PTI Marketing Technologies

BY MARK SMITH Two truisms seem to come up in most discussions of computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) in the printing industry. One, print is a custom manufacturing process. Two, it may be the only manufacturing environment in which the customer provides—or at least controls—so much of the raw materials. Striving to build a Smart Factory and implementing CIM-based production are worthwhile goals, but the full benefits only come when the definition of workflow is extended beyond the walls of a printing plant. Connecting to customers' upstream processes is required to achieve true integration. That's a tall order. The range of print customers and applications

Ike Savitt, of Gate Group USA, was recently honored for outstanding export achievements by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Graphics Microsystems has donated its ColorQuick closed-loop color control system to accompany a new Heidelberg Sunday M-2000 web press being installed at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Pisces Print Imaging Sciences has appointed Jonathan Cardin to the position of senior systems consultant. Thomas Lacy Jr. has been named director of customer support. Creo Inc. announced the relocation of its headquarters for North, South and Central America to a 90,000-square-foot facility in Billerica, MA. The facility will house the entire executive, sales and marketing, training and customer

MBO America Hosts "Octoberfest" WESTAMPTON, NJ—More than 150 existing clients and prospects, representing both commercial printers and trade binderies, attended MBO America's open house, which was held over three days recently at its headquarters facility here. With more than a dozen pieces of equipment specially set up for the open house, highlights included a B26-S/644 Perfection buckle folder equipped with an ASP-66ME mobile stream delivery unit, a Navigator control system with touchscreen interface and networked to MBO's Data Manager digital integration software. Also, the highest interest was over a B30-S/4 Perfection folder with a preslitter shaft unit, configured with a Herzog &

The Queen's Award for the overseas sales of book printing presses was presented to Timsons Ltd. at a ceremony at the company's UK headquarters recently. It was attended by all of the company's employees and almost 100 guests. After the reading of the citation, the Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, Lady Juliet Townsend, presented a scroll to Timsons' Managing Director Peter Brown and a commemorative engraved rose bowl to Jane Brown, director and granddaughter of the company founder. Polly USA, previously the independent distributor with the exclusive right to market Polly sheetfed offset presses in the United States and Canada, has been acquired by the

CPS Corp., a sister company of INX International, has been recognized for its environmental record and has been accepted into the National Environmental Performance Program, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Muller Martini has launched a new digital on-demand finishing division. Andrew J. Fetherman was named manager of the new division. Fetherman was formerly product manager for Muller Martini's press division. That post is now held by Donald Geiger. Kim Graven-Nielsen has been named president and CEO of newly formed Esko-Graphics. The company was created after the merger of Purup-Eskofot and Barco Graphics. Presstek Inc. announced the qualification of its Anthem thermal CTP

New Leadership At Roosevelt Paper MOUNT LAUREL, NJ—David Kosloff has become president of Roosevelt Paper, representing the third generation of family ownership. He takes over for his father, Ted Kosloff, who has served as president since 1976. Roosevelt Paper was founded in 1932 by Irv Kosloff. Gämmerler Corp. has realigned its manufacturing plants. Located in Geretsried-Gelting, Germany, Leisnig, Germany, and Hanover Park, IL, each will specialize in the production of a specific set of products. Compensating stacker production, which currently takes place at all three plants, will transfer to Leisnig. The facility in Geretsried-Gelting will focus its operations on the production of robotic palletizers, vertical log