December 1, 2000
contributors
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Although a lot of us take magazine design for granted, AMERICAN PRINTER art director CHRISTY TUTTLE BAUHS was recently recognized for her significant contributions to the magazine. AMERICAN PRINTER was named one of three finalists in the best overall design (trade publications) category at the Folio: Ozzie Awards. Christy attended the awards ceremony in the Big Apple, and although she didn't win,
DIGITAL WORLD PRIMER
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Printing Industries of America's (PIA) Digital Printing Council (DPC) has released a white paper, "A Primer for the Digital World: Intellectual Property and Privacy Issues." The paper gives printers - who are key players in the information revolution - as well as their customers clear definitions of what constitutes intellectual properties and how infringements will have an impact on the graphic arts
DISTRIBUTOR WEBSITE
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
National Imprint Corp. (Claysburg, PA), a trade manufacturer and printer of envelopes, stationery, business cards and memo pads, has launched www.envelope stationery.com, a free distributor website. Distributors feature their logo (or their customer's) on the home page, select a product offering and the retail pricing, and set up templates for masters and commonly ordered items. The program provides
HP, INDIGO FORM ALLIANCE
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) (Palo Alto, CA) and Netherlands-based Indigo N.V. have formed a strategic alliance to co-develop high-end, digital color printing systems. As part of the alliance, HP will make a $100 million equity investment in Indigo and will OEM the company's digital color printing products, expected to be available in spring 2001.As part of HP's printing e-services strategy - to transform
RESELLER AGREEMENT
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
MAN Roland Inc. (Westmont, IL) and Polaroid Graphics Imaging LLC (PGI) (Bedford, MA) have signed a reseller agreement that enables MAN Roland to bundle PGI's PolaProof and Prediction digital halftone proofing systems into its press sales.The Prediction and PolaProof proofing systems utilize laser ablation transfer for dry digital color proofs. The systems have been integrated into the customer education
CREO INCREASES PRINTCAFE INVESTMENT
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Creo Products Inc. (Vancouver, Canada) has recently completed an investment in printCafe, Inc. (Pittsburgh), part of a $62.5 million private placement by printCafe. Both existing and new investors - including HarbourVest Partners LLC and Weiss, Peck & Greer LLC - participated in the private placement. Creo invested $32 million in a combination of cash and stock. The net proceeds will be used to repay
NEW POCKET PAL AVAILABLE
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
International Paper's (Purchase, NY) 18th edition of "Pocket Pal," the graphic arts production handbook, is now available. The 264-page publication covers the history of printing; prepress, printing and post-press processes; paper; and graphic arts terms. It features updated sections and additional information on digital imaging and printing, including digital prepress workflow, and toners and inks
{printoid}
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Hold the phone Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Nokia are developing mobile e-services, including one that would allow a mobile phone user to print a document from the Web. Using concepts based on industry standards such as IR, vCard or Bluetooth, the mobile phones would send a URL to a Web-enabled printer. Nokia 9110 and 9110i Communicator phones currently have the capability to beam a URL using today's
ANETORDER.COM ACQUIRES DONNELLEY FULFILLMENT
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Electronic fulfillment company aNETorder.com (Naperville, IL) has acquired R.R. Donnelley Logistics Services' distribution fulfillment operation in Louisville, KY. The acquisition positions aNETorder.com as one of the largest third-party fulfillment organizations serving the "e-tailing" community."We focus on the not-so-glamorous back end of cyber shopping - the actual picking, packing and shipping
CENTRIFUSION SUPPORTS, SUPPLEMENTS GOPRINTER
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Centrifusion, a Chicago-based provider of e-business services, has agreed to support the implementation of application service provider GOprinter Inc.'s (Carol Stream, IL) portfolio eBusiness suite. "We're excited to have Centrifusion as a strategic partner to assist us in meeting our clients' needs," says Greg Howell, GOprinter president and CEO. "The partnership gives us flexibility in being able
DENVER PRINTER BUYS BOBST DIECUTTER
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Warneke Paper Box (Denver) recently purchased the first Bobst Sprintera 106-PER Autoplaten diecutter in the U.S. The company, founded in 1907, specializes in high-quality printing and unique diecutting, and caters to the cosmetics, software, electronic arts and higher-end box printing industries. It decided to purchase the diecutter, which operates at speeds up to 12,000 sph, after seeing it in action
PERCEPTION VS. REALITY, PART III
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, Donald E. Vaughn
I have been following the debate over the employee/recruitment issue for some time. I am a veteran printer, having been in the printing industry for more than 25 years. I am now a press operator running midsize sheetfed presses for a small company.The thing that most amuses me most is not that quality people are unattainable, but that in some plants - mostly small to midsize - sometimes the managers
PIP PRINTING LAUNCHES WEBSITE
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Business-to-business printing franchise PIP Printing (Agoura Hills, CA) has launched www.pip.com, a Web-enabled document management solution to fulfill business printing needs. The site offers customized, online catalogs of clients' print documents, which can be reordered from a local PIP Printing over the Internet.Print buyers need only log onto the site, select a PIP Printing location and register.
