Openfirst

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

PALO ALTO, CA—August 23, 2006—HP today announced that Openfirst, a Quad/Graphics company that specializes in targeted one-to-one marketing communications and information management, has installed three HP Indigo press 5000s to create new targeted business communications for a national client base. The HP Indigo press 5000s support the Milwaukee-based company’s ongoing mission to boost customer value and retention through strategic print and electronic programs. The firm, which sent out more than 500 million pieces of mail in 2005, specializes in leveraging integrated databases and transactional marketing opportunities. The liquid ink offset quality and up to 7- color capability of the HP Indigo press

SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics has obtained a majority interest in direct mail communications provider Openfirst. The deal will see Openfirst operate as a subsidiary of Quad/Graphics, maintaining its name, facilities and management team. With 400 employees and projected revenues of $40 million in 2006, Openfirst was founded by President and CEO Robert Kraft in 1996. The company is based in Milwaukee, with production facilities there and in Fredericksburg, VA. Citing Openfirst’s competence in processing complex data files for quicker mail piece production, Quad/Graphics feels the addition will augment its capabilities in the direct mail sector. “Openfirst’s lettershop capabilities complement our direct marketing expertise,” states Quad/Graphics President and CEO Joel

SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics has obtained a majority interest in direct mail communications provider Openfirst. The deal will see Openfirst operate as a subsidiary of Quad/Graphics, maintaining its name, facilities and management team.With 400 employees and projected revenue of $40 million in 2006, Openfirst was founded by President and CEO Robert Kraft in 1996. The company is…

S. Rosenthal Closes Doors CINCINNATI—S. Rosenthal & Co., a publication and catalog printer that dated back to 1868, perished in April with the demise of its Portland, TN, facility, Heritage Graphics. About 300 people lost their jobs. The company, ranked 117th on the 2005 PI 400 with $47 million in annual sales, never recovered from the loss of its TV Guide printing account. Weyerhaeuser Mulls Move FEDERAL WAY, WA—Weyerhaeuser Co. is considering alternatives for its fine paper business, including a possible sale. The company did confirm it is “in active discussion with several parties,” though it would not guarantee a sale of the fine paper business. Unique Press

ATLANTA—Seiz Printing has added a 12-color Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 perfecting press, among other new gear, to its all-Heidelberg press arsenal.The printer also picked up a six-color Speedmaster CD 102 press with coater and Heidelberg’s off-line UV coating unit. The SM 102, equipped with a CutStar roll sheeter, is expected to increase productivy and expand…

STAMFORD, CT—Cenveo Inc., based on its sale of 63.5 percent interest in Supremex, reported net income of $112.2 million for the first quarter, in sharp contrast to its net loss of $22.6 million for the same period in 2005.Net sales for the quarter dropped to $426.7 million from $449.6 million in 2005, mainly due to…