September 2007 Issue
2007 Printing Industry Hall of Fame — Appreciation for People - David Torok
EMPLOYEES INVARIABLY take their demeanor cues from senior management. An environment that fosters loyalty breeds wall crashers. An atmosphere of distrust and suspicion breeds wall builders. Young employees are like children in the sense that they are at an impressionable stage in their careers, and can develop good or bad habits that will grow with them—particularly their attitudes regarding their work. And, after all, one never knows when a future company president is going about his or her day on the shop floor. George Kaplan of Western Publishing in Racine, WI, didn’t know it at the time, but he was shaping the perspective of
2007 Printing Industry Hall of Fame — Building a Golden Dome - Tim Poole
FROM THE time he was a young man, Tim Poole wanted to be in the position to make a difference in a printing company. That he loves every aspect of printing—from planning to manufacturing and distribution—and has worked down in the trenches himself makes him an ideal candidate to be a leader. “Some of my greatest enjoyment comes out of watching people around me succeed,” says Poole, 48, president of Dome Printing in Sacramento, CA, and a 2007 inductee into the Printing Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame. “I challenge our people to maximize efficiency and deliver a high-quality product. There’s a level of
2007 Printing Industry Hall of Fame — Master of the Deal - Chris Colville
NO MATTER how many times Chris Colville sat down with a legal pad and calculator to perform due diligence in analyzing a potential acquisition for Consolidated Graphics (CGX) of Houston, he kept two things in mind. One, it required sound judgment to determine the industry’s highest quality companies and their valuations. It is the trait that has enabled CGX to hand pick only the finest businesses the market has to offer and, in the process, compile a balance sheet that is the envy of printers everywhere. Equally as important, no matter how many major deals Colville and CGX had consummated, it was important
2007 Printing Industry Hall of Fame —Fearlessly Embracing Technology - Gary Samuels
EMBRACING technology in the first generation of a product’s release is generally frowned upon. Price points are spiky, and more often than not, there are bugs that need to be worked through before the long-promised automation, efficiencies and cost savings are fully realized. Then again, industry leaders rarely subscribe to the populist’s theory. They don’t reach the top by adhering to the herd mentality. Gary Samuels has always gone his own way, in a sense. The managing partner of Pictorial Offset in Carlstadt, NJ, wasn’t quite the lone wolf, benefitting from the combined efforts of brothers (and fellow partners) Donald and Lester. But after
ACROSS the nation
Stitch in Time Saves Nine NORWELL, MA—Smith Print, a full-service commercial printer in the greater Boston area, recently installed a Vijuk 321-T saddlestitcher equipped with six pockets plus cover feeder. The new stitcher was sold and will be serviced locally by Pasquariello Graphics. Frank Stanley, bindery foreman, and Tom Plourde, lead bindery operator, were involved in the final decision-making process and worked closely with Vijuk technicians during the installation and operational training. Open House Showcases UV Special Effects Options SAN RAFAEL, CA—A first-of-its-kind UV Special Effects open house, sponsored by KBA North America, was recently held at Paragraphics Inc., a
Adobe Succumbs, Removes Send to Button
SAN JOSE, CA—Adobe quietly announced on August 8 that it was removing the “Send to FedEx Kinko’s” menu option from its Reader and Acrobat applications. The FedEx Kinko’s function will be omitted from the Reader and Acrobat versions that are to be released in October. Adobe cited time needed to write and test the version 8.1.1 software, thus the delay in the updated release. The decision came following a discovery meeting held by Adobe, in which analysts and users condemned the decision to partner with FedEx Kinko’s at the expense of many longtime Adobe customers. Several printing organizations, including PIA/GATF and NAPL, publicly denounced what they
BINDERY matters
Curtis Picks Up Landmark Diecutter SANDY HOOK, CT—Curtis Packaging has installed the first Heidelberg Dymatrix 142 CSB diecutter in the Western Hemisphere. It replaces a 30-year-old machine. The massive, 60-ton diecutter was shipped from Heidelberg Postpress production in Manchengladbach, Germany. From there, the machine was dismantled, then shipped via freighter to the United States. Upon its arrival in New York Harbor, the Dymatrix 142 was sent to Curtis Packaging, becoming the first piece of Heidelberg equipment the company has ever owned. Now in full production mode at Curtis, the Dymatrix 142 CSB (cutting, stripping and blanking model) with automatic pallet feeder has met or exceeded all expectations,
Bowne Closes Milwaukee Plant