PIA HONORS WILLIAMSON
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Jerry Williamson, chairman and CEO of Williamson Printing Corp. (Dallas), is the recipient of the Printing Industries of America (PIA) 2000 Lewis Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award. A printing industry committee chose Williamson based on his impact on the printing industry and his volunteer contributions and commitments. Williamson Printing is a $92 million enterprise employing 500.The award was
KOMORI LITHRONE INSTALLED
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Rainier Color (Seattle) has installed a fully automated Komori Lithrone 640 press with coater and closed-loop Spectral color control. The printer was founded in 1981 as a prepress house, aimed at providing color and advertising prep for large corporations and ad agencies in the Puget Sound area. After nearly nine years of doing prepress work, Rainier Color purchased its first press, a 14 x 20-inch
AURELON INTRODUCES REMOTE PROOFING
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Aurelon USA, Inc. (Irvine, CA) introduces ScreenCheck 1.1, a remote soft-proofing application that allows users to set up scatter proofs for operating color management from their desktops. The software can be used as a network front end for the company's DeskCheck proofing software. The application also features dragging, importing, positioning and aligning of multiple items. The proofing tool also
SPEEDMASTER 74 DI TURNS WISHES INTO REALITY
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Heidelberg turned a portion of its Graph Expo exhibit into a "wish factory" for the northern Illinois chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, producing a variety of printed products that the charitable group uses in its fund-raising activities. Make-A-Wish fulfills the wishes of children between the ages of two and 18 who are battling life-threatening illnesses."Raising funds to fulfill the children's
What's your five-year plan?
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, KATHERINE O'BRIEN
May be you've heard this one. A preacher is urging his flock to change their ways before it's too late. "Everyone here is going to die!" he admonishes the congregation. To his great surprise, one man breaks out in a huge grin. "What's so funny?" the preacher demands. "I'm not from here," responds the man. "I'm just visiting."Unfortunately, the scenario is much the same in the printing industry. Faced
PRINT MEDIA ACADEMY WINS EDUCATION AWARD FROM EDSF
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
The Electronic Document Systems Foundation (EDSF) presented Heidelberg America's Print Media Academy (PMA) with the Excellence in Education Award for innovation in professional growth and development.The award is one of four top prizes bestowed annually by EDSF for advancements "in education in the document communications industry." Heidelberg America's PMA is part of a worldwide PMA effort by the
HOT MARKETS 2001
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, VINCENT MALLARDI
While client printing demands continue to shift, the top 25 print markets hold the promise of $155 billionThe coming year might best be described as: "2001, an economic odyssey." New technologies will shift print demand and our industry's product mix as never before, altering future investment and training.Nevertheless, our industry is expected to do at least three times the gross domestic product
Good-bye, printers. Hello, communications solutions providers
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, ANDREW D. PAPAROZZI
Despite changes in clients' needs and slow industry growth, opportunities exist for printers to diversify their operationsWhat lies ahead for the commercial printing industry? The answer, for the short-and long-term, begins with two essential facts.First, our industry is wrestling with both structural and cyclical change. Structural change is profound, redefining how people communicate and print's
WEB OFFSET OUTLOOK 2001
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, JILL ROTH
