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
Visant Corp.
As computer-to-plate grows in popularity and application, prepress officials and technology providers trade outlooks on CTP's hottest issues—especially the true commercial availability of thermal plates. What's better—thermal or non-thermal? Warning: They tell it like it is. BY MARIE RANOIA ALONSO Is the jury still out on the long-term merits of thermal imaging—and the consumables considerations any reasonable prepress director must labor over when deliberating which output device to recommend, thermal or non-thermal? For one, Maureen Richards, prepress technical director at United Lithograph, now a Mail-Well company, has her thermal reservations. "The current thermal technology is not 'utopia,' but I am perhaps biased by
Digital front ends are growing in flexibility and functionality, allowing for greater output opportunities, especially in areas of digital color proofing. Are DFEs where they need to be—technically speaking? Most are headed in the right direction, thanks to the promise of PDF. BY MARIE RANOIA ALONSO The success of any print production process—whether it is direct-to-film, direct-to-plate or imposition proofing—relies fully on the competence of the digital front end in question. Digital front ends, or DFEs—rich in providing controls for color management, PDF support and a host of in-RIP capabilities, including trapping—are taking the front end to higher levels of sophistication. What is a
BY ERIK CAGLE School's in session and book printers large and small couldn't be happier. The year 1998 will be remembered for a number of things in the book printing industry, such as the consolidation in both the publishing and manufacturing realms. Despite this M&A activity, the elementary/high school market, along with college level and juvenile books, propelled the industry. Even the trade market, with best sellers and Oprah Winfrey touting its virtues, couldn't steal the el-hi/college thunder. Top 10 Book Printers CompanySegmentSales(millions)Total Sales(millions)1R.R. Donnelley & SonsChicago$776.00$4,850.002Quebecor PrintingMontreal$522.00$3,480.00 3Banta Corp. Menasha, WI$240.00$1,200.004World Color PressGreenwich, CT$220.00$2,000.005Bertelsmann Industries U.S. Berryville, VA$163.30$230.00 6Golden Books PublishingSturtevant, WI$160.00$200.007Courier Corp.North Chelmsford,
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:
