New Additions Increase Efficiency APPLETON, WI—JP Graphics is counting on Kodak’s Prinergy workflow and a new Kodak Lotem 800 II Quantum platesetter with a five cassette automated plate loader to keep up with growth and customer demands. The midsize printer has acquired three different printing firms since 1998, including its latest acquisition 18 months ago that doubled its workforce overnight from 25 to 50 employees. CHICAGO—Hi-Liter/Inland and MAN Roland executives meet at Graph Expo to raise their glasses to the printer’s new 4x4 32-page web press destined for its Burlington, WI, facility. Brian SanFillipo has filled the new position of director of digital operations at
Henry Wurst Inc.
Centenarian Printer Continues to Evolve BARBERTON, OH—Davis Printing is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The company was founded in 1906 by John R. Davis., who produced a weekly newspaper and provided printing services to the public. Today, the full-service commercial printer offers sheetfed offset and digital printing, complete bindery, mailing and fulfillment, and Web-based services. Recently, Davis Printing also acquired Merrick Graphics. Steve Merrick was named Davis Printing’s vice president of marketing and president of the new creative division, Merrick Design Group. ALABAMA MONTGOMERY—Wells Printing has installed a Sakurai 675SD sheetfed press with coater. It was purchased through dealer Independent Graphic Services.
Salt Lake City-based AlphaGraphics reports it is planning to reach 500 locations over the next five years. Ingrid Wilmet has joined Impressions Inc. of St. Paul, MN, as an account manager. Kim Hawley has joined Dallas-based Taylor Publishing as vice president of sales and marketing for the Taylor Specialty Book division. He most recently held the position of sales manager for the Commercial Book division of Walsworth Publishing. Richard Eade, formerly of Butler Color Press, has joined Inserts East in Pennsauken, NJ, as director of operations. Des Plaines Publishing, Des Plaines, IL, announced that Michael Ford has joined the company as president and CEO.
MIAMI BEACH, FL—After watching attendance at its conference dwindle since the booming days of the ’90s, Xplor International teamed up with the successful Graphics of the Americas (GOA) exhibition and conference this year, putting on a joint event held here last month. The partnership seems to have been a wise move, as it freed Xplor from the task of organizing a trade show, allowing it to concentrate on its educational mission. More than 250 sessions were available, covering PDF, JDF, XML, digital prepress, design, variable data and more. GOA, in turn, got a host of new attendees, as well as a larger base of
(Editor's Note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2004. Therefore, companies that revised their 2003 revenues may have changed their 2003 ranking as compared with the ranking that appeared in last year's Printing Impressions 400. Similarly, the percentage change in sales is calculated on the most recent information provided.) 51 ('03: 52) PBM Graphics, Research Triangle Park, NC Total Sales (Millions): $113.50 Previous Year's Sales (Millions): $102.20 Change (%): +11 Principal Officer: Terry L. Pegram Employees: 900 Primary Specialties: COM 85%; PUB 5%; PREP 5%; ADV 5% Web Offset Press Units: 11 Sheetfed Press Units: 90
(Editor's Note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2003. Therefore, companies that revised their 2002 revenues may have changed their 2002 ranking as compared with the ranking that appeared in last year's Printing Impressions 400. Similarly, the percentage change in sales is calculated on the most recent information provided.) 51 ('02: 53) Miami Systems, Cincinnati, OH Total Sales (Millions): $129.00 Previous Year's Sales (Millions): $138.00 Change (%): -7 Principal Officer: Samuel L. Peters Employees: 1,200 Primary Specialties: BF 30%; PKG 20%; DM 15%; SPEC 15% (Pre-paid telephone cards; plastic credit cards) Web Offset Press Units:
The Label Printing Industry Association (LPIA), a special industry group of the Printing Industries of America, recently inducted William Smyth Jr., of Smyth Companies, St. Paul, MN, into the LPIA Hall of Fame. The Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF) recently completed a total revision of the competencies that form the basis for instruction in PrintED, a national accreditation program for graphic communications at the secondary and post-secondary levels. In addition, GAERF has begun developing a national exit exam for students in PrintED classes to accommodate its adoption as a state-mandated program. The National Council for Skill Standards in Graphic Communications has announced
By Caroline Miller It has been a tough year for the financial printing industry. The economy was already shaky when the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks hit the World Trade Towers—America's financial epicenter. Investment banking, securities law and financial services are in shambles. Even so, most hoped to see that much needed and much talked about recovery in 2002. But, instead, the year has been mired in corporate accounting scandals, a never-ending bear market, the threat of war and the virtual standstill for M&A deals and IPOs. As a result, financial printers have had to reduce their work forces, streamline their operations and look
(Editor's Note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2002. Therefore, companies that revised their 2001 revenues may have changed their 2001 ranking as compared with the ranking that appeared in last year's Printing Impressions 400. Similarly, the percentage change in sales is calculated on the most recent information provided.) 51 ('01: 58) MacNaughton Lithograph/Command Web Offset, Secaucus, NJ Total Sales (millions): $140.00 Previous Year's (millions): $140.00 Change (%): — Principal Officer: Andrew Merson Employees: 625 Primary Specialties: BKS 40%; DIR 25%; CAT 15%; FIN 10% Web Offset Units: 44 Sheetfed Offset Units: 6 Other: 0
BY CAROLINE MILLER When the ball dropped on Times Square at midnight on January 1, 2001, no one could have imagined how challenging this year was going to be for the printing industry. Top 10 -- Financial Printers Company SegmentSales(millions) TotalSales (millions) 1 Bowne & Co.New York $847 $1,114 2 R.R. Donnelley & SonsChicago $525 $5,254 3 Merrill Corp.St. Paul, MN $260 $649 4 Cunningham GraphicsJersey City, NJ $120 $185 5 IKON Office SolutionsMalvern, PA $45 $900 6 Burrups PackardPhiladelphia $30 $60 7 Applied Printing TechnologiesMoonachie, NJ $25 $105 8 Henry Wurst Inc.N. Kansas City, MO $21 $107 9 Scott PrintingNew Providence,