Heidelberg

HUNTINGTON, WV—Chapman Printing has been taken to court by one of its employees who was injured when his hand became stuck in a press. Michael Brown filed suit in Kanawha Circuit Court, according to the legal journal The West Virginia Record. The suit says that while Brown was effecting repairs on a Heidelberg Speedmaster, his supervisor started the press. Brown’s hand was caught in the rollers and crushed, according to the suit. Brown says he has suffered severe disfigurement and physical injuries from the March 2006 incident, which caused serious emotional distress, the Record reported. The suit claims Chapman Printing caused an unsafe working

WASHINGTON, DC—April 2, 2008—The Print Council, a national business development initiative created to help promote greater use of printing and print media, announced that Mohawk Fine Papers Inc. the largest premium paper manufacturer in North America, has joined the organization. As a new member, Mohawk Fine Papers will work in concert with other member companies of The Print Council to help develop, maintain and expand the market for printed materials. Richard Schielke, National Business Development Manager of Mohawk Fine Papers, notes the importance of The Print Council’s mission for the industry’s future: “Commercial printing today must effectively compete more vigorously than ever against

New Perfector Pumps Up Production at Ultra Imaging BILLINGS, MT—Ultra Imaging, an AlphaGraphics franchise, reports a monthly average increase in print volume of 30 percent since recently installing its four-color Heidelberg Printmaster PM 74 perfector. The new press, which replaced an older two-color model, is being used to print general commercial products, including books, advertising and marketing materials for local clientele, as well as high-end reports for nonprofit organizations. Large-Format UV Press of Choice For Superior LOS ANGELES—Superior Lithographics, a supplier of high-quality litho labels, top sheets and folding cartons, has installed a new six-color, 64˝ KBA Rapida 162a sheetfed press with

HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—The big, heavy curtain has finally been lifted. With much anticipation surrounding the Drupa 2008 launch of its new 56˝ Speedmaster XL 145 and 64˝ Speedmaster XL 162 large-format sheetfed presses, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen CEO Bernhard Schreier welcomed the international trade press to the Wiesloch-Walldorf manufacturing facility in early March to officially unveil both models, as well as the new Hall 11 where they are being assembled. Geared toward the packaging and industrial printing segments, the 15,000 sph, “peak performance” presses will headline Heidelberg’s presentation based around “HEI Performance” and “HEI Value” slogans within its two exhibition halls at Drupa. Corresponding large-format Suprasetter

SEWICKLY, PA—March 27, 2008—Immediately following this year’s Offset and Beyond Conference, the PIA/GATF Digital Printing (DPC) and E-Business (EBC) Councils will host a special half-day long event featuring five engaging sessions on a variety of digital and Internet-enabled printing topics. Printing executives are invited to attend this open, interactive forum for the digital printing community to learn about the latest trends and innovations in VDP, 1:1 marketing, Web-to-print, and digital sales strategies. The Go Beyond with Digital event will take place on Tuesday, April 29 from 10 am to 3 pm at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, Schaumburg, IL. The event

PARAMUS, NJ—March 25, 2008—NAPL, the not-for-profit management association for business excellence in the printing and graphic communications industry (www.napl.org), has just released SOI (State of the Industry): 2008 Strategic Perspective. The report serves as a strategic planning tool that defines the challenges and opportunities facing today’s printing industry executives and offers actionable guidance on charting a path for sustainable success and profitability. NAPL SOI: 2008 Strategic Perspective is the latest report in the State of the Industry Series, now widely regarded as the definitive analysis of current and future industry trends. “The economy, protecting profit margins and rising costs are the overriding concerns

IN ARIZONA, only one commercial sheetfed printer has a reputation for being “traditionally innovative,” and that’s Phoenix-based O’Neil Printing. Claiming that this business philosophy has made all the difference for the company’s success in the last century, the staff at O’Neil has never lost touch with the basic foundation that William “Bucky” O’Neil set into motion in 1908—going above and beyond for his customers and employees, and keeping an ongoing commitment to the innovative use of technology. “When William O’Neil decided to open O’Neil Letter Shop in 1908, there wasn’t much in terms of business in Phoenix at that time,” notes Tony Narducci, president

HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—03/10/2008—At drupa 2008 from May 29 to June 11 (Halls 1 and 2), Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be rounding off the upper end of its portfolio for packaging and commercial printers by moving into the 102 x 142 centimeter (40.16 x 55.91 inch) and 120 x 162 centimeter (47.24 x 63.78 inch) format classes. The new platform for the Speedmaster models XL 145 and XL 162 will be put on public show for the first time at the industry event in Düsseldorf. The Heidelberg trade show presentation is based around the slogan “HEI Performance” and “HEI Value”. Visitors to drupa

Donnelley Lobbies Washington CHICAGO—RR Donnelley plunked down $485,044 during 2007 to lobby the federal government on environmental policy issues, according to an Associated Press report. The information was posted online by the U.S. Senate’s public records office. Under federal law, lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches. Tech Valley Closes Its Doors WATERVLIET, NY—Citing economic difficulties, Tech Valley Printing notified the New York State Department of Labor that it was laying off 50 workers, then closed its doors on February 8. According to the Schenectdady (NY) Daily Gazette, the printer had been active in the

Prepress Upgrades Enhance Workflow DETROIT—First came the press, then came the upgrade to new prepress and platesetting technology. Crystal Clear Images runs a Heidelberg GTO press and wanted to update its workflow. Crystal and Anthony Mitchell, the husband and wife owners of the unionized shop, chose Heidelberg’s Prinect Printready prepress system and Suprasetter A52 platesetter. “When people heard that we were installing Heidelberg (prepress equipment), the amount of business influx was incredible,” reports Crystal Mitchell, who began her career as a school teacher in graphic design, before starting her own business from the basement of her house in 1995. The company, which has