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
St. Ives Inc. U.S.
BY Chris Bauer Managing Editor No segment of the printing industry has undergone the vigorous changes that the financial printing market has experienced in the past few years. Financial printers traditionally positioned themselves as document experts, who helped clients manage production of documents and regulatory filings. They would manage the style and formats necessary to satisfy SEC financial regulations. As long as the economy sustained business growth, financial printers report that they saw no reason to change. When the economy was booming in the 1990s, financial printers simply invested in building an infrastructure parallel with a market acceleration that, odds are, will never
(Editor's Note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2003. Therefore, companies that revised their 2002 revenues may have changed their 2002 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.) 1 ('02: 1) Quebecor World, Montréal, Canada Total Sales (Millions): $6,242.00 Previous Year's Sales (Millions): $6,300.00 Change (%): -1 Principal Officer: Jean Neveu Employees: 38,000 Primary Specialties: PUB 26%; ADV 23%; CAT 16%; BKS 12% Web Offset Press Units: 3,156 Sheetfed Press Units: 985 Other Press
By Caroline Miller For Wayne Angstrom, nothing in life is accomplished on one's own; every achievement is a team effort. It's a philosophy that the CEO and president of the U.S. division of St Ives first learned as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps—a belief that continues to profoundly impact his life. "Marines always say, 'once a Marine, always a Marine'," states Angstrom. "I think back often on something that a company gunnery sergeant once said to me. 'The mind quits long before the body.' I have reshaped that to: we need to be careful that a particular situation does not overpower us and shut
OPPENWEILER, GERMANY—Imagine a manufacturing operation where various MBO folding machines are custom-made to order. Where highly skilled engineers still produce spiral fold rollers by hand—just as they have done since the first MBO machine was built in 1967. And where even the electrical panels for the sophisticated Navigator control system are made in-house. That's just the world a group of U.S. printers and trade binders saw recently during a tour of MBO Binder GmbH & Co.'s manufacturing plant here in this quaint German community located near Stuttgart. MBO also has a large manufacturing facility in Porto, Portugal, used for mass production, whereas equipment assembled in
(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.) 1 ('01: 1) Quebecor World, Montréal, Canada Total Sales (millions): $6,300.00 Previous Year's (millions): $6,500.00 Change (%): -3 Principal Officer: Charles G. Cavell Employees: 40,000 Primary Specialties: PUB 26%; ADV 21%; CAT 17%; DM 13% Web Offset Units: 3,156 Sheetfed Offset Units: 985 Other: 808 Ownership: Public
(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
Donnelley Gets USPS Certified CHICAGO—R.R. Donnelley has become the first commercial printer to be approved for the second phase of PostalOne! certification by the United States Postal Service—for the electronic submission of postal statements. PostalOne! is a system that allows for electronic submission of postage statements and corresponding presort documentation. Gateway Installs Perfecting Unit LOUISVILLE, KY—An eight-unit Mitsubishi Diamond 3000R perfecting press has been installed at Gateway Press. The press features a centralized operator makeready and control system (COMRAC). Sheridan Books Adds Web Press CHELSEA, MI—Sheridan Books has installed a Timsons T48A arch web press at its facility here. The press, which features a simultaneous plate changing
Grossman New Alexander CEO CLIFTON, NJ—Roy Grossman, president of Sandy Alexander, has been promoted to CEO, effective January 1, 2003, the company announced. Grossman will replace Frank Stillo, who will remain as chairman of the board. Grossman, who also serves on the board of directors, was named president in 1995. He joined the company in 1991 as a managing director. Sandy Alexander also announced that it has attained ISO 14001 registration, in addition to its previously attained ISO 9002 certification. Forest City Signs Press Pact LONDON, ON—Forest City Graphics has ordered five KBA sheetfed offset presses: a six-color, 64˝ Rapida 162 with coater; a six-color, 56˝ Rapida
CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE—The County of Riverside has installed a two-color, 173⁄4x223⁄4˝ Sakurai 258EIIZ press. SACRAMENTO—Dome Printing has tripled the speed of its soft cover book binding capabilities with the August installation of a new 21-pocket Muller Martini Corona perfect binding system. The company now has the ability to utilize Polyurethane Reactive (PUR) glues, especially for the production of lay-flat books. SAN FRANCISCO—Flexible packaging company Lithotype has implemented CRC Information Systems' business management software "THE System." COLORADO LOVELAND—Rocky Mountain region sheetfed printer Vision Graphics has successfully implemented the Printcafe Hagen OA print management system. CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT—Millennium Graphics has signed an agreement with CRC Information Systems