Heidelberg

User groups are far more likely to be a source for news than the subject of it. That wasn’t the case in 2005, and continuing into this year, largely due to the ripple effect of recent consolidation within the industry vendor community. Advances in technology are also contributing to the transformation of user groups. Much of this activity has been on the digital printing side of the industry, so user groups for products in that segment will be addressed here. An expanded version of this story—including updates on a broader spectrum of industry groups—will be published on www.piworld.com. When Hewlett-Packard announced last

Company Enters Diecutting Business SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA—Established in 1997, Crown Finishing has operated as a low-profile trade shop serving the special needs of the folding carton industry. Until recently Crown's business had exclusively consisted of UV coating, but last fall the company expanded into diecutting with the purchase of its first diecutter, a Bobst SPeria 106 E. "We saw the opportunity to grow," explains president and CEO Armando Garcia. "As a trade shop we're driven by our customers' needs and the addition of die-cutting and scoring has proven to be very profitable." The Bobst SPeria 106 E was selected by Crown Finishing based

Wife's Disappearance Ends in Strange Twist No one would want to go through what Andre Khaleel, owner of Quick Set Printing in North Miami, FL, has experienced. His wife, Olga, had been missing since January 10—the afternoon she dropped their two young children off at her mother-in-law's house before driving to a bank in North Miami Beach to make a $2,400 cash deposit for their business. Olga's last known contact that day was a brief conversation with her secretary back at the shop to say that she had just arrived at the bank and would call her right back. The 32-year-old woman never made

california COSTA MESA—ColorGraphics has moved into a new 40,000-square-foot facility, doubling the size of the plant previously located in nearby Tustin. It has also added an eight-color Mitsubishi press. OXNARD—Custom Printing has installed a four-color Mitsubishi Diamond 3000S with aqueous tower coater, an eight-up thermal computer-to-plate (CTP) device and a PDF-based workflow management system at its new 30,000-square-foot facility. It has also donated 52 cases of premium paper to its new neighbor, Rose Avenue School. colorado GRAND JUNCTION—Colorado Printing recently added a 10-color Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 perfector to increase capacity. Founded in 1947, Colorado Printing boasts approximately $15 million in sales and houses

If you needed additional affirmation concerning the importance of digital printing for the industry, the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) has proclaimed 2006 as “The Year of Digital Print.” The association is planning a full year of activities, events, publications and educational efforts to encourage printers to explore digital printing, expand their current levels of involvement, or embrace the full potential of digital printing for their companies. For firms that have already begun the trek down the digital path, the need to finish this digitally produced work has become even more important than in the past. According to “The Market for Print Finishing Technologies,”

Open House Offers Look at New Gear ROLLING MEADOWS, IL—Spartanics held its fourth annual open house in suburban Chicago recently, featuring the North American debut of the new Spartanics Klemm laser cut diecutting system. Two participatory forums were offered to attendees on the subjects of "Introduction to Digital Diecutting" and "Feed Users Forum." Finishing Safety Standards Adopted The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved ANSI B65.2-2005, Graphic technology-Safety requirements for binding and finishing systems and equipment. This standard revises and replaces the 1999 edition, and is currently available from NPES. The standard addresses mechanical safety issues such as motion controls, guarding against hazards, and warning

Layoffs, Closings for Domtar MONTREAL—Paper manufacturer Domtar is reducing its workforce by 1,800 and will sell or close several facilities in an effort to return the company to profitability. The company will close down its Cornwall, ON, mill and shut down two paper machines at its Ottawa mill. Domtar also announced that two sawmills in Quebec will be closed and its Vancouver mill will be sold. At Cornwall, where 390 positions were eliminated last December, there are 910 workers tending to three paper machines. F.C.L. Nets Graphics Group HARWOOD HEIGHTS, IL—Direct marketing printing specialist F.C.L. Graphics has acquired certain assets of The Graphics Group, a regional sheetfed

Heidelberg Puts Accent on Education KENNESAW, GA—The calendar said December, but the menu at Heidelberg's recent "Brats & Dots" customer event gave it the feel of an Oktoberfest, minus the beer. This open house at the company's Print Media Demonstration Center (PMDC) was followed by two days of classes for printers in its Print Media Academy and a briefing for industry editors. On the first day, printers were able to witness live demonstrations of Heidelberg's prepress, press, direct imaging and postpress solution in the 33,000-square-foot PMDC facility. The clear stars of the show were its new 40˝ Speedmaster XL 105 sheetfed press platform and

Honor Societies Merge, Induct New Members The Ash Khan Society of PIA and the Society of Fellows of GATF have merged to form The Ben Franklin Society of PIA/GATF. The officers for the new Ben Franklin Society are Robert Murphy, chairman; Kent Martin, vice chairman; William Evans, secretary; and Ted Ringman, treasurer. The Ash Khan Society and the Society of Fellows have inducted 15 new members including: Robert Brown, CEO, Goss International; Wendell Burns, president and CEO, Jones Printing; John Green, president, Automated Graphic Systems; David Langhans; Herbert Hall Provence III, former president of Provence Printing; Charles Vaughan, president, Vaughan Printing; Alfred McCulloch, retired

arizona SCOTTSDALE—Armed with a new Kodak Nexpress 2100 digital press and Kodak Nexglosser glossing unit, Sir Speedy Printing Scottsdale now can meet growing demand for short turnaround color printing and glossing. Since the installation a few months ago, the company reports it has gained new business from customers it previously could not service. illinois HARVEY—Andrews Printing has installed a four-color Printmaster PM 52 from Heidelberg. It replaces the shop's Printmaster GTO 52-2, which previously handled the shop's four-color jobs in two runs. Schiller ParK—The Business Press, now in its 26th year in business, has replaced its four-color Heidelberg GTO with a new five-color Printmaster