Printing Impressions November 2012
'Heavy Iron' Comes Up Light
There were only four offset presses actually running at GRAPH EXPO last month, but the leading vendors still had booths on the show floor. Video presentations, interactive displays, print samples, and standalone press consoles or press units were instead used to showcase new developments, enhanced maintenance offerings and press monitoring services.
A Digital Printing Redux
With offset presses becoming scarce on the show floor and digital vendors pushing for higher volume and larger B2-format machines, digital presses are becoming the "big iron" components of the GRAPH EXPO show. Almost without exception, digital press vendors highlighted their workflow and digital front end (DFE) capabilities.
A Vote for Diversified Attack
Not all print shop proprietors have weighed in on the industry’s most pressing question, whether to go “all in” or hedge their bets on digital printing technology. If you plan on catering to both disciplines, having finishing capabilities that speak to the needs of conventional and digital printing is critical.
Across the Nation
Commercial printer equipment installations and other news from Printing Impressions’ November 2012 edition, featuring the 2012 Franklin Award.
Digital Digest
Fujifilm invited roughly 30 printers, ranging from screen to commercial printing operations, to its facility here for an Inkjet Technology Summit, Sept. 17-18. This two-day show-and-tell was actually held at the Crown Westin Hotel in Kansas City, MO, and at Fujifilm's offices just over the state line in Kansas City, KS.
Digitally, Very Photogenic
Management of GlobalSoft contends that the firm has been a digital printing operation since Day One. The company has wagered all of its chips on digital printing and integrated marketing and is now experiencing explosive growth in the photo specialty and calendar markets.
Explosion at Ink Plant Sends Seven Workers for Treatment
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of an Oct. 9 explosion that sent seven Sun Chemical workers to area hospitals, including three who were treated at a regional burn center, The Bergen Record reported.
Hall of Fame, Gold Ink Gala
The 2012 Printing Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame class was officially inducted during GRAPH EXPO 2012 at a dinner that also honored this year’s Gold Ink Award winners. This year’s class includes Michael Graff, Sandy Alexander; Carl Gerhardt, Allegra Network; Volker Petersen, Brown Printing; and David Harding, HardingPoorman Group.
Hallmark Cards Consolidates
Hallmark Cards is planning to shut down its manufacturing plant in Topeka, KS, by the end of 2013, resulting in 300 lost jobs as it consolidates its Kansas operations at remaining facilities in Lawrence and Leavenworth.
Larger than Life Book for KISS –Cagle
For anyone who grew up during the 1970s, it was impossible to avoid the rock music group KISS. Love them or hate them, they were everywhere—on t-shirts, lunch boxes, pinball machines, hats, posters, action figures, key chains—you name it.
Lessons from a Fat Hypnotist –Farquharson/Tedesco
The decision to make an investment, be it time or money, in any business or activity requires a certain level of faith in the product. In the print world, the "product" consists of everything, from the quality of the mail piece to the condition of the shop itself.
Printer News
Commercial printer company and personnel news from Printing Impressions’ November 2012 edition.
Quad Boosts Retail Ad Insert Business with Deal for Vertis
Quad/Graphics Inc. and Baltimore-based Vertis Holdings have announced an agreement through which Quad/Graphics will acquire substantially all of the assets comprising Vertis' businesses for $258.5 million, which includes the payment of approximately $88.5 million for current assets that are in excess of normalized working capital requirements.
Supplier News
Commercial printing industry supplier company and personnel news from Printing Impressions’ November 2012 edition.
Upfront
Commercial Printing Industry News Briefs from Printing Impression’ November 2012 edition, including items on Quad/Graphics, RR Donnelley, Foxfire Printing and Packaging, xpedx, Sheridan Books, Sheridan Books, NewPage Corp. and Enhanced Digital Printing.
