Here's a handy alphabetical listing of leading prepress operations from throughout the United States. Accu-ColorDiv. Mail-Well Print Group11786 Westline Ind. Dr.St. Louis, MO 63146314-993-5669; 800-327-5191; fax: 314-993-6357http://www.accu-color.comPrepublishing sales: $12.5 millionContact: Michael Smith, vice president of salesAgency/corp./comm.= 25% Books= 20%, Catalogs= 5%, Packaging= 5%, Printers= 10%, Retail inserts= 5%, Other= 30% American Color Div. American Color Graphics100 Winners CircleBrentwood, TN 37027615-377-7500; 800-344-8644; fax: 615-377-7501http://www.amcolor.comPrepublishing sales: $83 millionContact: Sharon Brooks, Corp. marketing managerAgency/corp./comm.= 3%, Catalogs= 8%, Magazines= 30%, Packaging= 5%, Printers= 13%, Retail inserts= 26%, Other= 15% American Color Systems16645 W. Greenfield Ave.New Berlin, WI 53151-1424414-786-9648; 800-390-9140; fax: 414-786-9037info@acscom.comPrepublishing sales: N/AContact: Tom
Quad/Graphics
Commercial printers, trade shops, publishers and industry suppliers are banding together under the Graphics Century Project (GCP) umbrella to share critical information and find practical solutions concerning common Y2K problems. BY ERIK CAGLE (Editor's Note: This is the second in a year-long series of articles examining the Y2K problem as it applies to the commercial printing industry. This installment takes a look at the Graphics Century Project, an association-led effort to exchange knowledge.) Pat Maher will be one of the first to admit that the commercial printing industry falls short in the
BY CHRISTOPHER CORNELL If you spent any time at all in 1998 reading the quarterly reports issued by publicly traded printing companies, you are probably up to your Y2K-compatible eyeballs with the term "record-breaking." But as the year draws to an end, it's clear that the phrase will be remembered as the one that most describes it. In previous years, consolidation was an interesting sidelight to other major events in the graphic arts industry. In 1998, it was all about consolidation. More than $3 billion was spent by larger fish swallowing up smaller ones, and while a few big names led the charge, they
Though caution is key in what will most likely be a light ad market for certain portions of the publications segment, the powerful micro-publishing push and a moderate softening of paper prices should make 1999 one very vibrant year. BY MARIE RANOIA ALONSO Get out the sunglasses—the publications segment is glowing. Sure, the consolidation of titles and, in many cases, the shutdown of titles have impacted players in the publications printing market. But overall the continued strength of special-interest and trade titles, coupled with moderate paper pricing, is allowing the publications segment to virtually beam. Top 10 Publication Printers CompanySegmentSales(millions)Total Sales(millions)1R.R. Donnelley & SonsChicago$1,261.00$4,850.002Quebecor PrintingMontrea$1,009.20$3,480.003World
BY ERIK CAGLE Even as they seem to be up to their M-3000s with jobs, catalog printers can't seem to get enough work. They're as busy as ever, yet a hunger for new applications can't be satiated. Take R.R. Donnelley & Sons, of Chicago, North America's largest commercial printer. Donnelley amassed more than $1.3 billion in catalog printing sales, yet it is developing new market niches with Select Source, which integrates catalog merchandise into specialized Internet sites. Catalogers are matched with subject-specific editorial on high-traffic Web sites. Top 10 Catalog Printers CompanySegmentSales(millions)Total Sales(millions) 1R.R. Donnelley & SonsChicago$1,309.50$4,850.00 2Quad/GraphicsPewaukee, WI$561.20$1,220.00 3Quebecor PrintingMontreal $487.20$3,480.00 4World Color PressGreenwich,
During his nearly 70-year career, Harry R. Quadracci has overseen 121 press installations. BY ERIK CAGLE It didn't take long for Harry R. Quadracci to prove what kind of man he was. In fact, he proved it while still a boy. The Quadracci family had moved to America from Italy in 1906 in search of a better life. His father opened a grocery store in Racine, WI, after they settled in, but The Great Depression would leave millions of people, the Quadraccis included, bankrupt. That's when Harry Quadracci stepped to the forefront. He had taken up printing at the age of 15 as a
BY CHERYL A. ADAMS Welcome to this special (fictional) edition of the game show "Jeopardy," where the contestants are printers, paper manufacturers, paper merchants and industry experts. The category is "Global Competition and World Markets." The question: "Is offshore paper usage affecting domestic demand?" But wait. This is a special bonus round. There's an economic crisis in Asia. The high hopes of European paper suppliers to sell their grades in Asian markets have backfired. Tons of paper, including coated free sheet, are headed for American shores. So contestants, get ready. Here's your chance to score big with a special bonus-round question: "What are
Printing Impressions spotlights the premier color prepress operations in the United States. Rankings are based on self-reported, annual prepress sales figures. Total annual sales, which are sometimes a combination of prepress and printing revenues, were not used for ranking purposes. 1. Applied Graphics TechnologiesNew YorkPhone: (212) 929-4111Fax: (212) 929-8782Web: www.agt.comPrepress sales: $206 millionPlants: 50Employees: 3,559Principal officer: Fred Drasner, CEOSpecial services: OPI, DTP/CEPS links, Creative/design, Conventional photography, Digital photography, File prep for CTP, Digital asset management, CD-ROM/multimedia production, Audio/video, Web server, Web-site production, Facilities management 2. R.R. Donnelley & SonsChicagoPhone: (312) 326-8042Fax: (312) 326-7132Web: www.rrdonnelley.comPrepress sales: $150 millionPlants: 35Employees: 26,000Principal officer:
CTP allows Quad/Graphics to break conventions—and break free from conventional plates. BY JERRY JANDA Quad/Graphics has set its eyes on the future, looking into the next century with 20/20 vision. Make that 20/20/20 vision. The company has vowed to reduce customers' cycle times by 20 percent each year for the next three years. This lofty goal has set Quad on a difficult path leading into the 21st century. Fortunately, the company's commitment to computer-to-plate (CTP) technology promises to make the trip less arduous. Call the journey "2001: A Plate Odyssey." Computer-to-plate meshes well with Quad's three-year plan. By removing steps from the prepress process,
It's Super Bowl Sunday, the game is on the tiny TV here in my office, Brett Favre has just thrown a touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman—and here I sit writing this column. Boy, am I a loser. Seems like I should have been invited to at least one Super Bowl party. I think someone should have asked me over to see the game on a big-screen TV. Wow, Terrell Davis just ran one in to tie the score. I think I'll try to finish this column before the game ends. I'll watch the game with my left eye and write with my right
