Print Week articles from April 2005

Print Week archives from April 2005

Situation unclear after Graphoprint fire.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... The future for fire-stricken Graphoprint was unclear as PrintWeek went to press. Senior management at the Deeside web printer were unavailable to comment on the situation following the devastating fire over the Easter holiday weekend. ...

Garnett Dickinson plans pounds 20m plant.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Rotherham printer Garnett Dickinson is to invest pounds 20m in a new factory running a 48pp MAN Roland Lithoman IV. The firm is to build an 11,000m2 plant on a seven- acre site in the South Yorkshire town's Enterprise Zone to house the new...

Wipak to pump pounds 6m into Welsh packaging site.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... A Finnish-owned packaging group is investing nearly pounds 6m in expanding its Welsh factory. Wipak, which specialises in printed film for the perishable food sector, is extending its factory by 1,566m2 to house a 'unique state-of-the-art...

Wace board strikes new working accord.(Wace Group PLC)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Wace's management has renegotiated terms and conditions with staff, resulting in 24-7 working and opening the door for new kit investment. The new deal, which will also reduce the firm's wage bill, comes into force on the 11 April, just...

Stop Press: Appointment at Polestar Chromoworks.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Bob Caley has joined Polestar Chromoworks as sales and commercial director following the departure of Gary Evans.

Stop Press: IIR announcement.(IIR Exhibitions)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... IIR has announced that one year out from Ipex 2006 the firm has sold 85% of the available space at the show, and of the 300 exhibitors 18% are showing for the first time.

Stop Press: Wyndeham ceases manufacturing in Milton Keynes.(Wyndeham Press Group)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Wyndeham is to cease manufacturing at its Keyne Print sheetfed business in Milton Keynes. More at www.printweek.com.

Stop Press: St Ives' web division evaluates proposals.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Management in St Ives' web division is 'evaluating a number of proposals' put forward by the Caerphilly workforce and will meet with employee representatives again next week.

Stop Press: Sale of Riverside Packaging Printers.(Northern Packaging)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Northern Packaging has sold Riverside Packaging Printers to an MBO led by managing director Ray Mitchell. The pounds 6m turnover Somerset firm produces plain and printed paper and film flexible packaging.

St Ives introduces further overhauls.(Johler Druck Gmbh sold to Arques Industries)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... A further swathe of restructuring is underway at St Ives, which has offloaded its loss-making German web business and is poised to consolidate its UK point-of-sale operations. The group has sold Johler Druck to German restructuring...

Simpsongroup to fit MAN kit.(MAN Roland 900XXL)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Tyneside point-of-sale specialist Simpsongroup looks likely to install the first MAN Roland 900XXL outside London after breaking ground on its purpose-built pounds 7m facility. The firm plans to move into the new plant, which is now under...

Bloomsbury in Potter secrecy.(Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd.)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Publisher Bloomsbury has declined to say what stock the next Harry Potter novel will be printed on, or who will print the book, citing security reasons. The firm said last month that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be the first...

Interactive posters printed.(McKenzie Clark )(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Interactive posters have been printed for the release of New Order's new album, Waiting for the Sirens' Call. The posters beam song clips, photos and ringtones straight to mobile phones. South London-based McKenzie Clark produced posters for...

Shorts: Live production job on St Ives Roche's Lithoman.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... VNU's Personal Computer World was the first live production job on St Ives Roche's new 64pp Lithoman. VNU production director Joanne Hurst is pictured pressing the green button for 'good copy' on Tuesday (5 April). 'We were running at 50,000cph...

Shorts: Amazon.com buys BookSurge.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Amazon.com, best known for its online book selling operation, has bought US on demand book printer BookSurge. 'Our new relationship will provide Amazon customers an ever-expanding selection of titles that are not available through other...

Shorts: Oce releases results.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Oce has released its Q1 results, which show total revenues steady year on year, up 1.8% to pounds 426m (EUR622.8m). Net income on the same period, however, showed a 46.9% drop to pounds 6.22m from pounds 11.76m in 2004. As a result the firm is...

Shorts: Promise by Tony Blair.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Prime Minister Tony Blair 'personally promised' last week to look into the Office of Fair Trading's proposals regarding the magazine supply chain. The pledge followed Blair's meeting with one hundred of the country's magazine editors.

Shorts: BPIF launches new project.(British Printing Industries Federation)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... The BPIF is launching a project with associate member XL Recruitment to improve the quality of sales people in the print industry. The initiative is in response to the recent PETF national skills survey, which highlighted recruitment problems...

