Vision Graphics

Printing Impressions’ National Commercial Printing Industry News for January 2010.

LOVELAND, CO—Vision Graphics has signed a letter of intent to acquire Denver-based Keyline Graphics. Terms of the deal, which is expected to close within 30 days, were not revealed. Keyline's present management team, led by Del Baker, will remain with the company upon completion of the deal. Keyline will continue to operate out of its current facility under the Vision Graphics brand. Vision Graphics provides business marketing support services, including variable data digital printing and sheetfed work.

The 2012 Printing Impressions 400 list of the largest printing companies in the United States and Canada as ranked by annual sales.

Pressing Ahead By Mark Michelson Editor-in-Chief It's no secret that the stagnant U.S. economy has wrecked havoc on graphic arts industry suppliers the past three years. And, with many printers hesitant to make major capital equipment expenditures, sheetfed, and especially web, offset press manufacturers may have suffered the most of any industry segment. But—partly based on exhibitor reports from the recently completed GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO exhibition—interest in upgrading pressrooms and in the computer-integrated manufacturing concept (CIM) seem to be building. New press sales levels are still a far cry from the go-go '90s, but press suppliers at the show generally reported

BIELEFELD, GERMANY—For any printer, trade binder or mailing house interested in specialized finishing equipment, ranging from sophisticated in-line mailing machinery and miniature folders on up to 62x75˝ map folders, this quaint German town located 60 miles southwest of Hannover was the center of the graphic arts universe recently. More than 1,000 visitors from around the world, including a U.S group organized by MBO America, attended a four-day open house at the headquarters of Herzog + Heymann (H+H), arguably the world leader in mailing and specialized folding equipment. Four separate halls were set up for demonstrations featuring 21 H+H and MBO machines, as well as

Americans Trek to H+H Open House BIELEFELD, GERMANY—For any printer, trade binder or mailing house interested in specialized finishing equipment, ranging from sophisticated in-line mailing machinery and miniature folders on up to 62x75˝ map folders, this quaint German town located 60 miles southwest of Hannover was the center of the graphic arts universe recently. More than 1,000 visitors from around the world, including a U.S group organized by MBO America, attended a four-day open house at the headquarters of Herzog + Heymann (H+H), arguably the world leader in mailing and specialized folding equipment. Four separate halls were set up for demonstrations featuring 21 H+H

WESTMONT, IL—After successfully demonstrating the productivity of an open architecture, JDF-based workflow at Graph Expo, Printcafe Software and MAN Roland are planning to take it into the field. The first beta testing with printers is scheduled for the beginning of this year. The interface shown at Graph Expo was a bi-directional link, providing a two-way conduit for data flow. JDF files from the Printcafe system were transferred to a Roland 500 press, supplying job parameters and presetting color. At the same time, the press' PECOM system reported on its progress to Printcafe, via JMF (Job Messaging Format) files. (www.manroland.com/www.printcafe.com) BEDFORD, MA—Creo

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

CALIFORNIA GARDENA—L.A. Press is up-and-running with a new six-color, 40˝ Mitsubishi Model 3F-13 sheetfed press. IRVINE—Orange County Printing has installed a six-color, 40˝ Komori Lithrone press outfitted with a Tri-Service ColorCommand temperature control/cooling system. VAN NUYS—The installation of the Sentinel ink management system from Accel Graphic Systems is complete at Great Western Litho. The ink management system is now equipped on a Komori Lithrone 640 press purchased at PRINT 01. CONNECTICUT MERIDEN—Three former shareholders of Vision Graphics have joined commercial printer Miller-Johnson Inc. They are Tom Mitchell, Andrew Mitchell and Erik Mitchell. The transaction was initiated on Miller-Johnson's behalf by Rampart Associates LLC.

INDIANASYRACUSE, IN—The Image Group recently achieved its 100 millionth impression on one of its six-color Akiyama offset presses. The sheetfed press, shown here with Bob McKee (left) of Akiyama and James Plummer Sr., president and CEO of The Image Group, was installed in 1986. NEW YORKHENRIETTA, NY—Tucker Printers has installed a new Heidelberg Speedmaster CD-102-6+LX at its facility here. With the press are (from the left) Dan Tucker, president of Tucker Printers, and Whitey Link, sales representative for Heidelberg USA. ARKANSASSPRINGDALE—The Morning News has purchased a TECSA 2470 copydot scanner from Graphic Enterprises Inc. (GEI). CALIFORNIASAN Diego—Dam Bindery has installed a Minuteman saddle