RR Donnelley

Presstek Bids for A.B.Dick NILES, IL—A.B.Dick Co. announced it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Soon after the announcement, Hudson, NH-based Presstek Inc. unveiled a detailed plan to acquire the business and assets of the company through a U.S. Bankruptcy Code section 363 asset sale, a deal valued at approximately $40 million. Presstek President and CEO Edward Marino stressed that there was no guarantee his company would be successful in the open bidding environment of a bankruptcy proceeding. Bowne's Johnson Retires NEW YORK CITY—Bowne & Co. announced the immediate retirement of Robert M. Johnson from the company and its board of directors for personal reasons.

More Than 700 Get Connected At EFI Event LAS VEGAS—The plush MGM Grand Hotel and Casino was the mecca for approximately 700 worldwide customers as EFI/Connect 2004, Printcafe's fifth annual user's conference, paid a visit to Sin City June 27-30. The conference resembled a mini Graph Expo, with 22 exhibitors showcasing complementary equipment, and 162 educational seminars for users of EFI workflow solutions. The conference opened with a state-of-the-industry report by Andrew Paparozzi, the NAPL's chief economist, titled, "Success Factors of the Profit Leaders." Paparozzi pointed out that the recession has been much more severe for the industry than it has for the rest

CGX Tabs Xerox for Digital Gear HOUSTON—Consolidated Graphics (CGX) announced it has selected Xerox to provide digital color printing technology to its 65 nationwide commercial printing locations. As part of the deal, CGX has installed six DocuColor iGen3 digital production presses and six DocuColor 6060 digital color presses. Xerox will also provide marketing and business development resources to assist CGX in introducing these solutions to current and prospective customers. GPO Seeks $25M for Upgrades WASHINGTON, DC—Telling the Committee on House Administration and the House Legislative Subcommittee that the Government Printing Office had the groundwork in place to move the agency's transformation to the "next

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA—The Graphic Communication Institute (GrCI) at California Polytechnic State University has received its fourth annual $10,000 grant in an initiative embarked upon by Wallace Corp. and continued through the company's business incarnations—Moore Wallace and, now, RR Donnelley. Wallace's initial $10,000 gift in 2001 helped launch the GrCI. The most recent check was presented by James Kersten, executive vice president of outsourcing for the printer, to Hal Hinderliter, the new director of the GrCI, and Dr. Harvey Levenson, head of Cal Poly's Graphic Communication department. The GrCI plans to use the gift to fund development and delivery of training programs for the printing and

"On a $1,000-per-hour web press, it's almost unimaginable how expensive it is to not match color on the press," says Michael Graff, senior executive vice president at Sandy Alexander Printing in Clifton, NJ. These days, however, plate remakes due to color issues are down to 20 percent of what they were before, Graff reports. "We've had a perceptible improvement in time of matching proofs, and our makeready time is down considerably." Repeated rounds of color proofing used to be very costly for Que-Net Media, as well, reveals Brian Gaughen, color quality manager of the Quebecor World subsidiary in Los Angeles. But, recently,

Paloian Rejoins Donnelley Group CHICAGO—John R. Paloian, who spent 11 years at RR Donnelley before moving on to Quebecor World, is rejoining the Windy City printer as group president, publishing and retail services. He is now responsible for the company's magazine, catalog, retail advertising insert and directory business. Paloian, who was co-COO at the time of his departure from Quebecor World, previously served as president of the magazine/catalog business. Banta Names Streeter Chairman MENASHA, WI—Banta Corp. announced that Stephanie Streeter, president and CEO, has also assumed the role of chairman of the board of directors. Streeter replaced Donald D. Belcher, who retired after holding the position for

By Harris DeWese Another wave of merger and acquisition activity is mounting in the printing industry. Soon it will sweep across the industry as never before. It began mid-year 2003 and is likely to continue for several years. This new era of consolidation will be of greater magnitude than previous periods. It will have a different impetus and many new characteristics. This surge is enabled by an improving economy, continuing low interest rates, buyers' pent-up demand for external growth, the difficulty associated with organic growth in printing and the catalytic effect of a handful of recent mega-deals. This new period of consolidation will

CHICAGO—In light of the official merger with Moore Wallace that has created the largest commercial printing operation in North America, RR Donnelley has announced an initial round of managerial appointments. Among the managers are Suzanne Bettman, senior vice president and general counsel; Thomas Brooker, group president, forms, labels and office products; Dean Cherry, group president, short-run and variable print solutions; Susan Henricks, president of directories; Daniel Knotts, group executive vice president, long-run print solutions; Michael Krause, executive vice president of strategy; Ed Lane, president, book publishing services; Robert Nelson, president, corporate sales; and Thomas Quinlan III, executive vice president of operations. Mary Lee Schneider remains

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