Concern about tough competition and lack of skilled employees continues to present challenges to web printers in 2000There's a lot of excitement about the future of the printing industry as it increasingly competes with other media. New technology continually fills the programs of seminars and conferences throughout the industry. But successful printers also must focus on the nuts and bolts of their
Branding 3-D: loud and clear
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, DEBBIE JOHNSON
Matt Schuman had one requirement for the direct-mail piece that would promote HM Graphics' three-dimensional (3-D) packaging division: Its design must be so captivating that it would not be relegated by recipients to the "circular file."The 30-year-old company, which operates six-color, 40-inch presses and is the largest sheetfed printer in southeastern Wisconsin, has generated 3-D products for its
Worth-a-look
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
PERSONAL IMAGING CENTER Xerox Corp.'s Pixography Solution is a personal imaging center that puts customized color documents at the fingertips of walk-up consumers in quick-print and retail environments. Consumers can create personalized business materials, greeting cards, calendars and invitations by merging their own words and pictures on a touchscreen with a selection of fully designed templates
HOW TO COMBAT EMPLOYEE BOREDOM
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
As part of the makeready discussion at the Research & Engineering Council's "Progress in the Pressroom" seminar last month, Quebecor World's targeted publications and catalog group (TPC) (Midland, MI) brought up the challenges of operating with a tight labor force. "We can obtain people; it's the difficulty of retaining them," explains Charles Miotke, president of specialties.To improve employee retention
Worth-a-look
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
FAST CHANGEOVER PERFECT BINDER Muller Martini's Acoro perfect binder is rated at 5,000 books per hour. Changeover can be accomplished in five minutes, making it suitable for short runs. The rapid changeover is accomplished via the Commander control system with touchscreen technology, which makes more than 35 motorized setup adjustments to preselected values. Glue pots for hotmelt, PUR or cold glue
Worth-a-look
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
PDF SOFTWARE, WEB SERVER Shira's PuzzleFlow contains a native PDF processing engine, and a suite of PDF modules, that interlock to form a complete PDF workflow. Operating as an independent PDF application, PuzzleFlow modules include features such as preflight, composition of multiple PDF elements, OPI and Imposition. It is scalable, allowing users to install only the required components, while offering
Worth-a-look
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
COLOR MANAGEMENT TOOL X-Rite's Spectrofiler2 is a software application that enables "on-the-fly" characterization of a print process from a miniaturized test image. In conjunction with a scanning spectrophotometer that contains a micro-spot aperture, it gathers test image information from narrow rows of color targets measuring only 1.6 mm high. Hundreds of measurements from miniature test images located
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
FIVE-COLOR & TWO-COLOR PRESSES Hamada's B552HL five-color offset press with aqueous varnish coater and infrared dryer prints a maximum sheet size of 14 x 20 inches. The press is equipped with the Easy Plate Setting (EPS) feature, blanket washer/dryer, 10,000-sph speed and a new continuous dampening system. Hamada has also begun delivery of its B252A landscape two-color press. The press, which comes
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
SLIP-, SCUFF-RESISTANT COATING Sun Chemical Ink announces SunSlip, a coating that provides slip and scuff/rub resistance for web heatset printing. The water-base, high-slip product was developed to be an alternative to silicone solutions used on web heatset presses to alleviate delivery-marking problems. Applied via the silicone solution applicator, SunSlip is said to be effective at various dilutions.
