Heidelberg

Incoming orders 13 percent up on previous year Sales six percent up at 1.628 billion Euro Considerable improvement in result of operating activities at 118 million Euro Outlook for full financial year 2006/2007 confirmed HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—11/07/2006—For the first six months of financial year 2006/2007 (April 1 to September 30, 2006), Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) increased its sales and earnings over the previous year. Heidelberg Group sales in the first six months were six percent up on the comparable figure for the previous year at 1.628 billion Euro (previous year: 1.529 billion Euro). Incoming orders in the period climbed 13 percent to 1.996 billion Euro

THERE MAY have been fewer large sheetfed presses or standalone web press units on the show floor at last month’s Graph Expo and Converting Expo exhibition—especially in comparison to the PRINT show held last year—but don’t infer that this resulted in disappointing sales activity and lead generation for conventional offset press exhibitors. Quite the contrary. Even with less heavy iron dotting the landscape at Chicago’s McCormick Place South Hall, the general consensus among press manufacturers indicated it was the most productive Graph Expo event they’ve experienced since the late ’90s. Visitor traffic was brisk and serious buying activity persisted. Chalk it up to

IT MAY be telling that, with a few exceptions, the presses in operation around the show floor of Graph Expo and Converting Expo 2006 were of the digital variety. Offset units were conspicuous in their absence. Digital presses largely have become part of the commercial printing mainstream, rather than being a specialty product segment or market niche. The exhibition’s Wide Format Pavilion showed ongoing interest in that segment, but adding a wide, large, superwide or grand format digital system still is seen as a way to diversify rather than being standard equipment. Hewlett-Packard shared results from an InfoTrends study that surveyed a sampling

SINCE THE digital revolution began, developments in the front end of the printing process have been as much about big ideas as they have specific products and solutions. The latest in a string of topics that have been debated include PDF versus native files, violet versus thermal CTP and process automation via JDF. At Graph Expo and Converting Expo 2006, the discussion tended to be focused back at the product level. The parameters of the state-of-the-art in workflow, for now, have been clearly defined. They include: • PDF-based file processing in a color managed environment is a given; • computer-to-plate is also a given,

GOVERNMENT CARS came to a screeching halt in front of Geographics’ facility and FBI agents quickly swarmed the building. Two officers were at the front, two covered the back. They pounded on the doors. Was Geographics owner Norvin Hagan busted during his first week on the job? Though it seemed to be the case, Hagan was innocent. It was steamy Atlanta, 1976. Apparently the previous owner of the company had been jimmying the postage meter for a number of years, only paying for every fifth or sixth mail piece. But the G Men had gotten wise to his antics. And screwing around with USPS

THERE’S NO truth to the rumor that Washington, DC-based McArdle Printing is changing its name to Clairvoyant Press. But the sheetfed and coldset web shop does pride itself on knowing its customer’s needs better than the customer does. It takes some advanced perception to survive in the highly competitive DC-Baltimore region, but McArdle will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2007, coming on the heels of consecutive double-digit growth campaigns the past two years. The employee-owned company, headquartered in Upper Marlboro, MD, took strides to ensure future success and new growth potential with the October 2005 acquisition of a Xerox iGen3 digital press

Centenarian Printer Continues to Evolve BARBERTON, OH—Davis Printing is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The company was founded in 1906 by John R. Davis., who produced a weekly newspaper and provided printing services to the public. Today, the full-service commercial printer offers sheetfed offset and digital printing, complete bindery, mailing and fulfillment, and Web-based services. Recently, Davis Printing also acquired Merrick Graphics. Steve Merrick was named Davis Printing’s vice president of marketing and president of the new creative division, Merrick Design Group. ALABAMA MONTGOMERY—Wells Printing has installed a Sakurai 675SD sheetfed press with coater. It was purchased through dealer Independent Graphic Services.

KENNESAW, GA—10/31/2006—Heidelberg USA announces the following sample of new product installations: Whitmore Group Transitions Print Facility with Heidelberg’s Speedmaster XL 105 Boasting more than 65,000 square feet in three plants, 115 employees and a new six-color Speedmaster XL 105 from Heidelberg, Whitmore Group President George Shenk is looking forward to another record-breaking year. “We wanted to re-capitalize our plant in Baltimore,” he said. “We recently acquired both Reese Press and Schneidereith & Son. Our challenge was the need to consolidate these two companies and position the new entity for the future by improving productivity and quality.” With its new Speedmaster XL 105 with coater

Bobst Providing Bindery Direction ROSELAND, NJ—Intrigued by barbecues under the stars, a car show and rally—and yes, let’s not forget binding and finishing gear—roughly 450 people from 171 different plants made their way here for the Direction ’06 Open House sponsored by Bobst Group USA. The show, held September 21-26 at Bobst’s Demonstration and Training Center, showcased the company’s folding carton and commercial printing solutions for customers and prospects alike. A total of nine Bobst technologies were on display. On the commercial printing end, diecutters such as the SPanthera 106-LER, SPeria 106-E and the SPrintera 145-PER drew attention from visitors, along with the SPeria Foilmaster 102. Jerry

HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—10/31/2006—The Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft (Heidelberg) today decided to initiate a second share buyback program. Between November 7, 2006 and January 19, 2008 at the latest, the company intends to acquire shares amounting to up to five percent of its capital stock (up to 4,152,535 shares). The repurchased shares are earmarked for capital retirement and employee share participation programs. Additionally, they may be offered for purchase to individuals who either are or were employed in the company or an enterprise affiliated with the company. General conditions of the share buyback Shares will be repurchased exclusively through the stock exchange. The price per share (excluding