Shorts: Litho Supplies adds to product portfolio.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Litho Supplies has added the NDI range of pressroom consumables to its product portfolio. The deal to sell the replacement accessories follows on from the firm's relationship with Varn chemicals and Day International blankets.

Shorts: Appointment at Adare Intellidata.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Adare Intellidata, the data handling arm of the Adare Group, has appointed two new staff to its senior management team. Jonathan Russell, previously of GB Group, Centaur and the BBC, joins the board as sales and marketing director. The firm has...

Shorts: Correction.(Correction Notice)
April 7, 2005... For those of you that had problems making donations to James McNaughton's Paul Smith London marathon appeal for the NSPCC the correct address is www.justgiving.com/paulsnspcclondonmarathon.

MAN streamlines R500 for mainstream market.(MAN Roland)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... MAN Roland is set to launch a new 'pared down' version of its R500 B2 sheetfed press, with prices starting at around pounds 500,000 for a four-colour model. 'One of the reasons the R500 hasn't really sold is that it was so highly spec'd it...

Former Seven ops chief Olive is found dead.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
April 7, 2005... Former colleagues are mourning Stephen Olive, who died on Easter Sunday in an apparent suicide. Olive was until recently operations director at Seven Worldwide, and had worked there and at Wace for 20 years. He was made redundant just over...

Ormolu draws up new finance deal.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Ormolu Group has restructured its debt, tackling the deficit in the old Waddie & Co pension fund in the process. The group acquired Greenaways, Pillans & Wilson and Waddie through bank debt, but this left the group with net debt of pounds...

Proskills plans roadshow as it seeks SSC tag.(Sector Skills Council )(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Proskills, the aspirant Sector Skills Council for process and manufacturing which will cover print, is holding a series of roadshows later this month. The four events will give printers a chance to find out what Proskills is about, and...

Kodak's Creo buy hits delays.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Kodak has completed its acquisition of Kodak Polychrome Graphics, but despite approval by Creo shareholders and the Canadian authorities its acquisition of Creo has been delayed. The US Department of Justice is seeking more information on...

Putney Kall Kwik prints Jamie Oliver campaign petition.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Jamie Oliver's feed me better campaign petition, which was handed to Tony Blair last week, was printed and bound by the Putney Kall Kwik. The branch took less than half a day to print and bind the 4,000pp document, which was delivered to 10...

Prices set to go up for paper and inks.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Printers are facing paper and ink price rises, with paper set to go up by 4-8%. In both cases the cost of oil has played a key part, with suppliers citing the rising cost of paper chemicals and increased energy and distribution costs. ...

EU staff regulations in effect.(European Union)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... New EU regulations on consulting with employees came into force this week, affecting all companies that employ 150 or more staff. The ICE regulations (Information and Consultation of Employees) took effect yesterday (6 April). They are the...

Ex-MY man joins BPIF Cartons.(British Printing Industries Federation)(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... John Monks, ex-group chief executive of MY Holdings, has been appointed as president of BPIF Cartons. Monks retired at the end of last year after 14 years as chief executive of MY Holdings, announcing his intention to stay in print...

MBO group takes over Heanor Gate.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Derbyshire printer Heanor Gate is entering a 'new era' after being sold to a five-strong management buy-out team. The deal for the 70-staff commercial printing firm, which serves blue-chip clients, was completed last Friday for an...

Geoff Neal orders 6-colour CD.(Geoff Neal Litho Ltd.)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Geoff Neal Litho is set to replace a Heidelberg SM 102-6 with a CD 102 six-colour in a bid to improve flexibility and productivity at the direct mail and promotional print specialist. 'It will allow us to print great solids and print on...

Cradley looks to stronger H2.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Improved efficiencies and a higher added-value work mix are yet to flow through into Cradley's results - losses in its print division increased by 12% in first-half trading. In the six months to 31 December print sales at the West Midlands...

Shorts: Presstek confirms restructure of European operations.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Presstek has confirmed that it is restructuring its European operations, which will see the launch of a new company, Presstek-Europe. The new firm will operate from the AB Dick facility in Brentford, and will be headed by former AB Dick (UK)...

Shorts: Sun Chemical makes changes to European team.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Sun Chemical has made changes to its European leadership team. Former managing director Michael Griem becomes president of its North American inks division. His previous responsibilities for countries are split between Group managing director...

