Presstek Inc.

OVER THE last several months, I have had occasion to speak with a number of print shops that have acquired direct imaging (DI) presses. Out of these conversations have come some common themes that present an interesting picture about where this technology fits in today’s increasingly complex and competitive printing environment. Interest in DI was relatively flat prior to DRUPA 2004, when several new DI technologies were announced. It is these new product developments and continued growth in high quality, short-run color that have created increased momentum behind the DI press. The owners I spoke with had some terrific business growth stories to

Stora Enso has announced the opening of its new Southern California regional distribution center in Montebello, just south of Los Angeles. Len Cammalleri is MAN Roland’s new district sales manager in New York and New Jersey. He has held senior sales and management posts with Hell Graphic Systems, Linotype, Polaroid and Hewlett-Packard. Meanwhile, Gerald Whitlow takes over as district sales manager in Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Diamond Holding Corp. has appointed Matt Greene to the position of technical sales representative. Greene will join the telemarketing department and will be responsible for nationwide sales of the Diamond Express product line. KBA North America has named

Bindery Gear Heads to East Coast Shop LEBANON, PA—Colortech Inc., a full-service commercial printer, recently installed a Vijuk 321-T saddlestitcher. Things Get Bigger in Texas After Install MESQUITE, TX— IntegraColor Inc. has purchased a five-color, 81˝ KBA Rapida 205 sheetfed press, making IntegraColor the first printer in the Southwest with 81˝ litho capabilities. The press has been configured with a special board-handling package and is also to be equipped with UV facilities for printing on plastics. It also incorporates an ICS slitter system and non-stop pile changing for the feeder and delivery. KBA has added its own Densitronic quality control

Landmark 500th CTP Device Installed ROCHESTER, NY—Morris Communications has purchased a thermal CTP newspaper solution from Kodak for its flagship newspaper, The Augusta Chronicle. The transaction marks the 500th Kodak Trendsetter News thermal CTP platesetter device sold. The Kodak solution being installed at The Augusta Chronicle includes two Kodak Trendsetter News devices, NewsManager workflow software, a Prinergy Evo PDF processor and Staccato screening software. Essex Products Group (EPG), a manufacturer of integrated color control systems, reports that Helga Kollegger has been named sales administrator. Kollegger is now the first contact for both current customers and sales inquiries. Punch Graphix plc regrets to announce the death

The sheetfed offset printing market continues to feel pressure—be it from rival markets or outside forces such as pricing battles and shrinking run lengths. As more economical digital print runs extend, and affordable web press runs shorten, manufacturers involved in the small- and medium-format (29˝ and smaller) sheetfed space are equipping their wares with the capabilities needed to compete—and win. “The competition from the web market is becoming more noticeable, but when it comes to the short-run color market, web presses have a number of things going against them,” contends Michael Iburg, product manager, KBA North America. “On a sheetfed press, makeready time is much

Postal Commission OKs Hike WASHINGTON, DC—A 5.4 percent increase in United States Postal Service (USPS) rates virtually across the board has been approved by the Postal Rate Commission. The rate increases were expected to take effect by the middle of January. The increase will help the USPS meet its $3.1 billion escrow payment due in 2006. Nonprofit mailings will go up by 3 percent, while the book rate will balloon 12.7 percent, in accordance with the requirement that all classes of mail cover their direct cost of service. A First Class stamp will rise by 2 cents. Quad Signs Billion Dollar Deal SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics and

arizona PHOENIX—O'Neil Printing has added a new six-color Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52 perfector with coating system. The new press is an upgrade from a five-color Heidelberg GTO 52. Founded in 1908, O'Neil Printing has been an employee-owned company since 1996. TUCSON—Southern Arizona Graphic Associates has installed a new six-color Komori Lithrone S40 press with coater. california ONTARIO—Rey Nelson Printing purchased a five-color, 20˝ KBA Genius 52 waterless UV press while attending PRINT 05 in Chicago. According to company president George Alderson, the 28-year-old trade shop sees a major market opportunity to produce short-run synthetic printing. FLORIDA MOUNT DORA—DMMI Promotions has installed two DocuSheeter

california ANAHEIM—Expedia Media recently installed a Heidelberg Quicksetter 300E imagesetter. The shop purchased a Heidelberg consumables package with the installation, including Saphira RA imagesetting film and chemistry. Founded in 1984, the shop houses 70 employees. SANTA CLARA—Mahoneyprint Services, a provider of 1-to-1 marketing services, is now doing business under the name The Mahoney Co. The name change signifies the completion of the transition from a print provider to a personalized digital marketing solutions provider with its Xerox iGen3 press. As part of the reorganization, The Mahoney Co. is now organized into five divisions. colorado BOULDER—Intermountain Color, also known as IMC Web Graphics, announced it

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor One of the most striking trends to take shape at PRINT 05 & CONVERTING 05 is the degree to which one can now play a "zero degrees of separation" game between vendors of digital printers and prepress workflow systems. Some level of cross-linking seemed to be announced for almost every possible pairing. (More details are included in the "Prepress Workflow and CTP" show recap on page 28.) In terms of the print engines themselves, developments appear to have at least temporarily hit a plateau. The pieces required to build a viable business are already in place, so the focus

Jetrion will move into a new 35,000-square-foot facility in Ypsilanti, MI, in early 2006. The company also has announced the addition of Pitman Co. as a distributor of its ink-jet systems and inks. Kompac, a division of Day International, is celebrating the successful installation of its 100,000th Kompac automatic dampening system. In other news, the company announced the addition of three new team members: Mike Scaglione as director of sales worldwide; Charles Gray as director of supply chain management; and Carmen Costa as marketing manager. Böwe Bell + Howell has launched its Website, www.bbhsupplies.com, offering an expanded product line and supported by a 24-hour