THE FUTURE OF PRINT
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Printing Industries of America (PIA) (Alexandria, VA) has completed its eight-month study: "Vision 21: The Printing Industry Redefined for the 21st Century."The 177-page study provides a detailed analysis of printers' macro and operating environment as well as the outlook for general commercial and quick printing, direct mail and inserts, catalogs and directories, magazines and periodicals, business
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
INKJET CODER Marconi Data Systems' Marsh PatrionPlus inkjet coder with the HR/300 printhead reportedly offers improved resolution and throw distance for greater up-time. The unit produces fully formed characters without sacrificing ink mileage, keeping the operating costs down. The design offers flexibility to intermix printing technologies, both full-resolution and dot matrix, from the same controller.
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
PAPER SAMPLER Domtar Inc., Eddy Specialty Papers' ninth installment in the Bravo PhotoMasters series features the fashion/ art photography of Deborah Turbeville. The brochure is printed on Bravo dull 100-lb. text and cover stock. The high ink densities showcase Bravo's ink holdout and dot fidelity. The paper's coating formulation creates a smooth, uniform surface resulting in even ink lay and sharp
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
RUBBER REPLACEMENT ROLLERS Chicago Manifold announces three soft rubber roller series replacements for Heidelberg and Ryobi presses. The SYN-TAC replacement set for the Heidelberg Quickmaster DI includes three ink form rollers, three ink transfer rollers and one ink ductor roller. The SYN-TAC roller set for the Heidelberg Quickmaster 46 includes three ink form rollers, three ink transfer rollers,
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
HUMAN RESOURCE WORKBOOKS TG & Associates announces a human resource management tool designed specifically for the printing industry. The How-To series includes four workbooks that guide shop owners, managers, personnel specialists and related service organizations through the step-by-step process of hiring, developing and retaining the right person for each job. The four workbooks are How to Hire
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
GLUE PATTERN GENERATORS Slautterback Corp. introduces the PG210, a solid-state, two-channel, 10-event pattern generator; and the PG420, a four-channel, 20-event pattern generator. With line speed input from a differential encoder, the generators maintain constant pattern length at varying line speeds. They can also be programmed to operate at a fixed speed without the encoder. The PG210 supports two
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
WEB PRESS INSPECTION SYSTEM Advanced Vision Technology's (AVT) Print Vision Mercury, developed specifically for the heatset web offset printing industry, offers inline automatic printing defect detection. The system detects and alerts for typical web offset defects on the printed page, such as scumming, slur, hickeys, color variation and ink/water imbalance. The PrintVision/Pro 19-inch monitor freezes
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
DIGITAL COLOR PROOF SOFTWARE Screen (USA) has introduced LabProof, a direct digital color proof software system that generates color proofs to large, general-purpose inkjet printers. Paired with Screen's color management system, LabFit, LabProof performs color matching based on ICC profiles.One part of LabFit color measures printed sheets (in four minutes) using an 85-patch color control bar, while
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
DIGITAL CAMERA BACK CreoScitex introduces the Leaf Cantare XY digital camera back. The XY Weave technology combines single-shot and multi-shot capability in one digital camera back. Using precision movement, which shifts the CCD by exactly one pixel, the back makes multiple exposures through each of the pixel-dimension filters, producing complete color information for each color channel.
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
WINDOWS NT-BASED RIP DuPont Color Proofing announces version 1.1 of its Cromalin Color Station, a Windows NT-based software RIP that enables color proofing utilizing the Epson Stylus Pro 5000, 7000 and 9000 series of printers and DuPont Proofing Media. The software enables users to work in a separated workflow, show accurate traps, overprints and four-color blacks. The proofing system includes DuPont-certified
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
E-COMMERCE COLLABORATION Noosh's Direct, Sales Force E-Commerce and Data Exchange can be used by print suppliers to reportedly improve efficiency and reduce costs, even if their customers are not members of noosh.com. Noosh Direct provides an end-to-end collaborative online print buying process that allows print suppliers to offer an e-commerce solution from their own websites and under their own
E-COMMERCE STRATEGY
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
You can't escape e-commerce. "Virtually every company on the show floor is already engaged in e-commerce activity of some kind," noted Dennis Mason, Mason Consulting, at the Research & Engineering Council Critical Trends Breakfast during Graph Expo.But if you're a printer that has not yet hopped onto the e-commerce bandwagon, where do you begin? According to Mason, make sure you have the following:1.
