Graphic Arts

SEWICKLEY, PA—July 17, 2008—The Binding Industries Association (BIA), the world’s largest association for trade binderies, loose-leaf manufacturers, and suppliers to those industries, announced the top winners of the 2008 BIA Product of Excellence Awards. The BIA and its members have taken the graphic arts industry back by force this year, and their award competition was no different. Judges had the honor of evaluating the most entries in almost a decade and had to be painstakingly critical in their evaluations. Companies submitted some of their best work for a chance to win the coveted “Product of Excellence”. Having this distinction tells your customers that you

PITTSBURGH—July 17, 2008—Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 InterTech Technology Awards. For over thirty years, recipients of this prestigious award have not only had a major impact on the graphic communications industry, but they also consistently prove to be successful in the commercial marketplace. The independent panel of judges deliberated over technology submissions ranging from consumables to MIS systems to large-format presses. A recurring theme with 2008 InterTech nominations was process efficiency; submissions contained solutions to automate production steps, provide in-line process control, and manage production. Great strides in technology were also

BIRMINGHAM, UK—July 2, 2008—Following the official launch of Ipex 2010 at the highly successful Stars in Print reception at Drupa 2008, which was attended by over 90 of the industry’s senior management, the Ipex 2010 organizers are thrilled to announce that they have sold out its pre-media and digital solutions halls 9, 10, 11 and 12. Major exhibitors in these halls include HP, Kodak, Ricoh, Agfa Graphics, Epson, Canon, Screen, Xeikon, Konica Minolta, Canon, Fuji and many others, some of which have significantly increased the size of their stands. In particular, Konica Minolta has increased its footprint by 400%; Canon by 91%, Fuji by

JERUSALEM—June 30, 2008—Leading lenticular 3D software developer, HumanEyes Technologies, has declared drupa a resounding success with a record number of leads and sales taken during the show. HumanEyes Technologies partnered with industry heavy-weights Fujifilm Graphics, Océ, HP, KBA-Metronic, Gandinnovations and Presstek Europe to offer live lenticular printing and to promote HumanEyes’ latest lenticular workflow solution, Producer3D, demonstrating first-hand the versatility and additional revenue streams the technology can offer. Ronen Sobel, VP, Graphic Arts Sales, HumanEyes Technologies said: “The reaction towards our new product Producer3D at drupa was phenomenal. Interest in HumanEyes’ range of products in particular has shown there is a definitive trend

PITTSBURGH—June 25, 2008—PIA/GATF sadly reports that its long-time editor, Tom Destree, passed away suddenly on Monday at his home in Castle Shannon, PA. Tom Destree, 53 years old, was one of PIA/GATF’s most valued veterans and one who touched many through his skilled editing and writing. In fact, it is believed he may have touched every printed document issued by the organization. Destree was with PIA/GATF for 30 years, initially with the original GATF group, and most recently held the position of Editor in Chief. He worked tirelessly through the years, the primary behind-the-scenes editorial support for the more than 12,000 member companies comprising

SOME THINGS never change. Which can be both a blessing and a curse. This is especially true when you consider that necessity is the mother of invention: The need to resolve problems is often the best catalyst for change. However, the transformation process can sometimes take a very long time, be filled with trials and tribulations, and, in the end, yield bittersweet results. Such is the case in the printing industry, where some issues seemingly have been around as long as Gutenberg’s press. As long as printing involves ink and paper, consumables will always be an ongoing issue. As long as printing involves a

Add Pennsylvania to the list of states hit by “Do-Not-Mail” legislation. A bill to “prohibit unsolicited mail” was introduced in early May in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. HB 2551 was introduced by Rep. Nicholas Micozzie (R-Delaware County) along with 44 co-sponsors. The bill text was not available at press time, as the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was in recess. Pennsylvania is the 12th state this year to see such legislation introduced; in no state has a bill actually advanced to a floor vote. PIA/GATF and its local Graphic Arts Association (GAA) affiliate, which serves the Delaware Valley region, will continue to monitor

PHILADELPHIA—Green has quickly become the earth-friendly color of choice for buyers of printing and, hence, their print suppliers. Subsequently, the emphasis on environmental sustainability provided a timely “Greener Than We Think” theme for the 37th annual Neographics Power of Print awards exhibition, ceremony and dinner held here May 1. Hosted by the Graphic Arts Association (GAA), 400 attendees crowded the Crystal Tea Room in the Wanamaker Building to pay tribute to all of the Franklin Award, Best of Category and Power of Print winners, as well as the 2008 individual honorees. Chosen from nearly 400 entries, Pomco Graphic Arts, Philadelphia, took home the 2008

FIFTY YEARS would constitute a long career, but it’s just a flash of time for an industry that traces its roots at least back to the introduction of the Gutenberg press, circa the early 1400s. While each generation probably thinks it has seen more changes than any other, this has been a dizzying half century for the printing process. Letterpress has given way to offset and now digital printing. Composition has gone from hot metal and manual paste-up through phototypesetting, color scanning, color electronic prepress systems and desktop publishing, then on to computer-to-plate and Web-to-print. Bindery equipment now boosts more computer power than Apollo

THE YEAR was 1958. A 14-year-old named Bobby Fischer wins the U.S. Chess Championship. Willie O’Ree is the first African-American to play in the National Hockey League. The U.S. Air Force loses a hydrogen bomb off the coast of Savannah, GA, and it’s never found. Poet Ezra Pound is ordered to be released from an insane asylum, and “that book by Nabokov” (“Lolita”) is published in the United States. And, in Philadelphia, a 34-year-old man named Irvin Borowsky published the first issue of Printing Impressions. The industry, this magazine—indeed, our nation and world—have undergone dramatic transformations over the last 50 years. Our publication, just