Muller Martini

arizona PHOENIX—Heidelberg USA has installed its Prinect Prinance Print Management System at Steve Woods Printing. The Prinance package works seamlessly with another manufacturer's digital prepress system and a trio of large- and small-format presses, as well as with its Heidelberg/Polar 137 cutter, and TD66 and TD78 folders. california Los Angeles—Sinclair Printing, owned and operated for 75 years by the Sinclair family, has stepped up its booklet production by adding a new BravoPlus saddlestitching system from Muller Martini to its full-service bindery. Roseville—Master Color is now running a two-color Heidelberg Printmaster QM 46. The new equipment is being used to produce stationery, brochures and newsletters.

Xerox Mourns Loss of Hatch ROCHESTER, NY—Gilbert J. Hatch, president of the Production Systems Group at Xerox Corp., died Aug. 26 after a long battle with cancer. During his 35-year career with Xerox, Hatch held a number of senior technical and general management positions in the United States and Great Britain. Allied Buys First "Drupa" Press MANCHESTER, CT—Allied Printing Services earned the distinction of purchasing the first Drupa-version large-format sheetfed press from KBA North America. The six-color, 56˝ KBA Rapida 142 press with aqueous coating is slated to be installed and running at Allied by the end of this month. Freedom Acquires MetroWebb MILTON, WI—Direct mail

Eastman Kodak's Graphic Communications Group (GCG) announced its new marketing team. The team reports to Barbara Pellow, chief marketing officer and vice president, Graphic Communications Group. The new GCG marketing team is as follows: Christopher Payne, director of product planning and strategy; Eileen McMahon, market planning manager; and Mark Weber, group director of alliances and acquisitions. Segment managers have been appointed to develop marketing programs in Kodak's four key market segments. The segment managers are: Paula Balik, in-plant printing; Andre Hill, corporate data centers and service bureaus; Charles Hura, digital services; and Cheryl Nelan, commercial printing. Also, Anthony Sanzio joins the group as marketing communications director,

california LOS ANGELES—Donahue Printing, a family owned printing company in business for 70 years, has installed a new seven-color, 40˝ Mitsubishi Diamond 3000S sheetfed press. WALNUT—Reinberger Printwerks reports the installation of two new two-color Heidelberg QM46 presses, as well as a new Konica Minolta digital imaging system. florida ORLANDO—Allegra Print and Imaging has purchased the Heidelberg Printmaster PM 52 it had been testing after an eight-month trial period. Allegra became the first shop in the U.S. to test the four-color Printmaster 52 press and has produced more than two million finished pieces since installation in November 2003. georgia ATLANTA—Vertis announced that 18 members of

california NORTH HOLLYWOOD—Akers Brothers & Sister Printing, in business since 1944, has installed a Kluge EHF series press. Akers is using the new equipment for diecutting and foil stamping booster cards, a small card printed on 24-pt. adhesive coated stock. Additionally, the press will be used for similar applications on auto-lock bottom boxes. SANTA ANA—B&Z Printing has purchased a new Best Osako 368 saddlestitcher from Best Graphics. colorado COLORADO SPRINGS—Pikes Peak Litho has installed a 400 watt/inch cold UV curing system from PRI Technologies on its seven-color, 77˝ Harris press. DENVER—Document Imaging, an information and data management services company, has changed its name to

Folder Operators Go Back to School WESTAMPTON, NJ—Twelve folding machine operators representing seven different companies came to MBO America headquarters recently to participate in 2.5 days of in-depth, hands-on training at the MBO Fold School. Trainees were able to observe or operate three different folding machines, including the automated Perfection. Directed by Dave Trutzenbach, an authority on binding operations and equipment, the MBO Folding School provides the opportunity for operators to improve their knowledge and proficiency regardless of their skill level. NAK Marketing & Communications, an agency that has served many of the leading brands in the graphic arts industry for over 14 years,

arizona PHOENIX—Steve Woods Printing opened its doors with a dedication celebration in May. Steve is the son of Frank Woods, formerly of Woods Lithographics. CALIFORNIA SAN MARCOS, CA—Golden State Graphics recently added to its bindery a Vijuk 321-T saddlestitcher. florida DeLEON SPRINGS—E.O. Painter Printing held its 100th annual stockholders and directors meeting recently. The company, which traces its origin to 1873, was purchased and incorporated by Sidney Weller Johnston, the current company president's grandfather. MIAMI—Color K Graphics purchased a KBA 74 Karat digital offset press with coater during Drupa. PENSACOLA—Six Stahl B30 buckle plate folders have been installed at Pensacola Christian College. georgia

by Dennis E. Mason The just-finished Drupa 2004 in Germany was unquestionably the most comprehensive graphic arts trade show in the world. Nowhere else but every four years in Düsseldorf can one see the breadth and depth of equipment, supplies, software and processes on display for two weeks. Although Drupas are dominated by the likes of Heidelberg, MAN Roland and KBA, with their particularly press-centric focus, it also provides a forum for companies that are far less well known, and for firms that only wish to be known. And while many journey to Drupa to see the latest in presses, or a complete

Window into the Future With the hustle and bustle of last month's Drupa 2004 now completed, this issue highlights some of the new products that became commercially available during the 14-day event, various vendor announcements, as well as a peek into future technologies that will shape the graphics arts industry for years to come. Just as important, the general sentiment among the more than 394,000 visitors and 1,860 exhibitors filling 17 halls was that market conditions—albeit fragile—are showing signs of a sustained recovery. Referred to by many as the "JDF Drupa," it should have been termed the "Workflow Drupa" even though, as Frank Romano

By Mark Michelson Editor-in-Chief The rain may have made it a bit more difficult for visitors to maneuver between the 17 halls during the first week of the 14-day Drupa 2004 trade exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany, last month, but that surely didn't dampen the spirits of the reported 394,000-plus attendees. Nor did it keep the 1,862 equipment, software and consumables exhibitors representing 52 nations from showcasing their latest R&D and product development efforts. And while there may not have been any one "blockbuster" piece of equipment or technology that everyone at the show was buzzing about, there surely was an assortment of new product