six-color, 40˝ Komori Lithrone press outfitted with a Tri-Service ColorCommand temperature control/cooling system. VAN NUYS—The installation of the Sentinel ink management system from Accel Graphic Systems is complete at Great Western Litho. The ink management system is now equipped on a Komori Lithrone 640 press purchased at PRINT 01. CONNECTICUT MERIDEN—Three former shareholders of Vision Graphics have joined commercial printer Miller-Johnson Inc. They are Tom Mitchell, Andrew Mitchell and Erik Mitchell. The transaction was initiated on Miller-Johnson's behalf by Rampart Associates LLC.

The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation's Society of Fellows has inducted Lisle T. Caldwell, Gerald A. Henseler, Lawrence M. Miller and Murray I. Suthons. The GATF society honors industry leaders who have made outstanding contributions to the progress of GATF, PIA and PGSF. Caldwell served as GATF pressroom manager during the foundation's move from Chicago to Pittsburgh in 1965. He also developed the GATF sheetfed operating workshop in 1969 and designed the first GATF test form. Henseler is presently executive vice president and CFO with Banta Corp. He has served as GATF secretary, treasurer, vice-chair and chairman. Miller is currently corporate vice president for sales

Susan Roberts has been hired as a sales representative for Padgett Press, Dallas. She covers the San Antonio and Houston areas. She joins the company from Quebecor World Printing. Karl Saionz has been appointed plant manager at Chicago-based Falcon Communications, a member of the Segerdahl Group. Prior to joining the company, he was the manufacturing manager at Booklet Binding. Rich de Senglau now heads K/P Corp.'s Northern California mailing and fulfillment division. A K/P employee since 1981, de Senglau is a veteran of the mailing industry. In other company news, Orlando Boleda will oversee K/P's Washington division, which includes printing, mailing and fulfillment operations. Boleda

Xeikon to Sell Assets, Liquidate MORTSEL, BELGIUM—Xeikon's board of directors, along with officers appointed by the Antwerp Court of Commerce, have determined that the company cannot obtain new capital within its creditor protection timeframe. Thus, the company is now considering sale offers for its assets and activities. Upon completion of the sale, the digital color and black-and-white printing systems manufacturer will be put into liquidation, with proceeds from the sale applied toward outstanding debt. Xeikon, which applied for creditor protection last November, was also informed by the Nasdaq that it will delist the company's securities from its system. Danner Press May Close Doors CANTON, OH—Danner Press, one

Gämmerler Corp. announced record orders for the second quarter of fiscal year 2001, reporting a 34 percent increase in orders over the same period the previous year. The high order volume was attributed to a number of new orders placed at PRINT 01, including sales to R.R. Donnelley & Sons for four of its plants, as well as to Shuttle Printing and Suttle-Straus. CM Acquisitions, a Chicago-based private equity firm, has agreed to acquire American Roller of Bannockburn, IL. The sale was effective as of December 28. Other terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) is acquiring the business assets of