Publishers Press

Konica Eyes American Litho GLEN COVE, NY—Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging USA has signed a letter of intent to acquire American Litho, based in Grand Rapids, MI. American Litho manufactures analog and digital offset printing plates for the newspaper and commercial printing markets. American Litho recently opened a new plate manufacturing facility that tripled the plant capacity. American Litho will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging USA. Quebecor World Nets Extension MONTREAL—Quebecor World has reached a $900 million deal with Yellow Book USA to produce said publisher's yellow pages directories through the year 2017. It will encompass the printing of more than

Cary Printing has promoted Debbie Roberson to fill the position of mailing manager. She has been with the Cary, NC-based company for less than a year, but has more than 20 years of mailing experience. Patrick O'Brien has joined Direct Group in Trenton, NJ, as vice president of sales and business development. Padgett Printing in Dallas reports that Matt Pluta has joined the company's sales team. Pluta joined Padgett from Buchanan Visual Communications where he was a sales representative. Baltimore-based Vertis announced that Jim Litwin has joined the company as vice president of marketing research. In his new role, Litwin now leads Vertis' Customer Focus studies and

Cream Rises to the Top This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Printing Industry Hall of Fame, which is co-sponsored by Printing Impressions and the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) School of Print Media. Having played a part in the selection process these past two decades, it's a blur when I think back on all of the industry heavyweights we've honored over the years. I fondly recall former powerhouses like Frank Beddor, The Beddor Cos.; Curtis Bourland, Continental Graphics; Quebecor's Pierre Peladeau; Mark C. Pope III, of Graphic Industries fame; and, of course—among our inaugural class in 1986—the late Harry V. Quadracci, founder

GRAPEVINE, TX—Paul Bremer, former Ambassador to Iraq and a long-time Washington insider, received a standing ovation from an audience of nearly 700 attendees following his speech that kicked off the 53rd annual Web Offset Association (WOA) conference held here recently. This was followed by a speech by Goss International CEO Robert Brown, who challenged WOA and its members to focus on increasing the share of web offset printing and to target marketing originators about the effectiveness of the printed piece. Former CIA Director George Tenet was the keynote speaker on the second day. Some of the other speakers who shared the podium during the general

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor It's only fitting that LIFE magazine should be a barometer for the vitality of the publication market. This de facto "canary in the coal mine" for the magazine publishing market recently had its third incarnation. What's significant about this latest go is that the magazine is now being distributed as a weekly newspaper insert, thereby avoiding subscription and mailing cost issues. Top 10 Publication Printers  CompanySegmentSales(millions)TotalSales(millions) 1*RR DonnelleyChicago$1,887$8,204 2Quebecor WorldMontreal$1,664$6,400 3Quad/GraphicsSussex, WI$740$2,000 4Brown PrintingWaseca, MN$320$400 5Cadmus CommunicationsRichmond, VA$302$445 6Banta Corp.Menasha, WI$184$1,418 6Perry Judd'sWaterloo, WI$184$297 8Publishers Printing/ Publishers Press,Shepherdsville, KY$160$160 9Vertis Inc.Baltimore$158$1,585 10The Sheridan GroupHunt Valley, MD$149$213 Sales figures are

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor Looking back, 2003 has shaped up much the same as 2002 for magazine publishers and publication printers. Both are still holding out hope for a rebound in advertising spending but, at the same time, are wary of to what extent the competitive standing of magazines has permanently changed. Consider one measure of industry activity: the Publishers Information Bureau (PIB) index of consumer magazine ad pages. Through October, advertising revenue was up 8.7 percent, but ad pages were down 0.2 percent compared to the same period in 2002. The comprehensive numbers only tell part of the story, since the

BY chris Bauer Managing Editor The year 2003 can be summed up as a period that had its ups and downs as far as the commercial printing industry is concerned. For every plant closing, there seemed to be a plant expansion project. For every poor financial report, there was a major capital equipment expenditure. Some big names left the industry, making way for a new generation of leaders. And the industry's biggest annual trade show left attendees and exhibitors with a feeling of hope. Let's take a look back. The beginning of the year brought with it changes to the top spots at several

Each year, Printing Impressions magazine and the Rochester Institute of Technology recognize the achievements of four printing executives by inducting them into the Printing Industry Hall of Fame. This year's list of honorees includes Wayne Angstrom, Donald Roland, Nicholas Simon and Donald Walsworth. The four men are to be formally inducted during a gala held at GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO 2003 in Chicago. Wayne Angstrom is the CEO for St Ives Group, U.S. Division, in Miami. He is responsible for the group's commercial and magazine printing interests in the United States. He was appointed to the parent company main board in 1997. He has

By Erik Cagle Does everyone have a price in the business world? Apparently not. Case in point: Nicholas "Nick" Simon, president of Publishers Press and a 2003 Printing Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame inductee. Simon, 45, tells the story of the acquisition that was not in the cards. In the early portion of the 1990s, a major, billion-dollar national player in the commercial printing industry made overtures about acquiring Publishers Press, based in the Louisville, KY, suburb of Shepherdsville. Simon, another Publishers Press executive and a representative for the suitor met for lunch to discuss the proposal. When Simon excused himself from the table, the

CHICAGO—Industry leaders Wayne Angstrom, Donald Roland, Nicholas Simon and Donald Walsworth have been named the 2003 Printing Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame inductees. The four men will be honored during GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO at the Gold Ink Awards and Hall of Fame Gala. The event is scheduled for Monday evening, September 29, here at McCormick Place. The gala recognizes award-winning printing and outstanding individual achievement. * Wayne Angstrom is the CEO for St Ives Group, U.S. Division, in Miami. He is responsible for the group's commercial and magazine printing interests in the United States. He was appointed to the parent company main