Heidelberg

DALLAS—Williamson Printing has activated what is reportedly the largest Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 press in the world. The 40˝ SM 102 12P+LX has 12 printing units, plus coaters, and has the ability to print six colors on both sides of a sheet, six-over-five with dual-side coating, and 12 colors in-line with aqueous coating. A redesigned Preset Plus feeder system reduces setup time when changing stocks, as well as increasing net output and running speeds, particularly when printing on difficult substrates. Additionally, modular coating units located throughout the machine provide maximum production capabilities and specialized applications. "With this new technology, we will be able to produce the

KENNESAW, GA—Touted as its largest Print Media Demonstration Center (PMDC) in the world, Heidelberg showcased the newly expanded, 33,000-square-foot facility during a President's Night gala held here on May 25th. The event was attended by some 300 printers from throughout North America. Housing a range of prepress, press and postpress equipment and workflow solutions, the PMDC will serve as a venue where prospective and existing customers can run actual test jobs, as well as a site for hands-on tutorials, meetings and conferences. The center required a 12˝-thick continuous concrete slab with rebar and 4,000 amps of power consumption. The special event also marked the

Cenveo Plans Cost Savings ENGLEWOOD, CO—Cenveo announced a comprehensive plan to reduce operating expenses and streamline management functions, a plan that includes the elimination of about 125 jobs—mostly managerial positions. Through these moves, the company expects to save $9 million in 2005 and generate annual savings of $20 million. After having his May 6 formal proposal to take over Cenveo rejected, veteran print executive Robert Burton of Burton Capital Management informed the troubled printer that he will seek a special meeting of shareholders with the intention of removing the existing board members and replacing them with a slate that will "affirmatively act in the best

Web Printers Hit The Race Track DALLAS—Sun Chemical offered Web Offset Offset Association Conference attendees the opportunity to climb into a NASCAR race car for a high-speed ride around the track at the Texas Motor Speedway. Of the 250 guests in attendance at the event, nearly 160 people elected to ride as passengers in the stock cars, which reached speeds of 170 miles per hour as they sped around the oval track. DiMS! organizing print's entire European staff have relocated to a brand new, purpose-built, state-of-the-art office building in Lichtenvoorde, the Netherlands. The building is equipped with ultra-modern demo spaces and well-equipped training classrooms. KBA North America

State of the Industry I attended two industry events recently where presentations by Ronnie Davis, Ph.D., and Andy Paparozzi—chief economists of the PIA/GATF and NAPL, respectively—reaffirmed my beliefs about the current state of commercial printing and some of the foremost challenges we face going forward. The commercial printing industry is finally growing again. Speaking to attendees at the annual Web Offset Association conference, Davis credits the 2.8 percent increase in U.S. printing shipments in 2004 and projected 3 percent increase this year to several factors, including overall economic growth for the U.S. economy, a rebound in advertising spending, the 2004 Presidential election and,

Attendees Soak Up the Views ORLANDO, FL—In a bid to inject new energy into the event and build attendance, the Vue/Point Conference was relocated to sunny Florida for its recent 2005 run. The results were mixed with regard to those goals, but attendees seemed pleased with the event overall. Judging by a show of hands in the opening session, there clearly was a spike in the percentage of first-time attendees. Also, representation by printers—as opposed to vendors—was said to be up. However, the total attendee number held more or less steady from the 2004 event in Washington, DC. There were several topics of

Printer's Event Draws a Crowd ATLANTA—For the second year in a row, "Color Talk," presented by The EPI Companies, created a stir in the marketing community, drawing more than 400 corporate communications executives, marketing coordinators and print procurement specialists. The program featured a presentation by Leatrice Eiseman, a renowned color specialist who also serves as executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. EPI sponsored the event as an educational opportunity for clients and prospects, and to build awareness of the company's single-source array of marketing services. "Color Talk" was preceded by a reception featuring 29 exhibits. arizona TEMPE—Company officials from Ben Franklin Press

American Printing is, by its own definition, a small national printer. But if the venerable Birmingham, AL-based shop can follow through on its game plan, that will change drastically. Growth has been a key for the sheetfed offset, half-web and digital print provider. When current owner Robert “Bo” Stanford acquired the company in 1992 from a venture capital group, American Printing boasted just 18 employees and annual sales under $1.8 million. Fast forward to 2005. A base of more than 170 employees has enabled American Printing to post $19 million in sales for fiscal year 2004. Its current plant, acquired eight years ago, has

KENNESAW, GA-- May 26, 2005--Heidelberg unveiled its new Print Media Demonstration Center (PMDC) to some 300 of the country's most influential printers at a President's Night ceremony and ribbon-cutting event held last night. The state-of-the-art facility, located at Heidelberg's North American headquarters, houses a wide range of Heidelberg prepress, press and postpress equipment, including the new Speedmaster XL 105, which made its U.S. debut at the ceremony. "We are committed to providing printers of all types and sizes with the equipment and resources they need to enhance operational efficiency, achieve competitive advantages and save money," said James Dunn, president, Heidelberg USA. "Our new

Show Shines for Manufacturers ORLANDO—With 150 exhibit spaces of machines and services at Orlando Graphics 2005, held in April, enthusiasm for 2006 has already been expressed with 98 percent commitment by this year's exhibitors. "The quality of visitors, not the quantity, is what generates business for us," says Hans Max, president and CEO of MBO America, an exhibitor at the show. "We were extremely satisfied not only with the immediate sales, but the followup sales and leads produced by Orlando Graphics." MBO ran demonstrations allowing visitors to see more than 20 multiple-machine configurations bringing improved production to the pressroom or bindery. There was excitement over MBO's