Heidelberg

Allegra Names Heidelberg USA ‘Supplier of the Year’ Winner NORTHVILLE, MI—Allegra Network honored Heidelberg USA with the Supplier of the Year award at its 2008 Allegra Network convention. Allegra Network franchise members vote to choose the winner. In April 2007, Heidelberg served as host for Allegra Network’s annual summit trip to Heidelberg, Germany. More than 160 of Allegra Network’s top franchise members participated in the event. The Allegra Network consists of Allegra Print & Imaging, American Speedy Printing Centers, Insty-Prints and Signs Now. Multi-City Road Show Deemed a Success MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Buhrs Americas and Lake Image Systems teamed up and headed for the road

Shareholders OK Vertis Plan BALTIMORE—Vertis shareholders approved the company’s prepackaged plan of organization. Once the plan becomes effective, Vertis can proceed with its merger with American Color Graphics (ACG). The restructuring will allow Vertis to reduce debt and interest cost, refocus investments and complete both the reorganization and merger in a couple of months, according to Mike DuBose, chairman and CEO of Vertis. Direct Group Makes Investment SWEDESBORO, NJ—Direct marketing specialist Direct Group has purchased 32 Océ VarioStream 8750 systems to upgrade capacity; increase uptime, speed and operational efficiencies; and take advantage of some of the industry’s latest digital technology, including flexible color

IN ORDER to remain competitive and profitable, graphic communications providers must travel beyond just putting ink on paper—expanding their services to variable data, the Web and cross-media. The first annual PIA/GATF “Converge: Variable Data, Web Services and Cross-Media Conference” will be held September 20-23 in Phoenix. Three tracks containing fundamental, advanced, and sales and marketing sessions, make this conference suitable for companies just beginning to redefine their digital services, as well as veteran practitioners. This special section has been designed to highlight some of the key conference topics and speakers. The Converge Conference is a combination of PIA/GATF’s Workflow and Variable Data and

HEILDELBERG, GERMANY—07/31/08—In the course of the re-alignment of the Management Board responsibilities, the Postpress division of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg), supervised by Chief Technology Officer Stephan Plenz, will be newly arranged. In the future, Thomas Krischke (46) will be responsible for Postpress Commercial with the Ludwigsburg, Leipzig, Padua and Sidney sites. The managerial responsibilities of the different sites stay unchanged. Dr. Friedrich Denkhaus (52) has requested to release him from his duties as Head of the Postpress division. Dr. Denkhaus will leave the company by mutual agreement. Dr. Denkhaus has been responsible for several executive functions at Heidelberg since 1991, from 1999

MANNHEIM, GERMANY—With its stock price dropping more than 35 percent in the past two months, Heidelberg CEO Bernhard Schreier told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting that he expects the company may become a takeover target. Schreier also said that antitrust laws would prevent direct competitors from buying the company.

PITTSBURGH—July 23, 2008—Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) is pleased to present detailed information on the 2008 PIA/GATF InterTech™ Technology Award recipients. Twenty-eight nominations were submitted from twenty-one domestic and international companies, and ten innovative technologies were selected to receive the award. The independent panel of InterTech judges deliberated over a unique cross-section of technologies-from consumables to MIS systems to large-format printing. Innovative advancements in technology were demonstrated in the form of digital press design, prepress content and color control, flexographic printing material, and value-added print processes. Process efficiency was a prevalent characteristic among many entries; submissions contained solutions to automate

MISSION VIEJO, CA—July 22, 2008—Franchise Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that more than 200 franchise owners and salespeople from around the world received awards at the annual Sir Speedy and PIP International Convention and Vendor Show at the Westin Diplomat in Fort Lauderdale, FL, July 9-12. Don and Bernadette Sanders of Amarillo, TX, received the Sir Speedy “Franchisee of the Year” award and Frank and Clarice Petrellis of Kissimmee, FL, received the PIP “Franchisee of the Year” award. Jim Corliss, Jerry Hogan and Jose Tafur of Braintree, MA, received the Sir Speedy “Top Volume” award and the Fulner Family of Indianapolis and

GHENT BELGIUM—July 21, 2008—Access to the comprehensive, best practice workflow specifications and resources are now easier than ever for printers, prepress professionals and designers as The Ghent Workgroup (GWG) unveils its newly streamlined, fast website, www.gwg.org. In addition the GWG, the international cross-section of PDF and print experts known for creating, testing, and releasing specifications and best practices that have been proven to make it easier for users to ensure PDF document quality across workflows around the world; announces newly elected officers to its executive committee. The www.gwg.org Website The latest version of the website has been completely revamped to address the expanding population

FRANKLIN, WI—Proteus Packaging is the first U.S. company to obtain Heidelberg’s new Speedmaster XL 145 large-format press, which debuted at Drupa. The 56˝, six-color machine will be equipped with in-line aqueous coating. It will also be the first Heidelberg VLF press installed in North America.

PITTSBURGH—The PIA/GATF has released the names of the winning technologies for its 2008 InterTech Technology Awards. The winners, along with their technologies, are: Alwan Dynamic DeviceLinks from Alwan Color Expertise; EskoArtwork Neo from EskoArtwork; POLAR P.A.C.E. cutting systems from Heidelberg USA; Prinect Inpress Control from Heidelberg USA; HIFLEX MIS with eBusiness, Webshop and Print Support…