Heidelberg

The sheetfed offset printing market continues to feel pressure—be it from rival markets or outside forces such as pricing battles and shrinking run lengths. As more economical digital print runs extend, and affordable web press runs shorten, manufacturers involved in the small- and medium-format (29˝ and smaller) sheetfed space are equipping their wares with the capabilities needed to compete—and win. “The competition from the web market is becoming more noticeable, but when it comes to the short-run color market, web presses have a number of things going against them,” contends Michael Iburg, product manager, KBA North America. “On a sheetfed press, makeready time is much

Nothing 'Static' About PIA/GATF VDP Conference PHOENIX—Somewhat akin to the early days of the California Gold Rush, there are endless growth opportunities in today's digital frontier. And the riches will go to those printers that can master variable data printing (VDP), database management and cross-media applications. There's no secret map to the gold, but shops that can provide these services—coupled with the ability to market, sell and then track the benefits of one-to-one marketing—will be the ones most likely to strike it rich. That seems to be the general consensus of the more than 300 participants who attended the 2005 PIA/GATF Variable Data and

By Erik Cagle Senior Editor It is virtually impossible to ignore the impact Robert (Bob) Burton had on the printing industry in 2005. Given his relentless pursuit of two companies this past year, it was almost a given that Burton would enter 2006 at the helm of some printing business. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. In the final analysis, 2005 will be viewed as a year marked by triumph, tragedy and transactions, not to mention some unexpected twists and turns. Which fits us to a T. While the news wasn't always positive, a silver lining—a moral or a lesson could usually

Postal Commission OKs Hike WASHINGTON, DC—A 5.4 percent increase in United States Postal Service (USPS) rates virtually across the board has been approved by the Postal Rate Commission. The rate increases were expected to take effect by the middle of January. The increase will help the USPS meet its $3.1 billion escrow payment due in 2006. Nonprofit mailings will go up by 3 percent, while the book rate will balloon 12.7 percent, in accordance with the requirement that all classes of mail cover their direct cost of service. A First Class stamp will rise by 2 cents. Quad Signs Billion Dollar Deal SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics and

GREENWICH, CT--The executive committee of The Print Council has appointed Ben Cooper to be executive director of the industry initiative, effective January 9, 2006. Martin Maloney, who has completed his special one-year commitment as the council's executive director, is appointed to the executive committee of the board of directors. Roy Grossman, president of Sandy Alexander, and co-chairman of the executive committee, stated, "We are delighted that Ben Cooper will be joining us as executive director on a dedicated basis. He will be succeeding Martin Maloney and his company who have done an outstanding job of bringing The Print Council to top-of-mind awareness throughout the

arizona PHOENIX—O'Neil Printing has added a new six-color Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52 perfector with coating system. The new press is an upgrade from a five-color Heidelberg GTO 52. Founded in 1908, O'Neil Printing has been an employee-owned company since 1996. TUCSON—Southern Arizona Graphic Associates has installed a new six-color Komori Lithrone S40 press with coater. california ONTARIO—Rey Nelson Printing purchased a five-color, 20˝ KBA Genius 52 waterless UV press while attending PRINT 05 in Chicago. According to company president George Alderson, the 28-year-old trade shop sees a major market opportunity to produce short-run synthetic printing. FLORIDA MOUNT DORA—DMMI Promotions has installed two DocuSheeter

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor Automation usually has the effect of at once making equipment simpler to operate, but more complex to fix when a problem arises. Just as driveway car repairs have become a thing of the past for most owners, the response to any glitch on today's printing equipment is apt to be arranging for a service call rather than reaching for a wrench. The answer, of course, is to bring more technology to bear. As heavy iron has integrated silicon components, the potential has grown for capturing even minute operating parameters by tapping into the various electronic controls, IC chips and servo motors.

california ANAHEIM—Expedia Media recently installed a Heidelberg Quicksetter 300E imagesetter. The shop purchased a Heidelberg consumables package with the installation, including Saphira RA imagesetting film and chemistry. Founded in 1984, the shop houses 70 employees. SANTA CLARA—Mahoneyprint Services, a provider of 1-to-1 marketing services, is now doing business under the name The Mahoney Co. The name change signifies the completion of the transition from a print provider to a personalized digital marketing solutions provider with its Xerox iGen3 press. As part of the reorganization, The Mahoney Co. is now organized into five divisions. colorado BOULDER—Intermountain Color, also known as IMC Web Graphics, announced it

Pair of Machines Head Down South Marietta, GA—Color Spectrum Network (CSN) has added two new multi-function machines—a Bobst SPanthera 106-LER embossing diecutter with blanking and a Bobst Mistral 110 A-2 CS folder/gluer equipped with the latest source tagging and CD insertion devices. This marks the first time both of these new generation machines have been installed together in a single U.S. plant. After Fire, Bindery Is Thriving Again Lancaster, PA—It was among the largest and most intense fires that the local fire department could ever remember, and it caused more than $4 million in damage to Bindery Associates last year. "One-third of our facility was completely destroyed,"

Sturtevant, WI--Nov. 9, 2005--The Garvey Group, a network of facilities providing integrated services for the design, printing, internet applications and supply chain management of printed materials located throughout the Midwest, is announcing that its Sturtevant, WI location will soon have additional capabilities to handle long-run, high-quality, multicolor work after the installation of a new KBA Rapida 105 41-inch 10-color perfector sheetfed press with UV and hybrid ink capabilities in early 2006.  "We wanted to respond to the needs of our corporate customers who expect us to apply the latest technology available to efficiently produce their jobs resulting in lower costs through reduced material costs,