Presstek Inc.

Colter & Peterson announced that Bill Dwyer has been appointed as its new manager in charge of dealer sales for Saber, Prism, Schneider Engineering and Maxima Plus paper cutters, as well as Knorr, Rachner and Schneider paper handling equipment. Van Son has appointed Robert Speijer as president of Van Son Holland Ink of America. Van Son's most recent president, Joe Bendowski, has decided to change his responsibilities and begin his transition toward retirement after 40 years with the company. Speijer comes to Van Son with more than 20 years of experience in management and marketing at the international level. In addition, John Sammis, as general

BY MARK SMITH Printing is one of the few places where eight is a magic number. Even the once standard eight-hour day for many has become an artifact of a simpler time. Eight-page production, however, continues to be the standard of comparison for most facets of the printing process. For a time it seemed to be the de facto size for computer-to-plate (CTP) solutions. Eight may indeed be enough, but it also can be too little or too much. Two-up platesetters actually helped pioneer the direct-to workflow and technology, albeit using paper and polyester plates. Small-format metal systems have been a more recent

CHICAGO—The feeling inside McCormick Place was one of optimism as the 2002 Graph Expo and Converting Expo exhibition featured crowded aisles, nearly 38,000 attendees, full seminar rooms, well-attended product demonstrations, 570 exhibitors and buyers from more than 9,600 companies. "Solid attendance, strong sales performance, full seminar sessions and abundant networking opportunities all characterized the annual event, creating the success for the industry that was sorely needed," reports Regis J. Delmontagne, Graphic Arts Show Co. (GASC) president. And, after last year's big-ticket event, PRINT 01, was brought to a halt by the September 11 terrorist attacks, it was reassuring to see crowded exhibit areas and

Enovation Graphic Systems announced the formation of Arkin Graphics, which will be based in Flushing, NY. The new company was created to acquire the graphic arts products distribution business from Arkin-Medo Inc. As an Enovation company, Arkin Graphics will continue to serve the companies and customers that Arkin-Medo established over the past 80 years. Creo Inc. has appointed Jonathan Agger as product marketing manager for scanning solutions in North America and Latin America. He has held positions with Agfa, Polaroid Graphic Imaging and Sprockets.com. Screen (USA) is marking its 35th anniversary with an assessment of its success in satisfying its customers and providing quality products. Results

BY MARK SMITH Job Definition Format (JDF) support came the closest to being a theme among prepress exhibits at the recent Graph Expo and Converting Expo 02 in Chicago. The competitive pressure to beat the drum for JDF compliance may be causing an unintended complication, however. There are signs of a growing trend toward JDF being equated with all efforts to digitally integrate the entire print production process, a concept also known as computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM). That leap is not completely accurate, or at least premature. JDF capabilities are not precisely a successor to the CIP3/4 support touted by manufacturers in the

CALIFORNIA CITY OF COMMERCE—Ross Bindery has purchased a Best Osako 368 AutoSet saddle stitcher from Best Graphics. The unit is the company's 13th Osako and the third 368 Ross has installed in the past several months. COSTA MESA—Western Litho has installed a new Rollem TR die-score system. A new addition to the company's bindery department, the TR system is used for scoring, perfing, trimming and right-angle processing. OXNARD—Custom Printing Director of Sales Charles Utts announced that the company plans to expand its plant after acquiring an additional 5,000 square feet of manufacturing floor space and sales offices. SAN CARLOS—A Presstek Dimension 200 thermal

Richard Mascola has been appointed regional sales manager for MAN Roland's commercial web division, overseeing a territory that includes the Midwest and Manitoba, Canada. Mascola will be based in the Chicago area. For the past four years, Mascola served as regional sales manager of American Roller Co. Also, Michael Lake, a 20-year veteran of the graphic arts industry, has joined MAN Roland as a district sales manager in Minnesota and North and South Dakota. Previously, Lake served for 16 years with the Gannett Co. in a variety of executive positions. American Binding Co., based in Miami Beach, recently announced that it has merged with Italian-based

PALO ALTO, CA—R.R. Donnelley announced the development of a new Inventory Management Solution (IMS), which is a book-on-demand, soft-cover production system that it says is designed to help book publishers improve cash flow through shorter printing runs. The system will combine a HP Indigo 3000 digital color press with an integrated, in-line binding module. According to John Conley, vice president of digital services for R.R. Donnelley, the first IMS module will be installed this summer in the company's Harrisonburg, VA, book plant. (www.rrdonnelley.com / www.hp.com) HUDSON, NH/VANCOUVER—Presstek Inc. and Creo Inc. report signing an agreement under which Presstek's Anthem chemistry-free

CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE—The County of Riverside has installed a two-color, 173⁄4x223⁄4˝ Sakurai 258EIIZ press. SACRAMENTO—Dome Printing has tripled the speed of its soft cover book binding capabilities with the August installation of a new 21-pocket Muller Martini Corona perfect binding system. The company now has the ability to utilize Polyurethane Reactive (PUR) glues, especially for the production of lay-flat books. SAN FRANCISCO—Flexible packaging company Lithotype has implemented CRC Information Systems' business management software "THE System." COLORADO LOVELAND—Rocky Mountain region sheetfed printer Vision Graphics has successfully implemented the Printcafe Hagen OA print management system. CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT—Millennium Graphics has signed an agreement with CRC Information Systems

BY MARK SMITH Advancing the capabilities of computer-to-plate (CTP) systems requires plate and platesetter manufacturers to perform a tricky little digital two-step. The pair's timing has to be just right since each half of the CTP solution is useless without the other. While the platesetter may represent a much larger initial investment, the plate really does the leading because of its broader impact on the success of a CTP implementation. As a whole, the printing industry hasn't been content to just dance with the ones (technologies) that brought it to the party. Thermal imaging barely had its coming out before people were looking ahead