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
UV INK SYSTEM Flint Ink introduces the Gemini Ultraviolet (UV) Ink system. The hybrid technology enables printers to produce UV-quality print with minimal investment. Gemini Ink allows printers to achieve sharp wet traps between printing stations, allowing for only one UV light bank at the end of the run to cure. The hybrid ink system offers the high level of gloss and durability of a UV ink and the
EVALUATING DIGITAL PROOFERS
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
The digital proofing system you choose will depend on the following factors, according to Larry Warter, associate director, new business development, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., who spoke at the Research & Engineering Council Critical Trends Breakfast during Graph Expo:1. Workflow. Will you be using the proofing system to output a concept, contact or contract proof?2. Engine and media. "The engine
WORLD-CLASS MAKEREADIES
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
In the face of increasingly shorter runs and turnaround times, printers discussed how they've improved makereadies at the Research & Engineering Council's 26th annual "Progress in the Pressroom" seminar in Chicago.At web printer Fry Communications, Inc. (Mechanicsburg, PA), paid performance and plate changers are shaving time off makeready. Press operators are awarded fixed bonuses when the presses
newscan
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
* Printing Industries of America, Inc. (PIA) (Alexandria, VA) has elected its 2000-2001 officers and board members. Randolph W. Camp, CEO of Walton Graphic Media, has been appointed chairman. Charles Stay, president and CEO of Bert-Co Industries, Inc., was named first vice chairman. Michael Marcian, president and CEO of Corporate Press, was elected second vice chairman. Harry R. Duncanson, Dynacolor
AGFA APPOINTS NEW MANAGEMENT
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Agfa-Gevaert Group (Mortsel, Belgium) has announced management changes, effective January 1, 2001. Friedrich Hujer, member of Agfa-Gevaert's board of management, will retire on that date, and Dr. Ludo Verhoeven, vice president of the board, will succeed him as spokesperson. Walter Van Leuven, head of the Graphic Systems business group, will assume a staff function and assist Dr. Verhoeven. Marc Elsermans,
NEW POLAROID HEADQUARTERS
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Polaroid Graphics Imaging LLC (PGI) has relocated its worldwide headquarters to a new office and production facility in Bedford, MA. The building includes 5,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and state-of-the-art networking capabilities. Polaroid has installed a 1,500-sq.-ft. demonstration and sample suite for customer presentations and production of customer and prospect sample files. All administrative,
ALPHA BETA INSTALLS THREE MITSUBISHI PRESSES
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Alpha Beta Press (Tinley Park, IL) recently held an open house to celebrate its move from a 19,000-sq.-ft. plant to a 47,000-sq.-ft. facility, and to show off its three new presses from Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses (MLP) U.S.A., Inc. The commercial printer traded in two older six-color presses and purchased a six-color, 28-inch Model 1F-15 and two 40-inch Model 3F-16 presses in four and six colors.
