Padgett Printing

THERE HAS been a tradition in the printing industry of categorizing work based on the process used to produce it—i.e., sheetfed vs. web offset, and now digital printing. Run length, of course, is the most important distinguishing factor, but process-based characterizations have also been made about color and print quality. As adoption of digital printing continues to grow, more printers are integrating all three levels of output capabilities to meet the long and short of their clients’ needs. Advances in technology, adoption of standards and evolving customer expectations are making it more realistic for such shops to just generically offer printing (high quality, of

West Coast Bindery Folds Faster LOS ANGELES—Hart Bindery, a trade shop serving color houses, ad agencies, and web and sheetfed printers, recently installed a Vijuk–G&K V-14 commercial/miniature folder. Replacing three existing folders, the V-14 is being used to fold small leaflets to accommodate Hart’s pharmaceutical customers. Iowa Printer Seeks Perfection LOGAN, IA—Specializing in school textbooks and workbooks, Perfection Press has upgraded its printing capabilities with the purchase of a four-color Heidelberg Printmaster PM 74 perfector. ARIZONA PHOENIX—A new four-color Heidelberg Printmaster PM 52 is now in operation at direct mail operation United Printing & Mailing. Steve Woods Printing Co., also based in

Centenarian Printer Continues to Evolve BARBERTON, OH—Davis Printing is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The company was founded in 1906 by John R. Davis., who produced a weekly newspaper and provided printing services to the public. Today, the full-service commercial printer offers sheetfed offset and digital printing, complete bindery, mailing and fulfillment, and Web-based services. Recently, Davis Printing also acquired Merrick Graphics. Steve Merrick was named Davis Printing’s vice president of marketing and president of the new creative division, Merrick Design Group. ALABAMA MONTGOMERY—Wells Printing has installed a Sakurai 675SD sheetfed press with coater. It was purchased through dealer Independent Graphic Services.

How does a 100-year old printing company map out a robust path of growth for the 21st century? David Torok, CEO of Texas-based Padgett Printing, ought to know. He’s spent the past 17 years guiding Padgett through an extraordinary evolution from traditional print provider to a cross-media powerhouse. Under his leadership, the company grew in sales from $8 million to over $29 million and has become a major digital and offset technology leader capable of producing and mailing 750,000 pieces per day. Torok brings over 30 years of industry experience to Padgett, is active in national printing activities, and has agreed to speak at

Corporate Express Document & Print Management in Wichita, KS, was the recipient of a 2006 Supplier of Excellence Award from Hospira Inc., a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Dan Miller, finishing manager at Ripon Printers, has retired and was replaced by Randy Hartl, who joined the Ripon, WI-based company in May. Great Lake Integrated (GLI) has announced two staff appointments. Steve Caskey is the new warehouse manager at the GLDirect facility in Avon Lake, OH, and Timothy Hogan is an account executive based at GLI’s Cleveland headquarters. Cadmus Communications has hired Andy Johnson as executive vice president of print services for Cadmus’ Publisher Services Group. In this role,

Integrating digital and offset workflows drives efficiency at Dallas printer ROCHESTER, NY—August 23, 2006—Over the past two years, sales at Padgett Printing have increased 50 percent, strong growth made more impressive by the fact that Padgett added no new equipment during this period. Instead, David Torok, President of Padgett Printing, attributes his company’s success to a unified workflow that integrated production, color and data processes. “We’ve seen higher throughput, quality and accuracy ever since we first implemented Kodak Unified Workflow solutions several years ago to manage our offset and new digital printing capabilities,” said Torok. “Thanks in large part to our Kodak Unified Workflow

Flag Contest Waves In 50th Anniversary BERRYVILLE, VA—Berryville Graphics, a book products manufacturer that’s part of arvato Print, a Bertelsmann company, has begun a year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary. As part of the celebration, a Berryville 50th anniversary flag design contest was created for the plant’s workers. Four Colour Imports, a Louisville, KY-based book manufacturing representative for Friesens Printing in Canada and Everbest Printing in China, has hired Ronald Hicks as the company’s Northeast sales representative covering New York City and New England. Also, Kara Mills transitions into sales from production manager, handling 10 states. Bob Hanon, former owner of Hanon Printing, has joined

Bindery Goes Large With New Diecutter MOUNT VERNON, OH—Coyne Graphic Finishing, a full-service binding and finishing company, has installed a custom-manufactured Cauhe large-format diecutting machine to produce P-O-P displays and similar products. The Spanish-made Cauhe machine has a 65x120˝ cutting bed, making it among the largest of its kind in the United States. This machine is the company’s fourth large-format diecutter. Growth From ESOP Results in Stitcher BOISE, ID—Alexander Clark Printing, a full-service web and sheetfed shop, recently expanded capacity by purchasing a new Best Osako Estar saddlestitcher from distributor Best Graphics. The added capacity comes just two years after the printer adopted an ESOP plan, resulting

Workflow Management, parent company of WorkflowOne, Relizon, Freedom Graphics Services and United Envelope, has named its senior management team. Mike Zawalski has rejoined the Workflow Management team as president and COO. In addition, Ed Larkin has joined the company as senior vice president of business development. Zawalski will be responsible for overseeing WorkflowOne and Relizon operations, while Larkin will be in charge of Workflow Management’s strategic growth plans, including mergers and acquisitions. Vertis announced the recent ISO 14001-2004 Environmental Management Systems (EMS) re-certification and upgrade of its North Brunswick, NJ; Bristol, PA; and Chalfont, PA, facilities. The certification granted by SGS ensures that the organization

Don’t tell David Torok that the world of commercial printing isn’t viewed as a commodity. The president of Dallas-based Padgett Printing is all too aware of the perception given to an industry once known as a craft, sprinkled profusely with seasoned craftsmen, all but eroded by bottom-line pricing, reverse auctions and print buyers willing to forego longstanding relationships with trusted print providers. Instead of crying in their collators, companies such as Padgett Printing have survived, and even thrived, by accentuating their offerings with value-added services and variable data digital printing solutions. The digital end has only strengthened Padgett’s position with traditional sheetfed and web