Media Lithographics

Commercial printing industry news briefs, including items on Precision Technology, Toppan, Bang Printing, Ussery, Ripon, IWCO Direct, HBP and RR Donnelley.

Chris Kurtzman, Bang’s President and CEO stated, “This new acquisition will add greater efficiencies, production synergies and huge economies of scale to our West Coast operations.” With the addition of Media Litho, the printer's West Coast operations will offer offset and digital printing with a complete array of binding options.

The 2012 Printing Impressions 400 list of the largest printing companies in the United States and Canada as ranked by annual sales.

(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.) 251 ('03: 245) Fisher Group, Hiawatha, IA Total Sales (Millions): $20.00 Previous Year's Sales (Millions): $20.00 Change (%): - Principal Officer: Martin C. Fisher Employees: 145 Primary Specialties: DM 90%; ADV 6%; CAT 4% Web Offset Press Units: 13 Sheetfed Press Units: 0 Other Press Units: 0

By Noelle Skodzinski It's not likely a big surprise that Quebecor World held fast to its No. 1 spot among the Top Book Manufacturers—ranked by book manufacturing revenues—in the United States and Canada. With a $36 million lead over RR Donnelley, and a $273 million lead over third-ranked Von Hoffmann Corp., Quebecor World isn't likely to lose its position anytime soon. Both top seeds, however, saw book sales drop in 2003. In fact, revenues for three of the top five sank by a total of nearly $130 million. Arvato Print USA (a division of Bertelsmann) and Von Hoffmann were the only two in

(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.) 301 ('02: 193) Colonial Press Int'l, Miami, FL Total Sales (Millions): $17.40 Previous Year's Sales (Millions): $18.60 Change (%): -6 Principal Officer: Jose Gomez Employees: 131 Primary Specialties: COM 30%; PUB 20%; CAT 15%; DIR 15% Web Offset Press Units: 22 Sheetfed Press Units: 18 Other

LOS ANGELES—Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses (MLP U.S.A.) recently held a golf-themed open house here. Guests included clients and prospective customers representing commercial printers, trade shops and publishers from California, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. This was the first in a series of regional gatherings designed to give printers from each area of the country hands-on demonstrations of new developments in sheetfed perfecting technology, according to Randy Siver, business development manager. Billed as "Diamond in the Rough," the event coincided with the recent launch of Mitsubishi's new 40˝ convertible perfector. The Diamond 3000R Double Diamond press is available in up to 12 units (five-over-five

(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.) 302 ('01: —) The Harty Press, New Haven, CT Total Sales (millions): $17.66 Previous Year's (millions): — Change (%): — Principal Officer: George R. Platt Employees: 110 Primary Specialties: DM 35%; COM 35%; ADV 20%; CAT 5% Web Offset Units: 0 Sheetfed Offset Units: 25 Other:

Williamson Institute Proves Its Value Once Again DALLAS—Williamson Printing hosted the third Williamson Institute in February. The educational seminar provided printing knowledge to college students to help enhance their education within the graphic communications industry. Fifty students representing Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University, the University of North Texas and Baylor University attended the seminar. CALIFORNIA ANAHEIM—Pacific West Litho has installed a new six-color, 40˝ Komori Lithrone press equipped with a ColorCommand temperature control/cooling system from TriService. AZUSA—A Steinemann Topspot 102 blanket coater has replaced two silk screen UV coaters at Classic Coating & Laminating. COMMERCE—The transition to a computer-to-plate workflow is complete

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)