Heidelberg

MILWAUKEE—With many business reducing their work forces and slashing budgets to stay in the black, HM Graphics has employed a somewhat different strategy: avoid layoffs and spend more on capital improvements. This strategy kicked off with HM investing significantly over the past 24 months, with a total of more than $6.5 million in new equipment and technology. HM Graphics is a full-service printer whose in-house capabilities include design; electronic prepress; printing; folding/gluing, diecutting and hand assembly; fulfillment; ink-jet imaging; and inventory, warehousing and mailing services. Among the new equipment acquired are two six-color, 40˝ Heidelberg Speedmasters; a pair of two-color, 18˝ Heidelberg PM 46

Last spring, I got a call from Mark Michelson, editor-in-chief of this magazine. I probably shattered has eardrum with my reaction. "What! You want me to write a 4,000 word article explaining JDF? Mark, I know what JDF is, but I am not an expert. How about six words and a few exclamation points?" Mark, in his usual unflappable manner, simply replied, "Become an expert." I moved to a higher octave as he explained to me that even though Printing Impressions was hiring me to write the article, it was a piece sponsored by Adobe and Heidelberg. All I could imagine was that I

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor The vendors are loath to admit it, but on the surface there is a growing degree of parity in the capabilities of today's prepress workflow solutions. Their core systems are typically client-server based, database driven and handle tasks such as preflighting, PDF conversion/normalization, trapping, imposition and rendering. At the same time, advances in technology have led to workflow being widely viewed as a digital continuum—from file creation to final output. This shared vision dovetails with the industry's move toward computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) and implementation of the JDF (Job Definition Format) specification. Internet portals for online proofing and job

By Erik Cagle Senior Editor There are enough headaches encountered between the time a customer's files are uploaded to your FTP site and when the truck rolls away from the back dock with finished product. But, while certain aspects of the workflow are tedious and time consuming, your perfect binder shouldn't be an attention, or time, burglar. Most manufacturers of floor-model adhesive binders agree that time is of the essence. And the position of bindery operator often sees high turnover, making it imperative that a quality machine is easy to makeready, simple to operate, and equally user-friendly and fast on changeovers. Shrinking Setup As run lengths

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor The goal is basically the same regardless of what name is given to the technology—no-process, process-free or non-process plates. Since computer-to-plate production is all about taking steps, variables and labor out of the workflow, it naturally follows that people would look to eliminate the chemistry-based plate processor. The leading plate manufacturers have very similar takes on the future of this development, even if they differ on what to call it. This shared vision begins with a focus on non-ablative switchable polymer and/or on-press development systems as promising technologies. That is, with the exception of Presstek Inc. in Hudson, NH.

ST. LOUIS—Nies/Artcraft Printing Companies has completed a new, 40,000-square-foot graphic arts facility, located here. It will house their Valcour Printing and Digital Ink Systems divisions and a newly created division, Lion Promotional Solutions. "By combining these operating units under one roof, we have been able to improve workflow and maximize operating efficiencies to better take care of our customers' needs," notes James W. Finger II, president and CEO. Lion Promotional Solutions is responsible for the planning and creation of promotional coupons, games and sweepstakes, and point-of-purchase displays for consumer product companies, convenience store groups and promotional/advertising agencies. The plant will employ 55 employees and house

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor With all the talk of excess capacity and declining sales, why would any printer consider buying a new press? First, the obvious reason. Capacity on an industry-wide level doesn't necessarily mirror the situation in a local market or any given company. There also is a more subtle rational that has grown in importance with the changes in business conditions. The pressures of a highly competitive market make it even more critical for a shop to have the right kind of capacity. Production efficiency and flexibility are more important than gross capacity. Sheetfed offset presses used to break down fairly

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—The addition of new Heidelberg M-600 and V-30 web presses for Trend Offset Printing's headquarters facility will put the company in the unique position of reportedly running not only the greatest number of M-600 printing units in North America, but also the highest number of V-30 printing units worldwide. "By having similar, versatile press equipment at each of our [three] locations, we have significantly increased our ability to adapt to what our customers need," explains Bill Martin, Trend Offset's national vice president for manufacturing and procurement. "The common platforms create a consistency in quality and efficiency that our customers can rely on." Trend

By Erik CagleSenior Editor Although the company itself is 179 years old, Courier Corp. has the vitality of a teenager. The North Chelmsford, MA-based book printer found the fountain of youth courtesy of a comprehensive strategic planning process that began in 1990 and provided Courier with a sleek, sexy and, most of all, fiscally lucrative overhaul. The publicly held printer shed a number of markets, and the company that once published newspapers and dabbled in commercial work narrowed its focus to three book manufacturing segments—education, religious and specialty trade. The results have been outstanding. Through the first nine months of 2003, Courier has enjoyed

GLASTONBURY, CT—Chatham Printing, a family-owned business formerly based in Newington, CT, plans to reopen this month. Now known as The Chatham Group, and located here, the printer features many of the same staff and services, plus a few new offerings. "As with Chatham Printing, our new operation is a mid-sized, sheetfed shop with capabilities ranging from two- to six-color, museum-quality reproduction, in-house diecutting and fulfillment services," says Dave Eck, president of The Chatham Group. "In addition, we're also offering some new Internet-based solutions," he adds. Eck and his father, Jim, made the decision to reopen Chatham after an unsuccessful joint venture that recently dissolved.