ARMONK, NY—Visant Corp. has acquired Milwaukee-based Visual Systems (VSI), a supplier of overhead transparencies and book components. Visant purchased all of the outstanding stock of VSI.The results of VSI will be reported under Vistant’s marketing and publishing services segment. VSI ranked 247th on the 2006 Printing Impressions 400 with sales of $20 million.“The acquisition of…
CHOOSING THE right employees is a key decision for printing companies. Facing short deadlines and tight margins, the addition of a below-par performer can prove costly for a graphic arts provider. “There is a lot of data which says that the cost of a bad hire is about two and a half times the person’s annual salary,” says Debra Thompson, president of human resources consulting firm TG & Associates in Tucson, AZ. “That is measured in terms of the wages paid, the cost of rework that was necessary, the cost of customers lost because of bad service, and even the cost of replacing good
IT WOULD be foolish to overlook how valuable an experienced, committed and skilled set of employees is to a company. This is especially true in an industry such as the graphic arts, with its strong focus on technology, trends toward computer-based processes and a continued shortage of qualified labor. The latter is an ongoing problem for Suttle-Straus in Waunakee, WI, admits President John Berthelsen, who adds that the lack of skilled workers in the industry has limited the company’s ability to grow and expand as rapidly as he would like. “We have now geared ourselves much more towards identifying and hiring bright, motivated entry-level people and
Vertis Receives Industry Honor BALTIMORE—The Association for Graphic Arts Training (AGAT) recognized Vertis' contributions to graphic arts education and training with an AGAT Industry Award. AGAT Industry Awards are bestowed to companies that have given extraordinary support to the organization, the industry and the training field. Printers' Gift Helps Fill Santa's Sleigh BALTIMORE—More than $17,000 was raised by members of the Printing and Graphics Association MidAtlantic (PGAMA) for charity at the Santa Claus Anonymous Benefit Auction held at Sparrows Point Country Club in December. Milwaukee-based Visual Systems Inc. (VSI), a manufacturer of overhead transparencies and ancillary products for textbook publishers, has hired Michelle Roloff as human
by chris bauer Managing Editor At first glance, a firm known for producing overhead transparencies seems fairly simple. But as you focus in on what Milwaukee-based Visual Systems Inc. (VSI) is all about, you realize that the company's core of ancillary products for educational and supplemental textbook publishers is thicker than it may first appear. "VSI is a family owned company dedicated to serving the book industry," notes Jeff Hengsbach, vice president. "We provide publishers with high impact and cost-effective printed products that communicate clearly. We've committed to a best workplace culture that serves our community and surrounds itself with extraordinary employees, suppliers and
PITTSBURGH—In celebration of the final stage of the consolidation of Printing Industries of America and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation into one organization, a dedication of the newly renovated world headquarters was held recently. Chairman of the Board James Mayes Jr. and Michael Makin, president and CEO, cut the ribbon marking the entrance to the newly refurbished building. Another highlight of the event was the naming of the Ray Roper boardroom, in honor of the late PIA president. CHICAGO—Jesse Williamson has been named the 2005 Sheetfed Executive of the Year by NAPL and PIA/GATF. Williamson, president of Williamson Printing in Dallas, received the award
arizona Phoenix—Courier Graphics is doubling the capacity of its pressroom by replacing one of its two current web presses with a new five-color Rotoman from MAN Roland. Scheduled for installation in the spring, with a May production date, the press will be equipped with a MAN Roland 1:2:3 folder and a Vits sheeter. california LOS ANGELES—Printing Industries Association of Southern California (PIASC) celebrated 25- and 50-year memberships at a recent awards breakfast. Companies that joined the association in 1980 and 1955 were honored for their loyalty and support of PIASC and presented with the silver and gold membership awards, respectively. SANTA CLARA—Entire Printing recently
Greg Wayne, director of manufacturing for California Offset Printers (COP) in Glendale, CA, was the winning finalist in the third annual GATF/SGI Web Press Skills Competition. Sponsored by the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, Sinapse Graphic International and MAN Roland, the contest used the SIR Heatset Web Offset Training Simulator, a virtual press, to present problem solving exercises. The competition took place during the Web Offset Association's annual conference. Negotiating traffic jams and finding parking spots will likely became much more enjoyable pursuits for one Metropolitan Fine Printers client. As the winner of the Vancouver-based printer's Segway contest, Laura Rioux of Rethink Communications is now the
california BURBANK—California Coast Color has added a four-color, 40˝ Mitsubishi Diamond 3000S sheetfed press. It is the second Mitsubishi for the 12,500-square-foot shop with 20 employees. COSTA MESA—Hoover Printing & Lithography is now operating its newly installed, six-color HP Indigo digital press. SAN LUIS OBISPO—Herschel "Hank" Apfelberg, longtime professor of graphic communication at Cal Poly, died January 13 at Stanford University Hospital at the age of 67. Mr. Apfelberg started his career as a linotype operator/compositor. Before coming to Cal Poly, where he taught from 1971 to 2001, he worked as a process engineer and rotogravure administrator for American Can and as printing superintendent
