Next Generation Printing

Printing Impressions' Across the Nation Commercial Printer News for January 2009

PAUL ROTHSTEIN was selling thermal copy paper (remember that stuff?) out of the back of a borrowed car in 1973. In a former life, he had been a business machine salesman, but suddenly realized that the “real” market was in consumable sales. Looking past the obvious (his traveling salesman selling-out-of-the-back-of-a-car routine), Rothstein saw that there was a growing demand for quality, customer-oriented, fast-turnaround printing. Shortly thereafter, Canton, MA-based Copytech was born. In those days, Copytech had a single one-color press and a desktop folder. If the press operator (one of three employees) called in sick, Rothstein had to run the press. Fortunately for him,

The Green Scene NEEDHAM, MA—Atlantic Printing is in its final stage of transition toward a “totally green” offset printing process. Atlantic employs a combination of chemical-free plate making technology (Agfa’s Accento thermal CTP system, which utilizes Agfa’s Azura chemical-free plates), 100 percent soy-based inks (a renewable source that is naturally low in VOCs) and recycled papers (the printer has obtained Forest Stewardship Council Chain-of- Custody certification). CANTON, MA—Several “green” initiatives, including garnering the Forest Stewardship Council Chain-of-Custody certification, have been implemented at Next Generation Printing. The company is also using more recycled papers, including a new “house stock” FSC-certified mixed sheet with 50 percent recycled content,

IF YOU’VE ever visited Philadelphia, you probably ate a cheese steak. Maybe you ordered your cheese steak with extra cheese, grilled onions and hot peppers. That’s Mañana Man style. I’ve had to back off on too many cheese steaks due to my waist line and worsening lactose intolerance.

If you were just visiting Philadelphia, you probably didn’t have any Tastykakes. You have to buy them at the grocery store or a minute market. Personally, I prefer the Chocolate Lovers Cupcakes. They come two in a package, and you have to open the cellophane carefully, so you don’t disrupt the thick chocolate icing on the cupcakes.

Advocating for the use of a computerized management information system can have the feel of preaching to the converted. The true believers have already invested the money and resources to implement a system, gotten staff buy-in, and they routinely act on the data collected. There are less ardent converts, though, who have only implemented select components of an integrated MIS or are so focused on day-to-day operations that they can’t capitalize on the business information being gathered. There are also those shops not actively using an MIS solution for various reasons, a key one being the investment involved. Today’s business demands are causing

Printers Attend Lenticular Seminar Williston, VT—KBA North America recently offered a comprehensive five-day seminar on lenticular printing. The professional development seminar, held at KBA’s headquarters here, brought together KBA’s lenticular, printing and marketing experts with owners and press operators of the KBA Genius 52 UV press. Lenticular printing is a special technique that involves printing an image on the back side of lenticular plastic, allowing the eye to simultaneously view alternating sections of multiple images to give the impression of 3-D, flip, or motion. KBA reports it is planning several repeat seminars this year. Graphic Systems Group in New York City announced the appointment