NEW YORK—Bowne & Co. is closing its facility in Milwaukee as part of a plan to integrate its manufacturing capabilities. The move will result in the loss of approximately 100 jobs. Milwaukee’s digital facility will be integrated into Bowne’s South Bend, IN, operations, creating the company’s first fully integrated distributive platform. Bowne says it will continue to evaluate other possible facilities for consolidation, with the integration program expected to be completed in the first half of 2008. “Integrating our manufacturing resources is the next step in our strategic plan,” said David Shea, Bowne’s chairman, president and CEO, in a release. “Increasingly, clients are coming to us
DIGITAL digest
Kodak Revs Its Engine for Graph Expo ROCHESTER, NY—With Graph Expo 2007 just around the corner, Eastman Kodak recently leveraged its sponsorship of a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver to stage a memorable analyst and press briefing event. The company signed on as primary sponsor of the No. 12 Dodge Charger driven by Ryan Newman at three major races, including the Centurion Boats at The Glen race at Watkins Glen International in nearby Watkins Glen, NY, which the group attended. The racing theme carried over to the next day, as Kodak announced it is filling the need for speed by introducing the Nexpress S3000 digital production
Environmental Compliance — Being ‘Green’ Reduces Red Ink
IN RECENT years, a significant increase in the emphasis placed on “environmentally friendly” business practices has occurred throughout the nation. Caused in part by a national trend toward “eco-friendly” processes that seems to include all segments of society, this trend is likely to continue and even accelerate in the coming years. For printers, this raises a real challenge. In the face of this shift in the national mood regarding the environment, which actually started back in the ’60s, how should fiscally responsible printing company management respond? How is the trade-off between being a responsible steward of investor resources and being a responsible user of
Hurricane Katrina — After the Storm
NEVER BEFORE has the face of the commercial printing industry changed so drastically, so quickly or so permanently. After one of the worst hurricanes in U.S. history hit New Orleans in August 2005, two-thirds of The Big Easy’s printers were gone. Pre-Katrina, there were 120 printers in the New Orleans area. After Katrina, there were (are) only 36. The math is almost unbelievable, but the numbers do not lie. These grim statistics come from the Printing Industry Association of the South (PIAS). Ed Chalifoux, president, provides the surreal details. “After Katrina, most printers just shut their doors. Seventy-five percent of shops with 10 employees
Ledbetter Act a Litigation Issue
The House is expected to hold a floor vote on H.R. 2831, the “Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.” The bill would virtually eliminate the current statute of limitations on employment discrimination claims. In effect, a discrimination claim could be filed against a company at which the owner or management committing the alleged offense is no longer working. The bill institutes a “paycheck rule” that would restart the clock on the statute of limitations every time an employee is paid. This would allow an employee to wait until he/she had taken a new job or retired to file a discrimination claim. It could also apply
Legalities of Telecommuting —Fiorenza
ANEW societal struggle based not on physical characteristics but instead on values, family dynamics and technological changes is once again transforming the workplace. As most human resource managers will tell you, employees belonging to the newer generations (i.e., post-Baby Boomers) are demanding a balance of home and work life. They value personal relationships (be they family or friendships) more than they value status or title. Consequently, creative employers are developing ways of helping employees achieve this balance, while maintaining morale and maximizing productivity. Given the technological advances involving computers and the Internet, “telecommuting” has become a viable alternative for some of these
Modern Postcard — Direct Mail Pioneer
MORE THAN a billion postcards have been printed there, yet none are what most people would think of as typical postcards. And, that’s because the postcards created, printed and mailed from Carlsbad, CA-based Modern Postcard are anything but typical. Forget “Virginia is for lovers” and “My friends went to Hawaii, and all I got was this lousy postcard.” The “greetings” produced at Modern Postcard are literally mini masterpieces with a higher purpose than simply keeping in touch. Each and every postcard reflects a passion for photography, quality imagery and/or color. From product debuts and grand opening news to artist exhibitions, whatever message the card
New World of Color —Sherburne
PERHAPS THERE is nothing as pervasive in the printing industry as the familiar PANTONE Color guide books. We often live and die by our ability to match specific PANTONE Matching System (PMS) colors, and these 1,114 colors have been the standard in our industry for 45 years. I’ve spent a fair amount of time talking about Pantone in this space, and how we can differentiate ourselves with customers by leveraging our color expertise. Now there is something new to learn and benefit from. After 45 years, Pantone is introducing a brand-new color specification system for the graphic arts industry called PANTONE Goe (pronouned Go).
