Quad/Graphics

by chris bauer Managing Editor Finally, the rumor mill can go silent concerning the status of industry giant Heidelberg Web Systems. Just days before closing this issue, Heidelberg and Goss International reached an agreement on major issues for the intended transfer of the Heidelberg Web Offset division to Goss International. An outline deal has been agreed upon in principle, but some issues remain to be resolved before definitive documents are expected to be executed over the coming weeks. Heidelberg will still display web presses at the upcoming Drupa trade show in Germany, reports Greg Norris, manager of marketing communications. Its newest

Dallas Printers Agree to Merge DALLAS—Impression Graphics and Ussery Printing have agreed to merge, with the company operating under the name of Ussery Printing. The combined companies have 76 employees and roughly $11.7 million in annual sales. The company will be able to produce small- and large-format printing. Quad/Graphics Signs Extension SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics will become the exclusive printer for U.S. News & World Report in January 2005 after the two parties reached an accord on a contract extension. Quad will print 2.2 million weekly copies of the publication for distribution throughout the United States. The work will be produced entirely at Quad facilities in Saratoga Springs, NY,

Tanagraphics, Seybert Merge NEW YORK CITY—Tanagraphics Inc. and Seybert Nicholas Printing Group have signed a definitive merger agreement to form what they claim to be the largest privately held company providing print management solutions in the Big Apple. The new company will be called TanaSeybert and will offer commercial and digital printing, advertising prepress services, bindery and mailing services. TanaSeybert will also offer a full range of integrated Web- and browser-based services. Harris DeWese, chairman of Compass Capital Partners, served as financial advisor for the transaction. Baldwin, technotrans Deal Nixed SHELTON, CT—Baldwin Technology has notified technotrans AG that it will no longer pursue the transaction announced in

WESTAMPTON, NJ—MBO America President and CEO Hans Max and Vice President Hartmut Sohn welcomed 11 Chinese visitors for finishing equipment demonstrations and dialog at the MBO America headquarters here recently. Arranged by US-China Enterprises' New York branch, the guests represented five different printing companies and associations from China. COLUMBUS, GA—Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) has dedicated its printing plate manufacturing facility here as the Edward E. Barr Building. Barr was KPG's first chairman and served on the board of the company until 2003. He retired in 2002 as chairman of Sun Chemical Group, following a 40-year career with the company. Quad/Tech has added two sales

PEWAUKEE, WI—A pressman working the overnight shift at a Quad/Graphics plant in Hartford, WI, died Feb. 3 of injuries he sustained while making repairs on a stacking machine. Phillip Siehr, 40, died three days after the upper table on a stacker retracted and came down, pinning his head, the Waukesha Freeman (WI) newspaper reported Feb. 4. He was liberated by Quad/Graphics employees and transported to Aurora Medical Center in Hartford before being transferred to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa. Mr. Siehr's condition was upgraded to satisfactory on Feb. 2 before succumbing to the injuries the following day, according to the newspaper. According to the report filed

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA—Atlanta Web Printers has opened its second facility, located in Tucker, GA. Along with the physical expansion of its facilities, the publication printer has also restructured the management team. Jerry Williamson, CEO of Williamson Printing, Dallas, has been named the Graphic Arts Leaders of the Americas (GALA) North American award recipient for 2004 by the Printing Association of Florida. He received his award before hundreds of industry leaders and guests at the 21st annual GALA awards banquet during Graphics of the America 2004 in Miami Beach. F.E. Treis, Arandell Corp. chairman, was recently honored for 60 years of leadership at the

california BURBANK—California Coast Color has added a four-color, 40˝ Mitsubishi Diamond 3000S sheetfed press. It is the second Mitsubishi for the 12,500-square-foot shop with 20 employees. COSTA MESA—Hoover Printing & Lithography is now operating its newly installed, six-color HP Indigo digital press. SAN LUIS OBISPO—Herschel "Hank" Apfelberg, longtime professor of graphic communication at Cal Poly, died January 13 at Stanford University Hospital at the age of 67. Mr. Apfelberg started his career as a linotype operator/compositor. Before coming to Cal Poly, where he taught from 1971 to 2001, he worked as a process engineer and rotogravure administrator for American Can and as printing superintendent

Phototype Updates Facility CINCINNATI—Queen City printer Phototype has taken the wraps off its newly renovated, 40,000-square-foot facility that will house its headquarters and creative imaging center. The existing facility, a historic building, received a multimillion dollar facelift that included a two-story addition. Phototype also operates an imaging center in Columbus, OH, and a high-end creative art studio in Chicago. Quad Names Quadracci Sr. VP SUSSEX, WI—Joel Quadracci has been promoted to senior vice president of sales and administration by Quad/Graphics, and has been named a member of the board of directors. Quadracci served as the company's vice president of print sales for the previous four years. Quad/Graphics

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor Consumer spending was the only positive note on the economic front for some time, but that doesn't mean the numbers still couldn't stand some improvement. Now that the recovery has broadened to include business spending as it continues to gain steam, catalog printers have reason to be more upbeat about business prospects going into 2004, thanks to the trickle-down benefits of all this spending. "Positive economic trends bode well for the catalog industry in 2004," agrees Dan Knotts, president of Magazine, Catalog and Retail Industries at RR Donnelley. "As consumer confidence builds, catalogers will see growth again—albeit at

OKLAHOMA CITY—Quad/Graphics recently inaugurated operations at its newest plant with a grand opening celebration headlined by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry, Newsweek magazine executives and Quad/Graphics President and CEO Tom Quadracci. The event—which featured a plant dedication and ribbon cutting, equipment startup, lunch and tours—drew approximately 500 guests, including Oklahoma state, county and city officials, as well as Quad/Graphics employees and family members. The new Oklahoma City plant, located off I-240, is Quad/Graphics' ninth domestic printing plant and the company's first printing facility west of the Mississippi River. The company is also constructing another 385,000 square feet of manufacturing space to accommodate the startup of gravure