Solar Communications

(Editor's Note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2002. Therefore, companies that revised their 2001 revenues may have changed their 2001 ranking as compared with the ranking that appeared in last year's Printing Impressions 400. Similarly, the percentage change in sales is calculated on the most recent information provided.) 101 ('01: 105) Ames Safety Envelope, Somerville, MA Total Sales (millions): $64.00 Previous Year's (millions): $65.00 Change (%): -2 Principal Officer: Tom Kell Employees: 534 Primary Specialties: SPEC 88% (X-Ray jackets and folders); PKG 10%; FIN 2% Web Offset Units: 8 Sheetfed Offset Units: 24 Other: 0

Chicago Press has named Paul Monsen COO. He will continue to serve as the company's vice president of sales, as well. Monsen joined the 75-year-old Chicago-based firm in 1999 and became an officer in 2000. Anthony Parker has been appointed COO of Smyth Companies, Bedford, VA. Parker began his career with Piedmont Label in 1990. He joined Smyth in 1998 after Smyth acquired Piedmont Label. Naperville, IL-based Solar Communications has added two high-level development roles. John Barrett and John Waterhouse have both accepted positions as vice president, business development. Nies/Artcraft Printing, of Saint Louis, has added Rick Blanner to its sales team. Also,

Editor's note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2001. Therefore, companies that revised their 2000 revenues may have changed their '00 ranking as compared with the ranking that appeared in last year's Printing Impressions 400. Similarly, the percentage change in sales is calculated on the most recent information provided. 2001 Ranking:Previous Year's Ranking:Company:Total Sales (millions):Previous Year's (millions):Change (%):Principal Officer:Employees:Primary Specialties:Web Offset Units:Sheetfed Offset Units:Other:Ownership:Plants: 10189Cyril-Scott Co., Lancaster, OH$70.00$80.00-13L. Eugene McClelland350ADV 60%; DM 40%7500Private1  2001 Ranking:Previous Year's Ranking:Company:Total Sales (millions):Previous Year's (millions):Change (%):Principal Officer:Employees:Primary Specialties:Web Offset Units:Sheetfed Offset Units:Other:Ownership:Plants: 101108The Dingley Press, Lisbon, ME$70.00E$64.00+9Christopher A. Pierce400CAT 90%;

Editor's note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2000. Therefore, companies that revised their 1999 revenues may have changed their '99 ranking as compared with the ranking that appeared in last year's Printing Impressions 500. Similarly, the percentage change in sales is calculated on the most recent information provided.2000 Ranking:Previous Year's Ranking:Company:Total Sales (millions):Previous Year's (millions):Change (%):Principal Officer:Employees:Primary Specialties:Web Offset Units:Sheetfed Offset Units:Other:Ownership:Plants:101103Toppan Printing Co. America*, Somerset, NJ$70.60$62.00+14Shingo Ohkado180N/A0410Private 1*Parent: Toppan Printing, Tokyo, Japan  2000 Ranking:Previous Year's Ranking:Company:Total Sales (millions):Previous Year's (millions):Change (%):Principal Officer:Employees:Primary Specialties:Web Offset Units:Sheetfed Offset Units:Other:Ownership:Plants:10296AdPlex Inc.*, Houston, TX$70.00$68.00+3Russell Anderson420ADV 74%; PREP 24%;

If you know the name of a printing company that you think appears on the Printing Impressions 400 list, but you're not sure of its ranking, here's an easy way to locate that firm. Simply find the company in the alphabetical listings on this page. In addition to each company's name and headquarters location, a corresponding number appears indicating that firm's ranking on the Printing Impressions 400. ABS Graphics (Addison, IL) 400 Action Printing (Fond du Lac, WI) 353 Adams Business Forms (Topeka, KS) 96 AdPlex Inc. (Houston, TX) 102 Advance Business Graphics (Mira Loma, CA) 153 AFL Web Printing (Voorhees, NJ)

After a year that saw paper manufacturers' bottom lines hit rock bottom, increases are being announced almost unilaterally. A recovering Asian economy is among the reasons for the boost. BY ERIK CAGLE Did you see it coming? Why of course you did. Everyone knew that paper prices were going to go up. Yeah, we don't know anyone who wasn't aware of it. Heh, heh. Nice try, pal. Like a critically acclaimed Madonna movie, the July price increases left many people with their mouths agape. According to Pulp & Paper Week, International Paper, Georgia-Pacific, Willamette Industries, Champion International, Crown Vantage and P.H. Glatfelter have announced

BY ERIK CAGLE It was around this time last year that paper buyers were being hit with an increase of $3 per hundred weight; approximately 6.5 percent on a typical 40/45 lb. No. 4 or No. 5 sheet. What a difference one year makes. As everyone else worries about whether their computers and household appliances will survive the Year 2000 (Y2K) bug scare or whether the new millennium party should start in 2000 or 2001, printers and their customers have other motivations to look toward the future with wonderment. No, call it glee. The paper market is soft to start the first quarter of