NEW CITIPLATE UV CTP BUSINESS UNIT
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Citiplate Inc. (Roslyn Heights, NY) is creating a new business unit to market and distribute small and large-format ultraviolet (UV) platesetters. The computer-to-plate (CTP) devices, designed and manufactured by Escher-Grad Technologies, Inc. (Montreal), feature a one-watt laser imaging source. Targeted at small, midsize and large printers, the UV CTP platesetters feature AQUA LHP System "single-workflow"
PERCEPTION VS. REALITY, PART II
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, Mike Kaufman
In reply to reader Kenneth Rose's comments on the July 2000 feature, "Out-of-the-box recruiting":Mr. Rose is right [in his comments] for the top end of recruiting. There are many highly skilled managers and supervisors available. But let's face it: Sometimes we can't afford or justify a certain position, or meet certain demands.On the other hand, there is definitely a shortage of skilled crafts-people
KODAK POLYCHROME: GRAPH EXPO SUCCESS
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Graph Expo 2000 was reportedly a very successful show for Kodak Polychrome Graphics, which confirmed sales of about 40 Approval XP digital proofing systems and the signing of major consumable contracts.At the show in Chicago, the company announced the mutual accreditation of the use of its Thermal Printing Plate/830 with Gretag Cymbolic Sciences' (Richmond, BC, Canada) PlateJet platesetter with T-Wave
IBM INTRODUCES INFOPRINT
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
IBM Printing Systems (Boulder, CO) has introduced Infoprint Color 130 Plus, a digital printing solution that offers high print speeds, high print quality and the ability to print full-color pages with fully variable content.Combined with IBM's Infoprint Manager or Print Services Facility for OS/390 and a new advanced function presentation (AFP) print driver, the Infoprint Color 30 Plus enables businesses
TIMELINE TRACKS PRINTING HISTORY
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation's (GATF) (Sewickley, PA) GATFPress introduces "Publishing Timeline 2000: A Chronology of Publishing & Graphic Arts Events," by Richard Sasso. Covering a time span from prehistory to the year 2000, the book lists more than 2,600 events and is packaged with a searchable CD-ROM version of the text. More than 350 full-color photographs and illustrations are included
MARKZWARE SERVICES PRINTABLE.COM
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Markzware, Inc. (Santa Ana, CA) has delivered the first commercial version of MarkzNet preflighting solution to Printable.com (San Diego), a provider of Internet-based print management tools and hosting services. MarkzNet provides the technology base for Printable.com's PrintFlight service, which assists printers and their customers in identifying document problems, and delivers preflighted and collected
PRINTIMAGE 2001 CONFERENCE
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
PrintImage International is holding its annual conference and exhibition Feb. 9-14 in Orlando, FL. The conference portion will be held Feb. 9-11 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, and will feature discussion panels on acquisitions, hiring and retention, e-commerce and using operating ratios. The Quick Print Show will take place Feb. 11-14 at the Orange County Convention Center. The PrintImage Excellence
ALLEGRA, SIR SPEEDY LAUNCH OPERATION CHILL
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Allegra Print & Imaging, American Speedy Printing (Troy, MI) and 7-Eleven will soon be treating nearly one million children to a free Slurpee semi-frozen beverage thanks to Operation Chill. The program was created by 7-Eleven in 1995 in a partnership with law enforcement agencies across North America. Participating police officers reward kids who perform good deeds and are actively involved in their
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT CONFERENCE
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) (Sewickley, PA) will be sponsoring the 2001 Continuous Improvement Network (CIN) conference on Feb. 25-28. This year, it will be held at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. Each year, graphic arts experts present a dozen case studies to share practical advice on implementing quality management. The presentations will cover such topics as customer satisfaction,
HEIDELBERG SALUTES WINNERS OF SKILLS USA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Heidelberg honored the winners of the 36th Annual Skills USA Championships in Graphic Communications during Graph Expo.High school gold medallist Justin Green attends Asheville High School in Asheville, NC. Post-secondary winner Will Davis attends the William D. Ford Career/Technical Center in Westland, MI. Both schools will receive a complimentary one-year lease on a Printmaster QM 46.Skills USA-VICA
500TH HEIDELBERG QUICKMASTER (QM) DI IN U.S.
