manroland Inc.

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 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

By Bill Esler LAS VEGAS—Aiming to improve the odds for business success, 700 Printcafe management system users converged here June 9-12 for Connect 2002, the annual user meeting. Also present were 120 personnel from Printcafe and 13 exhibitors. Licensees of ProGraph, PSI, PrintSmith, Logic, Hagen, AHP, Automation and Elysium systems—all linked by the Printcafe umbrella in 2000—heard CEO Marc Olin's roadmap for cross-platform application development and Web utilities. These applications will ultimately work within all the management systems offered by Printcafe. Among several new items was PrinterSite, a Web browser application for Hagen Systems to check job status, customer ordering and sales

WAYMART, PA—A commercial printing tree has been planted in this community tucked inside the northeastern portion of the state. The upshoot is North Eastern Graphics. The company was born when Henry Becker, owner of Interstate Litho on Long Island, NY, purchased certain assets of Lenz & Riecker, Totowa, NJ, which had filed for bankruptcy. Becker acquired all of the equipment assets, as well as the 56,000-square-foot facility in Waymart. The Totowa facility was not included. North Eastern Graphics is technically open for business, but Jason Deron, the company's vice president of sales, points out that there are currently just 15 employees conducting limited work. That is

BY CAROLINE MILLER Faced with dropping readership, falling advertising revenues and more media outlets, newspaper publishers are looking now more than ever to their in-house production facilities to help them meet the challenges of a volatile business environment. Increasingly, newspapers with printing capabilities are interested in the ability to bring in commercial work to help boost their profits, contends Craig Simon, director of web sales administration for MAN Roland. MAN Roland manufactures the four-page Cromoman, the Uniset, the Geoman and its flagship, 16-page newspaper web press—the Colorman—which was shown at IPEX in a 24-page version. Its top speed ranges to 86,000 copies per hour.

New Leadership At Roosevelt Paper MOUNT LAUREL, NJ—David Kosloff has become president of Roosevelt Paper, representing the third generation of family ownership. He takes over for his father, Ted Kosloff, who has served as president since 1976. Roosevelt Paper was founded in 1932 by Irv Kosloff. Gämmerler Corp. has realigned its manufacturing plants. Located in Geretsried-Gelting, Germany, Leisnig, Germany, and Hanover Park, IL, each will specialize in the production of a specific set of products. Compensating stacker production, which currently takes place at all three plants, will transfer to Leisnig. The facility in Geretsried-Gelting will focus its operations on the production of robotic palletizers, vertical log

BY MARK SMITH Trade shows probably are not the most accurate indicator of an industry's vitality. When the show is IPEX 2002—the international printing exhibition held in Birmingham, UK—it's even harder to draw any direct conclusions about the North American market because of the show's strong English and broader European flavor. Still, there is an understandable temptation to try to gauge the current state of the market based on the tone of major industry events. The organizers of IPEX report overall attendance at the 2002 show hit 65,451 people, which represents about a 30 percent decline from the final count for IPEX 98. Overseas visitors reportedly

Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. moved into violet imaging CTP technology by previewing three internal-drum systems that feature 30mW laser diodes for exposing photopolymer plates. The Saber Luxel Vx-6000 CTP handles a 29.5x26.4˝ maximum plate size and is offered in manual and semi-automatic configurations. The Saber Luxel V-9600 CTP and Vx-9600 CTP support a 45.7x37.8˝ maximum plate size and initially will be available in a fully automatic configuration. The Vx model supports a slightly larger imaging area and will be offered in manual and semi-automatic configurations in the future. Write in 382 on Reader Service Card Delphax Technologies debuted the Imaggia II series of sheetfed