Lake County Press

(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.) 151 ('02: 147) The Hickory Printing Group, Hickory, NC Total Sales (Millions): $38.36 Previous Year's Sales (Millions): $40.01 Change (%): -4 Principal Officer: Thomas W. Reese Employees: 237 Primary Specialties: COM 50%; ADV 25%; DM 10%; CAT 10% Web Offset Press Units: 18 Sheetfed Press

By Erik Cagle Ralph Johnson doesn't need to consult the Yellow Pages to realize that Lake County Press is up to its eyes in competition around the Chicago area. Thus, the CEO of the Waukegan, IL-based sheetfed printer considers the company's motto, "Whatever it Takes," essential to its success. "The service component is one aspect that makes us unique," notes Johnson. "Obviously the quality has to be there, and we don't take a back seat to anybody in that regard. So the defining characteristic is exceptional service, which has enabled us to do well in a down economy." Lake County Press' executive team

45 Years and Counting! This issue marks the 45th anniversary of this—I guess I can now say venerable—industry publication. Despite the fact that there was already an overcrowded field of some 17 other magazines, Irvin Borowsky launched Printing Impressions in June of 1958 as a tabloid newspaper (see inset), coincidentally the same month that I would celebrate my first birthday. The former printing company owner, publisher of a regional television listings guide (Borowsky sold his product to TV Guide founder Walter Annenberg in '53) and graphic arts equipment dealer felt that none of them effectively focused on managing a successful printing operation. While some

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

(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.) 152 ('01: 142) Malloy Inc., Ann Arbor, MI Total Sales (millions): $39.60 Previous Year's (millions): $46.40 Change (%): -15 Principal Officer: William L. Upton Employees: 334 Primary Specialties: BKS 100% Web Offset Units: 7 Sheetfed Offset Units: 16 Other: 0 Ownership: Private Plants: 1 153 ('01:

Editor's note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2001. Therefore, companies that revised their 2000 revenues may have changed their '00 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. 2001 Ranking:Previous Year's Ranking:Company:Total Sales (millions):Previous Year's (millions):Change (%):Principal Officer:Employees:Primary Specialties: Web Offset Units:Sheetfed Offset Units:Other:Ownership:Plants: 151163Panel Prints, Old Forge, PA$44.50$40.20+11William M. Abene370SPEC 60% (35% POP; 25% Heat-transfer);PKG 25%; COM 10%; PREP 5% 01280Private2  Parent: W.M. Abene Co., Old Forge, PA  2001 Ranking:Previous Year's Ranking:Company:Total Sales (millions):Previous Year's

Editor's note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2000. Therefore, companies that revised their 1999 revenues may have changed their '99 ranking as compared with the ranking that appeared in last year's Printing Impressions 500. Similarly, the percentage change in sales is calculated on the most recent information provided.2000 Ranking:Previous Year's Ranking:Company:Total Sales (millions):Previous Year's (millions):Change (%):Principal Officer:Employees:Primary Specialties:Web Offset Units:Sheetfed Offset Units:Other:Ownership:Plants:151148NOSCO Inc.*, Gurnee, IL$47.50E$47.30-Warren Hall425PKG 95%; COM 5%03258Private 3*Parent: CRL Industries, Bannockburn, IL.  2000 Ranking:Previous Year's Ranking:Company:Total Sales (millions):Previous Year's (millions):Change (%):Principal Officer:Employees:Primary Specialties:Web Offset Units:Sheetfed Offset Units:Other:Ownership:Plants:152156Rohrer Corp., Wadsworth, OH$47.00$43.10+9John P. Rohrer385PKG 100%0720Private

If you know the name of a printing company that you think appears on the Printing Impressions 400 list, but you're not sure of its ranking, here's an easy way to locate that firm. Simply find the company in the alphabetical listings on this page. In addition to each company's name and headquarters location, a corresponding number appears indicating that firm's ranking on the Printing Impressions 400. ABS Graphics (Addison, IL) 400 Action Printing (Fond du Lac, WI) 353 Adams Business Forms (Topeka, KS) 96 AdPlex Inc. (Houston, TX) 102 Advance Business Graphics (Mira Loma, CA) 153 AFL Web Printing (Voorhees, NJ)

Execs from Dome Printing, Lake County Press, PlanetPrint.com, Graphic Enterprises and R.R. Donnelley & Sons sit down with Printing Impressions to map out the state of color management, PDF, remote proofing, thermal plates and digital asset management. BY CAROLINE MILLER The curtain has closed on DRUPA 2000 and the fairground lights have faded, returning Dusseldorf, Germany, to normal. The grand dame of international shows is over for another four years. But while the steady hum of new presses that once filled the air in Dusseldorf has gone silent, the buzz surrounding much of the technology has increased. That DRUPA buzz will turn

The benefits are tangible: PDF preserves file integrity, allows for more predictable final output and facilitates smooth, cross-platform publishing. Is PDF right for you? For your customers? Six commercial printers tell their tales. BY MARIE RANOIA ALONSO (Editor's Note: This article is the first in a two-part series focused on PDF workflows in place at a range of commercial printing operations.) It can, if created correctly, embed images and fonts within a single file, eliminating the problem of missing elements. It can be used for remote proof routing between designer and prepress provider. It can act as the digital master throughout an entire CTP