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
The 500th QM DI in the U.S. is now in a digital printing facility in Tulsa, OK. The milestone machine was installed at the "bursting at the seams" pressroom of Odyssey Digital Printing, founded four years ago by John Roberds, president, and Jan Fairless, vice president.The next-generation QM DI Plus features an improved RIP and other enhancements that speed digital file processing. "We're cutting
Out with the old, in with the new
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
A family-owned printer enters its second century with printCafe as a strategic partnerMany companies lay claim to a rich, lengthy history of serving clients with exceptional attention to their needs. Some qualify 20, 40 or 60 years as a "lengthy" history. But Philadelphia-based Sun Printing House commands bragging rights over any shop that is less than a century old.Edwin Fricke opened the doors to
investing in 2001
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, DAVID L. ZWANG
What prepress investments can strengthen your company and prepare it for technological evolution?Drupa 2000 is over, and the products and promises displayed may or may not make it to the marketplace this year, next year or ever - but your business will still need to remain competitive. So what should you be focusing on as you develop your budget for 2001 capital expenditures?Two main reasons for making
the big squeeze
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, RAY VIATOR
The market for half-web presses faces pressure from both sidesAfter almost 30 years in the printing industry, half-web presses find themselves in the unenviable position of being caught between a rock and a hard place.This squeeze is becoming even tighter as traditional full webs on one side and sheetfed presses on the other continue to improve their respective advantages and capabilities. "The economic
Research begets better research
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, M. RICHARD VINOCUR
Let me preface this month's column with one disclaimer and one qualifying statement. The disclaimer: The following opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of american printer or its staff.And the statement: I am a major proponent of this industry's associations. They are the compass that keeps us headed in the right direction, the conduit for networking at the
Worth-a-look
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
TURNKEY INKJET PRINTING SYSTEM Scitex Digital Printing introduces the Miyakoshi Inkjet Printing System MPS9500, which integrates the Scitex VersaMark printing technology in a Miyakoshi Transport System. The combined system reportedly offers ultra-high-speed process color printing in a turnkey system. Using 9-inch printheads from Scitex, the MPS 9500 prints page-wide images in either one- or two-up,
Worth-a-look
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
HALF-SIZE PERFECTING PRESS Akiyama's newest Jprint press is the half-size JP-5P532. It prints the top and bottom of the sheet in one pass through the press, eliminating the need for a convertible perfector system. The Jprint series press is available in 26-, 29-, 32-, 40- and 44-inch format sizes from one-over-one to six-over-six printing units. Each upper and lower unit has its own plate, blanket
Worth-a-look
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
DIGITAL IMAGING SYSTEM Screen (USA) offers the TruePress 544 digital imaging system. The system consists of a digital imaging and offset printing unit plus a controller. The press is geared for short-run work and prints at speeds up to 4000 iph for four-color work or 8000 iph for two-color jobs.
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
PRODUCTION PORTAL Vio has unveiled a new version of its application service provider (ASP) interface that opens its entire suite of online applications to Internet users. Applications include, among others, collaborative soft proofing, digital asset management, preflighting and quality assurance. The quality assurance tool, called Vio Quickcut, checks users' native application files against a comprehensive
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
PRESS PRESET SYSTEM Tobias Associates announces the Eplex Digital Preset System for accurate press presetting. It can be installed on various manufacturers' automated press consoles. It analyzes CIP3 or TIFF files generated by computer-to-plate software to determine image coverage and to predict accurate ink fountain key presets.
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
FINISHING EQUIPMENT The FinishMaster 150, a perforation, scoring and slitting machine from Graphic Whizard, can operate at speeds up to 20,000 sheets per hour. It is suitable for mid to long-run finishing. It features a 30-inch-long register board and vertical air feed, which increases the amount of paper that can be loaded.
