Muller Martini

alabama MONTGOMERY—The installation of an Agfa-based CTP system has been completed at Montgomery Living Press. Its Apogee Create Series 3 workflow and EskoScan F14 are now in full production along with the Agfa Xcalibur 45 with online TP 105 plate processor. arkansas ROGERS—The RoArk Group will implement a fully integrated software solution from CRC Information Systems, including THE System's Commercial Estimating, Dynamic Scheduling and Automatic Data Collection modules, as well as complete accounting, fulfillment and e-commerce applications. california OXNARD—Custom Printing has purchased a 28˝ Heidelberg cylinder diecutting machine to bolster its workflow. The new equipment is expected to more than double the speed of

WESTAMPTON, NJ—In another positive sign that things are turning around for the better in the graphic arts, a special customer expo conducted here recently by MBO America and Muller Martini attracted more than 250 participants. Held in early June at MBO America's Westampton headquarters, the exposition was attended by key executives and technicians from facilities that operate or plan to run binderies. Their focus was on a variety of finishing solutions that were operated continuously throughout the event. Werner Naegeli, president and CEO of Muller Martini, headed the team representing his company at the event. "It's always great to meet face-to-face with bindery

WESTAMPTON, NJ—Muller Martini and MBO America recently held a joint bindery customer expo at MBO's headquarters. The event attracted more than 250 participants. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has issued the first international safety standard for printing press systems: ISO 12648:2003 Graphic technology—Safety requirements for printing press systems. The standard was developed by ISO Technical Committee 130 (TC 130) Working Group 5 (Safety and Ergonomics). The committee is administered by NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies with NPES Vice President William K. "Kip" Smythe and Director of Standards Programs Mary Abbott serving as convener and secretary, respectively. Dauphin Graphic Machines

Windy City Printer Upgrades Bindery CHICAGO—Schiele Graphics, a member of the Schiele Group, has purchased a Duplo System 4000 collator bookletmaker from Best Graphics. John Schiele, president, says that what got him excited about the machine was its ability to perform "intelligent collating," an add-on computer and software system that enables complex collating functions involving multiple components. alabama MONTGOMERY—Davis Printing has reportedly become the first printer in the state to employ FM screening. Creo's Prinergy workflow, two Intigris 800 proofers and a Trendsetter 800 Quantam are being used to produce 20 micron Staccato screening. The company plans to produce 90 percent of its

By Erik Cagle Old-fashioned hard work and forging genuine, lasting relationships with clients enabled Kevin Polley's Apple Graphics to carve a niche in the Southern California sheetfed market. And now, with a little help from some new friends, the Duarte, CA-based company (10 miles east of Pasadena) is playing the role of a large, full-service printer within the confines of its 25,000-square-foot facility. Rarely has a half-size printer, with 50 employees and annual sales approaching $10 million, boasted the firepower that Apple Graphics possesses. Unlike smaller independents, Apple Graphics has enjoyed a wealth of resources ever since its 1999 acquisition by Houston print

by chris bauer Read all about it: The latest generation of newspaper presses are more than black-and-white machines churning out The Daily Rag. Color is here to stay—and newspaper press manufacturers are providing a column's worth of features and automated functions to advance newspaper printing beyond its traditional role. "Ever increasing color expansion is an ongoing trend in the American and global newspaper market," says David Stamp, global director of marketing for Goss International. "This drives four-high tower addition projects to existing installed presses—a very topical subject in the United States in 2003." Stamp sees many of his customers investing in press enhancements to

By Erik Cagle The workflow process of a commercial printer is a lot like a 4x400 relay team in track and field: all the components of the team must be equally strong in order to be successful, and the final step is as important, even more so, than any other. After all, you don't want the anchor leg dropping the baton. The world of stackers and palletizers is the equivalent of the anchor leg, as it prepares finished product for delivery. Thus while not as ballyhooed as the sexier prepress parts of printing operations, its customers demand the ultimate in reliability, durability and

Paper Signs Deal for New Press PEORIA, IL—The Peoria Journal Star, a Copley Press property, has signed with MAN Roland for a new Geoman press to replace its current Goss letterpress system. The 42-couple, eight-web machine, earmarked to more than double the paper's color capacity, will reside in a new 66,000-square-foot extension that's being added to the company's facility here. california ANAHEIM—KNI Inc., a book manufacturer, has acquired Complete Reproduction Service, a Santa Ana, CA-based book manufacturer. The two companies will operate from the KNI facility here. Additional equipment that will be added include a three-knife trimmer, Wire-O and spiral binding machines,

By Erik Cagle How important is turnaround time in an on-demand, digital printing environment? Moreover, how critical is it to accommodate short-run finishing needs without outsourcing? Just ask Tom O'Brien, president of Greenville, NC-based AccuCopy, a digital printing operation with annual sales in the $10 million range. "We are in a fairly remote area, geographically," O'Brien says. "We couldn't afford the time it would take to send jobs out for finishing, given that they would have to travel several hundred miles to make it to the nearest trade bindery." AccuCopy, which is slated to move into a new 70,000-square-foot facility this spring, utilizes three Xerox DocuTech 6155s

Kinko's Buys ImageX DALLAS—Kinko's has acquired ImageX for approximately $16.5 million in cash. ImageX finished the fourth quarter with $12.3 million in cash and total assets of $25.2 million. Kinko's will use ImageX's technology to enhance its DocStore and Kinkos.com offerings. Kinko's does not now offer an online system by which customers can order business cards or stationery. But that will change once the acquisition is completed. Watchtower Adds Web Presses WESTMONT, IL—The Watchtower Society of the Jehovah's Witnesses is set to install seven MAN Roland Lithoman web presses in July, with two going to the U.S. and one each slated for Mexico, Brazil, England, South Africa