NAPL

Not much on TV interests me. For me, all of this new interest in televised poker is like watching soccer, which is like watching paint dry. I guess it helps printing. Somebody has to print all the poker playing cards and the government has to print the money. I don't understand why the Travel Channel shows so much poker, which has nothing to do with going anywhere. I guess poker is a sport and it's okay for ESPN, which got the idea from the Travel Channel, to show the poker tournaments. Then there are about five or six shows about building custom-made motorcycles. Watching heavily

The Soderstrom Society of the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) has named Jim Hyder, president and CEO of Fetter Printing, Louisville, KY, and former NAPL chairman, recipient of the 44th annual Walter E. Soderstrom Award. Allen Conway, executive vice president for the resale custom division of Cenveo Inc., has been appointed to the position of president of the Cenveo resale segment doing business as Quality Park. In addition, Bob Hart, current president of the resale segment, has accepted a position as special assistant to the chairman. The Worldwide Printing Thermographers Association (WPT) has announced the winners of its 7th annual Excellence in Thermography Contest—the

This is my 20th anniversary column. I have written 220 columns. I don't have to write columns for the month of July because Printing Impressions always publishes a buyer's guide directory for that month. Otherwise, I would have written 240 columns. After I wrote them, Printing Impressions actually published all 220 columns, no matter what I said. For example, who can forget when, in December of 1984, I wrote, "Selling is probably the least important funkshun in the printing bidness. Somebody has to go out and pick up the orders." I added, "Salespeople are snakes and charlatans. Don't trust 'em. Just send 'em

When Niels Winther stepped down as head of North American business operations for Heidelberg in July, a well-seasoned replacement was named in James Dunn. In his more than three decades with the German-based press manufacturing giant, Dunn has held numerous management positions, including president of the Heidelberg Americas shared services division and CFO of Heidelberg Web Systems. James DunnAs the company strives to get back to its core competencies after divesting its Web Offset and Digital Printing operations, Dunn talks to Printing Impressions about his new role within Heidelberg, the current state of the U.S. printing market and the future of the printing industry. PI:

This column is being written on a sixth grade reading level so Marvelle Stump can understand it. Even so, America's worst printing salesman will call me and ask me to explain the column. Every once in a while I do the unthinkable and think. I'm doing that now while I try to come up with a topic. This is pressure. Thinking up a topic is pressure. Pressure. Wait that's it! I'll write about selling under pressure! I'll lay a little pressure on you and maybe you'll sell a little better. Let me tell you about pressure. I'm talkin' about intense pressure. This is the

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,

More Than 700 Get Connected At EFI Event LAS VEGAS—The plush MGM Grand Hotel and Casino was the mecca for approximately 700 worldwide customers as EFI/Connect 2004, Printcafe's fifth annual user's conference, paid a visit to Sin City June 27-30. The conference resembled a mini Graph Expo, with 22 exhibitors showcasing complementary equipment, and 162 educational seminars for users of EFI workflow solutions. The conference opened with a state-of-the-industry report by Andrew Paparozzi, the NAPL's chief economist, titled, "Success Factors of the Profit Leaders." Paparozzi pointed out that the recession has been much more severe for the industry than it has for the rest

RESTON, VA - Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC) reports it already has sold more exhibit floor space at the upcoming GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO 2004 than ultimately was sold figure for the 2003 show. The event will be held October 10-13, 2004 in Chicago's McCormick Place Complex. According to the show company, the floor plan was expanded three months ago to accommodate an influx of requests for booth space. It expects the current floor plan to be sold out completely come October. The show's Mailing & Fulfillment Center has been expanded to double its previous size (in 2003). The Wide Format Pavilion

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor Nothing breeds imitation like success, but it is possible for there to be too much of a good thing. And, timing really is everything. Enough with the clichés. Such sayings suffer from overuse, though, because their wisdom resonates with people. So what does that have to do with fulfillment? For some years now, "industry experts" have been advising printers of the need to diversify and offer value-added services in order to thrive. Given the number of companies that now proclaim they offer mailing and fulfillment, expanding into these services would seem to be the one true industry success

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor The end had to come sooner or later. Everyone knew the buyer's market for printing stocks simply couldn't last forever. Eventually, the adjustments made in papermaking capacity by suppliers and increasing demand fueled by the economic recovery had to bring price increases that stick. Paper companies have announced or already implemented price hikes for most grades, and another round of increases may be in the offing before the end of the year. There's little reason to hope for a repeat of 2003, when increases were floated, but never fully implemented or were subsequently rolled back. Perhaps the clearest