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
PRESS ENHANCEMENTS Diamond Press announces four enhancements to its product line of envelope and specialty presses. Its dampener control, which is standard on all new presses, is said to enhance press performance with difficult inks, light coverage and complex images. On-the-run registration is available on both first- and second-color units, enabling adjustment of jobs from either color unit. The
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
SWATCH BOOKS Westvaco announces three swatch books of bright-white Sterling Ultra Web Dull and Web Matte; Cover Gloss and Litho Gloss; and Litho Satin papers. The papers are suitable for annual reports, corporate literature, advertising inserts and direct mail. The swatch books include the basis weights, grams-per-square-meter and sheetfed M-weights by standard stocking size for each paper. Information
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
COLOR MANAGEMENT Screen (USA) introduces the P2QM workflow solution for color management. It uses special color bars to ease profile generation and color scanning. It also offers automated ink control using standard color patches for precise density measurement. The 85-patch color bar was developed for use in ICC profile generation. The control strip allows profiles to be generated for one job while
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
PRODUCT CATALOG EXAIR's expanded Catalog 17 is a free, 80-page, full-color technical guide that offers solutions to common industrial cleaning, cooling, conveying, drying and static electricity problems. Featured products include the Super Ion Air Knife for blowing away static and dust, Line Vac conveyors for scrap trim removal and the adjustable Spot Cooler for cooling plastics and hot melts. A detailed
INTERNET AND THE PRINTING INDUSTRY
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
Expect rapid adoption of Internet-based solutions during the first half of this decade, to the tune of 42 percent compound annual growth in the print e-procurement market, says CAP Ventures (Norwell, MA). In a multi-client study, "Print e-Procurement: Changing the Face of the Printing Industry," the strategic consulting firm reports that though only 17 percent of print is currently procured via processes
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
EIGHT-UP VIOLET CTP Barco Commercial Printing's Viking 8 is a violet-laser eight-up platesetter. It joins the Viking for the two- and six-up market. The Viking 8 combines internal-drum architecture with a new violet diode. The unit supports all violet- and blue-sensitive film, silver halide aluminum plates and polyester plates. Sizes may vary between 9 x 12 inches and 32 x 42 inches and thickness
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
HUMIDIFICATION NOZZLE Nortec introduces the AFD nozzle, the latest addition to its AIRFOG nozzle humidification line. AFD nozzles are mounted on a manifold, offering vertical and horizontal rail-mounting flexibility while using low compressor consumption. Repositioning and adding nozzles per manifold is easily achieved. Using compressed air, water is atomized through the ultrasonic nozzle, consistently
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
PERFECT BINDING SYSTEM MAN Roland demonstrated the Wohlenberg "City 4000" perfect binding system, comprising a Sprinter 7009 gathering machine, the City 4000 perfect binder, a conveyor system and a three-knife Wohlenberg 44FS56 trimmer. The gathering machine can work inline with the City 4000 or as a stand-alone unit. It features four automatic feeding stations, control panel with plain text display,
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
SMALL/MID-SIZE PRINTER SOLUTIONS A.B. Dick Co. announces six products for small and midsize printers. The deSignU simplifies the design of posters, signs and banners solution. The ScanMaster digital scanning solution provides customers with another direct-to-plate option for the Digital PlateMaster line, including the DPM2000, DPM2340 and A.B. Dick Colour digital press. Semi-automatic plate loading
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
DIGITAL, ANALOG PLATE GUIDE Western Lithotech announces a pocket product guide, "Changing the Face of Printing," that details photo polymer CTP plates, thermal CTP plates and conventional/analog plates and processors. It also includes reference charts to compare the features and benefits of each product. Plate comparison charts include plate type, resolution percentages, run length and market applications.
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
LIQUID LITHOGRAPHIC COATING Agfa's LiteSpeed, a liquid lithographic coating material, is sprayed onto a metal substrate on press to create a lithographic printing form. The form can be imaged immediately after application and is then ready for printing. It requires no processing, and can be used with plateless digital printing. In a plateless application, LiteSpeed is sprayed onto a reusable substrate
Graph Expo showcase
Dec 1, 2000 12:00 AM, AMERICAN PRINTER STAFF
HIGH-VOLUME DIGITAL IMAGING Ricoh Corp.'s Aficio 1050 can output 105 ppm. A Connect Copy capability can link two 1050s to double output speed. The 1050 offers six paper sources for a total online capacity of 7,550 sheets. The company's document server and editor technology can store jobs internally or to a rewritable CD either by scanning originals via the standard ARDF or from the desktop. Once in
