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News Fit for Printing Extra! Extra! Read all about it. The graphic arts industry is launching a new campaign to promote the use of print as a replacement for, and complement to, other media. I know, grizzled industry veterans might point out, other efforts have been tried in the past—typically losing steam over time. But this effort has some of the biggest industry guns behind it as founding members, including vendors such as Agfa, EFI, Heidelberg, IBM, MAN Roland, Scitex Digital and Xerox, as well as prominent printers like Mail-Well, RR Donnelley, Quad/Graphics, Sandy Alexander and Franchise Services (the parent company of PIP

Clients and Suppliers Seen as Extensions of Print Operations PHILADELPHIA—According to the final count, this year's 5th Annual Digital Smart Factory Forum drew nearly 100 attendees here from across the country. The event is sponsored by the Research and Engineering Council of NAPL. A "digital smart factory" is an environment in which information technology (IT) is strategically applied across the printer enterprise to integrate manufacturing, business and customer-interfacing systems, according to the forum's sponsor. At this year's edition, a number of speakers stressed the importance of extending the concept beyond the print operation to include both ends of the supply chain—customers and suppliers. "While

california GARDENA—Southwest Offset Printers has purchased a 28-unit DGM 430 press. The purchase also includes two DGM 1035 folders. IRVINE—The Graphics Industry Council held its third annual "Shoot for the Cure" golf tournament in August. Over 125 executives from regional graphic arts industry-related firms teed off to help raise $40,000 for the City of Hope Cancer Center. LA VERNE—Layton Printing, an 18-year-old, family owned firm, has purchased a Mitsubishi Diamond 3000LS sheetfed press. The four-color, 40˝ machine is Layton Printing's first Mitsubishi press. The company specializes in the design and printing of unique, full-color business cards, notepads and postcards. florida CLERMONT—Sprint is remaking printed

California Dreamin' You're terminated Arnold Schwarzenegger. Grow up Gary Coleman. Don't vote for a hustler named Larry Flynt. Printer John Beard Jr.—whose family runs Los Angeles-based G2 Graphic Service—has thrown his hat into the ring as a Republican candidate in the recall election for governor of California. The 41-year-old is running on a pro-business platform. "California has customers just like I do," Beard points out. "It just calls them residents. This state would be in a lot better condition if its government treated the people of California like customers, not tenants." Beard knows well the importance of exemplary customer service. Armed with an

VERNON HILLS, IL—Scheduling flexibility is what sets Aim Business Printers apart from other printers, asserts Richard Sussman, vice president and general manager. To support production of run lengths that vary from 500 to 1 million sheets, the shop installed a PlateRite 4000II thermal plate recorder and Trueflow PDF workflow from Screen (USA). It also implemented Screen's Spekta hybrid AM/FM screening technology. (www.screenusa.com) NORFOLK, VA—The Virginian-Pilot (daily circulation of 200,000 copies) has purchased two Polaris X violet-laser computer-to-plate platesetters from Autologic, an Agfa Co. (www.pilotonline.com/www.agfa.com) HOUSTON—Champagne Fine Printing is adding an HP Indigo digital printing press to assist clients in

alabama MONTGOMERY—The installation of an Agfa-based CTP system has been completed at Montgomery Living Press. Its Apogee Create Series 3 workflow and EskoScan F14 are now in full production along with the Agfa Xcalibur 45 with online TP 105 plate processor. arkansas ROGERS—The RoArk Group will implement a fully integrated software solution from CRC Information Systems, including THE System's Commercial Estimating, Dynamic Scheduling and Automatic Data Collection modules, as well as complete accounting, fulfillment and e-commerce applications. california OXNARD—Custom Printing has purchased a 28˝ Heidelberg cylinder diecutting machine to bolster its workflow. The new equipment is expected to more than double the speed of

PITTSBURGH—The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) has announced the 13 recipients of the 2003 GATF InterTech Technology Awards. "This year's awards showcase the industry's growing attention to flexographic printing, ink-jet and soft proofing on a contract basis, and digital in-line finishing," says GATF Research Director John Lind. He also observed that automation combined with productivity and ROI continues to be a strong trend among the InterTech nominations. GATF has sponsored the InterTech Technology Awards as a service to the graphic communications industry since 1978. The 2003 award recipients are: Plate Cell Patterning, part of Artwork Systems' Nexus product family, is a software

PENNSAUKEN, NJ—Defying the challenging economic climate, Inserts East is proving that a niche and a knack for service can still be a powerful formula for growth. Gene Maiale, company president, does not hesitate when asked how his company has kept growing in tough economic times. "This is a people business, and it's all about service," he explains. Maiale credits his sales and customer service organization with cultivating tremendous customer allegiance. That is especially important for a printer in the insert market, where local and regional retailers and grocery chains typically sign long-term contracts for weekly or monthly print runs. The organizational structure at

Lastra America has merged its Western Lithotech and Lastra America operations into a single business unit, Lastra America, headquartered in Danbury, CT. PagePath Technologies has, for a second time, received the Product of the Year award from the PrintImage International association, formerly the National Association of Quick Printers (NAQP). During the association's annual conference, PagePath was presented the award for its PDF2U Web-based orderflow system. xpedx Import Group, the exclusive Ryobi distributor in the U.S., has named Graphco, of Solon, OH, as its dealer for Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. Muller Martini has appointed Thomas Duckett as its New England sales manager. He now heads sales

By Erik Cagle KISS is the word that best describes the modern day movement in regard to the manufacture of paper cutting systems: Keep It Simple and Safe. Safety may be to cutting what flour is to baking—an essential ingredient—but automation considerations cannot be ignored when weighing the purchase of a standalone cutter or complete system. In fact, with manufacturers adhering to U.S. and international safety guidelines, ease-of-use may spell the difference between products A, B and C. "Automating the backgauge movement on a cutter helps improve efficiency, makeready times, consistency and accuracy of the cut," points out Don Dubuque, marketing manager for Standard