Heidelberg

BY CHRIS BAUER While production is a major factor for any finishing operation, one place where speed and productivity can take a backseat is in the paper cutting area—here safety comes first. And, according to leading paper cutter manufacturers, safety is their number one priority, as well. "Safety standards for paper cutters have evolved over the years, forcing manufacturers to incorporate many different elements such as photo eyes, redundant circuitry and special guarding," remarks Jeff Marr, vice president of sales for Colter & Peterson. Currently, the largest industry trend, according to Mark Pellman, marketing manager for Baum Corp., indeed is safety related—the recent

BY CHRIS BAUER When operating today's printing gear, especially new, digitally based hardware and software, there are advantages to having contemporaries to bounce ideas off of, or to have someone that you can share information with on best practices. Industry user groups offer just that type of educational and networking opportunity. Several user groups exist in the printing industry, designed to allow users of common equipment or software to network with one another, to receive training, as well as to provide valuable feedback to their vendors. The Heidelberg Digital Imaging Association (HDIA), for example, is an independent organization of printing, publishing and related graphic

BY ERIK CAGLE In 1996 it was becoming increasingly clear to Anthony and Robert Lienau, co-founders of Trend Offset Printing, that the Southern California market which gave birth to their thriving business—from a $15 million printer less than 10 years previously to nearly $80 million—was just about tapped of growth potential. Before long, the Los Alamitos, CA-based printer was embarking on a national expansion plan, first in Carrollton, TX (a Dallas suburb), followed by Jacksonville, FL. It proved a prophetic move by Anthony Lienau, company chairman. "We were profitable within our first three months in Texas," notes Todd Nelson, president and COO of Trend

MIAMI—Jorge and Manny Hernandez are big fans of the United States, having come to this country as children when their parents evacuated them from Cuba. The Hernandez brothers availed themselves of the American dream, attending Miami's public school system before majoring in business administration while in college. In 1985, after having worked in several print shops, Jorge and Manny decided to go solo, literally, when they cut the ribbon on Solo Printing. Early last September, the brothers studied the slumping U.S. economy and developed an eight-stage growth plan to boost its current sales level from $10 million annually to about $30 million within a

BY MARK SMITH Sheetfed offset presses have long been considered the workhorses of the commercial printing industry. This market position has been strengthened by the introduction of new formats, configurations and productivity features to the stable of mid- to large-format machines. The eight-page, 40˝ (or so) press traditionally has set the standard for the market segment. It has been a source of identity both for shops with the capability and those aspiring to reach that benchmark. Now, press models on either half of the format range increasingly are looking like fun house mirror reflections of the modern, 40˝ press. The state-of-the-art across the board

Phoenix Press Bolsters Bindery NEW HAVEN, CT—Improved service and faster turnaround time expectations prompted Phoenix Press' acquisition of five new pieces of bindery equipment. The company added a Rollem TR system for two-directional perforating, scoring and slitting. Phoenix also added a Sterling Punchmaster and Rilecart TP-480 binding machine. A Sterling S59 gatherer/collator and a Corta PB04 paper drilling machine round out the acquisitions. Scripps Adds Web Offset Presses STUART, FL—As part of its plan to consolidate its three daily newspapers in a new $45 million production facility, Scripps Treasure Coast Publishing has ordered a pair of MAN Roland Regioman web offset presses. Production will include zoned editions,

CPS Corp., a sister company of INX International, has been recognized for its environmental record and has been accepted into the National Environmental Performance Program, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Muller Martini has launched a new digital on-demand finishing division. Andrew J. Fetherman was named manager of the new division. Fetherman was formerly product manager for Muller Martini's press division. That post is now held by Donald Geiger. Kim Graven-Nielsen has been named president and CEO of newly formed Esko-Graphics. The company was created after the merger of Purup-Eskofot and Barco Graphics. Presstek Inc. announced the qualification of its Anthem thermal CTP

ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE—A new two-color, 28˝ Komori Lithrone press has been installed at All American Printing. TUSCALOOSA—The University of Alabama has added a new four-color, 21 1⁄16 x 19 1⁄8˝ Sakurai 474EPII press. CALIFORNIA IRVINE—The Dot Printer recently installed a Fujifilm Javelin Luxel T-9000 CTP thermal platesetter. The company is a five-facility, $36 million commercial printing operation. LOS ANGELES—Lithographix has installed its second Rollem TR die-scoring system and a Durselen/Rollem PB01 drilling system. NAPA—Label printer Jonergin Pacific has purchased CRC Information Systems' "The System" business management software. The company specializes in the production of high-quality wine labels. SAN DIEGO—Speedy Bindery has purchased a Best Osako

BY MARK SMITH Digital files have become the norm in print production, but the processes involved in generating them continue to evolve. Image capture—chiefly, photo-graphs into color separations—was one of the first areas to feel the impact of electronics with the introduction of scanners. Decades later, the scanning process and market continues to be reshaped by technological advances and dropping prices. For the past 10 years or so, the production step has also faced possible obsolescence due to the rise of digital photography. This context gave added weight to Heidelberg's recent announcement that it was discontinuing "all scanner development and production operations." The company

BY ERIK CAGLE Want a free lesson in time management? Swipe Robert E. Murphy's appointment book. Most people in the commercial printing industry know the chairman of Japs-Olson Co. as Bob Murphy. Make that a multitude of people. Anyone who is involved, at any level, in organizations supporting the print communications industry is familiar with the longtime leader of the St. Louis Park, MN-based printer. His resume reads like a Who's Who of industry organizations: Murphy serves on the boards of the Printing Industries of America (PIA), as well as its Minnesota affiliate; the Graphic Arts Show Co.; the Graphic Arts Education & Research