Heidelberg

Offset press output still comprises 90 percent of the printing done, by some accounts, but you wouldn’t know it based on all the attention given to digital inkjet- and toner-based 
devices at Graph Expo. Lithographic press manufacturers aren’t standing still, however.

Instead of seeing a gaggle of tire kickers, the printers and trade finishers who perused McCormick Place South during Graph Expo 2011 had more sober intentions. There is clearly pent-up demand in the marketplace, particularly for finishing equipment.

Commercial printer equipment installations and other news from Printing Impressions’ Oct. 2011 edition, featuring items on Docuplex Graphics, Haapanen Brothers and J.W. Boarman Co.

Commercial printing industry supplier company and personnel news from Printing Impressions’ October 2011 edition.

Heidelberg USA has issued “Data Protection for Printers,” a new white paper focusing on the unique issues printers face in keeping production running smoothly in the event of unexpected interruptions. It's a fact that 10 percent of hard drives fail every year—for an average of 130,000 each week in the United States.

At LabelExpo Europe 2011, which is taking place from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 in Brussels, Belgium, Heidelberg is presenting its digital print solutions for label printers and packaging manufacturers. The trade fair will see the products of recently acquired digital printing system manufacturer CSAT offered under the Heidelberg umbrella for the first time. The CSAT iTS 6oo will be on display at LabelExpo on Stand 9F10.

It’s no secret that today’s technology has put a mighty dent in the book publishing industry. Yet, in League City (TX), one printer of books has more business than it can handle. America’s Press is a father-and-son enterprise owned by Bill and Joel Turner.

With seven employees and three Heidelberg digital printers among others, the independent printer is able to keep paper and ink flowing and provide quick turnaround for its customers. About 90 percent of the firm’s business is printing books—paperback and hardback. America’s Press also does jobs for other printing establishments that aren’t geared toward books.

An international “Executive Forum” in Banff (Canada) is meeting for the first time in North America to discuss the print media industry. Hosted by the Print Media Academy (PMA) of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG and NorQuest College’s Centre for Excellence in Print Media, the four-day “Executive Forum” will offer industry owners, managers and manufacturers the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of the print sector and share strategies for success.

“The biggest problem that we have as an industry is that we keep thinking about the past and the place that print had in the past,” said Josh Ramsbottom, principal of centre.

EFI concluded a very successful GRAPH EXPO 2011 last week, with high visitor attendance, strong orders on the show floor, hundreds of qualified leads, and the most awards won by a single company in the Must See ’em award program’s history.

Over the past half year, the digital printing partnership between Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) and Ricoh has been launched with great success. While sales units in Germany and the U.K. have been actively marketing the Ricoh “C901 Graphic Arts Edition” digital printing solution since the start of April, Heidelberg has been expanding the strategic partnership with local Ricoh teams to implement the global sales agreement in other countries.