Printing Impressions May 2014 Edition
Across the Nation
Commercial printer equipment installations and other news from Printing Impressions’ May 2014 edition, featuring Prospect Printing, Vision Graphics/Eagle:xm, Joseph Merritt Co., 4over Inc., Solo Printing, Oakley Signs & Graphics
Are QR Codes on Path to Extinction? —Mark Michelson
QR codes were once wildly heralded as the best way to add interactivity to a printed piece. And, with QR (Quick Response) code readers accessible via users’ smart phones, conventional wisdom would dictate few impediments to consumers actually using them. But, an insightful blog, “QR Codes Are Dead,” posted by “Today on PIworld” enewsletter contributor Sabine Lenz, really struck a nerve with many readers about her contention that QR codes are becoming yesterday’s technology.
Augmented Reality, Mobile Apps Add More Life to Print
Augmented reality (AR) has an indefinable value, limited only by the imagination of the creative people behind its genesis. Yes, it has great potential as a lead generator, collecting pertinent data from the people interacting with it. But it can go far beyond that, engaging people wherever they may be, as long as they have their smart phones with them.
Bindery Matters
Commercial printing industry supplier company and personnel news from Printing Impressions’ May 2014 edition, featuring Walker 360, Quo Vadis Editions, FCL Graphics, Ross Printing, Platinum Converting
Continuous-Feed Inkjet Paper Options Continue to Ramp Up
The range of papers suitable for continuous-feed inkjet printing continues to expand. Still, market penetration for high-speed production inkjet remains low as challenges remain for high ink coverage, high-quality graphics applications. The market is experiencing strong growth as challenges with ink and paper are being met every day as the industry develops a deeper understanding of the value proposition for continuous-feed inkjet. Consultative selling is essential, not only for paper mills, but also for printers, to sell the value proposition and also to better understand the market needs.
Creps United Publications: Fire Kindles Insert Printer's Spirit to Rebuild
Along with the help from the local government and the outpouring of community love and support after a fire tore through its Indiana, PA, facility, Creps United Publications is 100 percent back in business. The company is now in a bigger and better facility, with newer and more efficient equipment. A lion's share of the employees are also back in the fold.
Dana on Marketing Messages: Marketing Ideas Ready to Roll
How do you share information on a regular basis with your customers and best prospects in ways that will impress and influence them? Here are seven simple marketing ideas that will effectively promote your business by providing information print customers need.
Digital Digest: Heidelberg Digital Sneak Peek Reveals New Strategy
At the Heidelberger Druckmaschinen "Digital Sneak Peek" event held early last month in Heidelberg, Germany, CEO Dr. Gerold Linzbach told a room full of international journalists and industry analysts that the company is not your father's Heidelberg anymore. Although the manufacturer once held the belief that its customers sought homegrown, "industrial-strength" output solutions developed solely by Heidelberg, Linzbach admitted the need to change that inward mindset throughout his organization.
Ex-Harmony Press Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Large Theft
The former treasurer of Harmony Press has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $657,000 from the company, a move that prompted prosecutors to drop similar charges against her husband, The Express-Times reported.
Farquharson/Tedesco on Business Development: Information Differentiates II
Being a useful information provider is the key differentiator that will get you through price objections, rocky client experiences, organizational change and other barriers lying between you and your goals.
Marketing Services Providers: Separating the Contenders from the Pretenders
Ask Steven Schnoll, the managing director of Schnoll Media Consulting in New Providence, NJ, and he'll be the first to tell you that the term marketing services provider (MSP) is just, well, an awful moniker to hang around the neck of a traditional printing services provider (PSP).
Matthews Swings $577M Deal to Obtain Schawk Inc.
Pittsburgh-based Matthews International has reached a deal to obtain Schawk Inc. for about $577 million, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported. As part of the deal, Schawk shareholders will receive $11.80 in cash and 0.20582 shares of Matthews stock for each Schawk share.
Quad/Graphics Signs Deal To Acquire Brown for $100M
Quad/Graphics Inc. and Waseca, MN-based Brown Printing have jointly announced a definitive agreement whereby Quad/Graphics will acquire Brown, which serves publishers and catalogers with printing, distribution and integrated media solutions from three manufacturing facilities.
Supplier News
Commercial printing industry supplier company and personnel news from Printing Impressions’ May 2014 edition, featuring Gallus Inc. and Prati Co., Graphco, Highcon North America, Sun Chemical, manroland web systems, Roland DGA, RBP Chemical Technology and Pacific Graphic Supply
Upfront
Commercial Printing Industry News Briefs from Printing Impressions’ May 2014 edition, including Standard Register, Gannett Co., Flint Group, Adman Printing, Taylor Corp., 4over Inc., Roosevelt Paper and Imprimerie Reflet.
We Are Family: Menasha Inks Agreement to Acquire Strine
Menasha Packaging announced that it has acquired Strine Printing of York, PA. Both companies are family-owned. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The York Dispatch also reported that Menasha Packaging has no plans to reduce the employee ranks at Strine Printing.