PIA/GATF Names InterTech Winners
SEWICKLEY, PA—The PIA/GATF has revealed the winners of its 2007 InterTech technology awards. Eleven of the 31 nominations were chosen to receive the prestigious awards. They include:Energy Elite dual layer “no bake” plate, Agfa Graphics; UV printing blanket refurbishment, Enviro Image Solutions; C-Fit image intelligence software, Fujifilm; Kodak Traceless system, Eastman Kodak; font emulation in…
POSTPRESSFixomat will fix it
Cutting problems arise when poorly stored or unevenly dried paper develops a distorted, convex outer edge that cannot be aligned evenly against the cutter's backgauge. The material tips from one side to the other, spoiling the precision of the cut. The optional “Fixomat” feature of POLAR cutters compensates for these distortions with point-type lay marks at the backgauge. The lay marks, which can be programmed along with the backgauge position, are swiveled in front of the backgauge rake to convert the surface lay mark to a point-type lay mark. This essentially is the same as what happens in a press when the paper
PREPRESS
How to “edit” a plate size
Sometimes it’s necessary to make a simple alteration to a plate size either because a specification for the press has changed or because the size of the plate material is slightly different from what’s normally used. To edit plate size settings in Prosetter CtP units, do the following: • Launch the Prosetter GUI if it is not already running. Select the Device button (the first icon in the top toolbar). • From the options column, select Input. • Highlight the name of the material to be adjusted and select the Editing... button at the bottom of the window. • After making sure that the
PRESS
Uncoated, uncomplicated
Uncoated papers can produce unique effects thanks to their high volume, weight, and opacity. Printing them successfully, however, requires some special attention to detail. For best results in image modulation, Heidelberg recommends using compressible blankets with hard packing and setting a higher contact pressure than with coated papers. Uncoated papers printed with inks that dry oxidatively should have a pH value of about 5.5, since acidic stocks can lengthen drying times—as much as four times longer than in jobs with coated papers. With this in mind, avoid stacking uncoated sheets so high that they begin to take deposits from darker motifs or larger
PRINTER news
Commercial printer Alcom, of Harleysville, PA, has hired a new territory manager/solutions provider: John Newswanger, a 21-year veteran of Acorn Press. Warren Dow, president of Trend Offset Printing in Los Alamitos, CA, has been promoted to president and CEO. Dow joined Trend in July 2005, and became president and COO in 2006. Before joining Trend, he served as COO of Southwest Offset Printing. He’s a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara and is on the board of directors of the Web Offset Association (WOA). The creative agency and technology solutions unit of The CGI Group, CGI Squared Ltd., London, announced the launch of
Printing Companies May Be Safe Investment
NEW YORK—Looking for a safe investment for your portfolio? You might want to diversify into printing company stocks. The Associated Press quoted a Longbow Research analyst as saying the commercial printing industry may be a safe sector to invest in amid a general market experiencing volatility. Analyst Piyush Sharma, in a client note, said that commercial printing shipment growth is largely stable, “making the group a strong contender for inclusion in a defensive and moderate-risk portfolio.” He added that the graphic arts industry is “relatively attractive during a lean economic environment,” the AP reported. According to Sharma, commercial printing companies outperformed the broader market during the last
Printing Contests — Judging is Art and Science
EVERY YEAR, hundreds of printing companies around North America—indeed, around the world—confer with customers and designers on which pieces should be entered in the scores of contests held each year by industry associations, publications and manufacturers, just to name a few. Undoubtedly, more than one contest entrant has been left shaking his or her head as to why a given submission did not garner a greater prize or even any recognition at all. After all, the customer, designer and printer took great efforts in making the final product a smashing success. So why does a printed piece fall short, while another cops the blue
Q&A with Werner Dornscheidt, Messe Düsseldorf board chairman
As the countdown to the world’s largest printing exposition begins, Messe Düsseldorf Chairman Werner Dornscheidt provides his thoughts on what visitors should expect for Drupa 2008. There are already indications that Drupa 2008 will surpass the record-breaking Drupa event back in 2000. In what respects? WERNER DORNSCHEIDT: Drupa’s history goes back over 50 years, but it has become clear that Drupa 2008 will be the largest yet. The exhibition grounds are totally booked up, with some 170,000 square meters of show space and 1,800 exhibitors. There isn’t even one square meter of space left in the newly built Hall 8b, next to Hall 8a
Rider Dickerson — Roommate Wanted
IT WASN’T all that long ago that it was considered taboo for a man and a woman to cohabit prior to marriage. But times have changed and, despite disapproving nods from conservative circles, the alarmingly high U.S. divorce rate lends some credibility to the notion of a “test run” before taking a stab at holy matrimony. What in tarnation does that have to do with commercial printing? you ask. Well, there’s a situation in the Chicago suburbs where two printing companies are enjoying the fruits of consolidation without taking the M&A plunge. It actually turned into a marriage of convenience, and the relationship, if
Rock Communications Acquires Colorfx
NEWTON, IA—Rock Communications, based here, has completed a deal to acquire Colorfx Inc. of Des Moines, IA. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The combined companies have approximately 400 employees in five facilities throughout central and northeastern Iowa. Combined annual sales are approximately $75 million. Colorfx and Rock Communications will retain their original names. Colorfx has three locations, including two facilities in Des Moines and a plant in Waverly, IA. The combined company will be led by Jon Troen, president of Rock Communications. John DeVries, current president and CEO of Colorfx, is retiring to pursue other interests. “The union of these two companies will allow us to