Shorts: Broadsword reaps benefits from PrintYorkshire partnership.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Broadsword UK is one company reaping the benefits from the PrintYorkshire partnership. The Rotherham-based print management and display graphics specialist has been introduced to the human resources management solutions programme by the BPIF,...

Shorts: Duraweld to hold prices.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Duraweld is to hold last year's ex-stock white binder prices until the middle of this year. The decision is due to the success of a guide for its ex-stock presentation binders, which has been so successful the firm has decided to extend the...

Shorts: Royston Labels wins highest award.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Royston Labels won the highest award in all three categories at the 2005 European Flexographic Technical Association print awards. The Hertfordshire-based printer earned gold for the King British Fish Food range labels and a gold in the plastic...

Shorts: Alpha-Cure strengthens export team.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Alpha-Cure has strengthened its export team with the appointment of two executives. Vanessa Mulley will handle North and South America, Eastern Europe and India. Deirdre Clark will develop sales in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Russia...

Shorts: Sebright Printers invests in Heidelberg.(Heidelberg Speedmaster)(five-colour perfector)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Sebright Printers is investing pounds 1m in its first Heidelberg Speedmaster CD74, a five-colour perfector with coater and extended delivery. The firm will trade in one SM74 five-colour, and retain an SM74 four-colour press.

Shorts: Pace Print & Design installs Heidelberg.(Speedmaster 52 five-colour perfector)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Pace Print & Design has installed a Heidelberg Speedmaster 52 five-colour perfector at its Worcester base. Managing director David Shelton said the firm intends to increase turnover by 25% with the addition of the new press.

Ancient House fits Komori in largest-ever spend.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Ancient House Printing Group has installed a 16pp Komori System 38S as part of a pounds 3.5m spend, the largest in its 160-year history. The buy, which was first mooted at Drupa (PrintWeek, 31 March), replaces an 8pp Komori. According to...

PPA to discuss its standard at Magazines '05.(Periodical Publishers Association)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... The PPA will be providing an update on the status of its fledgling digital photography standard pic4press at next month's Magazines 2005. According to senior executive of production technology and environment Rose Benjamin, since its...

Polestar Sheffield starts production.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Polestar Sheffield has hit its ambitious target to have ink on paper by the end of March, starting production on the UK's widest-ever web. The pounds 110m superplant hit its self-imposed deadline of midnight last Thursday (31 March) to...

Fire-damaged Colorliner back for Northcliffe.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... The Northcliffe Press in Derby has reinstalled the Goss Colorliner 70 tower that was damaged by fire in January. The two-press site, which prints local and national titles including the Derby Evening Telegraph and The Daily Mail is now...

WRAP backs push to recycle sludge.(Waste Resources Action Programme)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... The Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is funding a project that will examine new uses for the UK's 1m tonnes of paper mill sludge. The project will use a Micronex sludge processing plant, developed by First American Scientific...

Impact completes pounds 1m refit.(Impact Print & Design)(Mitsubishi Diamond)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Impact Print & Design has installed a Mitsubishi Diamond 1G, rounding off its 12-month pounds 1m investment programme. According to financial director David Snow, the new press, which can handle substrates from 0.04-0.6mm thick, has...

Wyndeham adds tech roles.(Wyndeham Press Group)(promotions)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Wyndeham Press Group has promoted Graphics technical director Barry Fitzpatrick and Heron technical director David Brown to the newly created role of group technical director. The two will head up the strategic development teams covering...

Legal Notices.(Public Notice)
April 7, 2005... This information is extracted from the print- and publishing-related notices that appear in the London Gazette. Further information is available from its website at: www.london-gazette.co.uk. WINDING UP PETITIONS Quality Printers Ltd...

Colourbyte gains p4p accreditation.(proof4press)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Colourbyte has been granted the first proof4press accreditation for an independent proofing system by the PPA. Up until now only complete proofing systems made up of matched dedicated hardware and software from Agfa, Creo and DuPont have...

Fuji ups workflow automation.(Fujifilm Graphic Systems)(Pathway Submit )(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Fuji is to ramp up workflow automation from June with the launch of JDF-enabled module Pathway Submit and improvements to the Remote Approval module. Pathway Submit allows jobs to be created directly or imported from an MIS before being...

Creative Suite 2 to hit shelves.(Adobe Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Adobe has launched Creative Suite 2 (CS2), the latest incarnation of its image and layout software bundle. Two versions will be available, Standard and Premium. The Standard edition includes Photoshop, ImageReady, Illustrator and InDesign;...

Shorts: GMG ColorProof to feature at exhibition.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... GMG ColorProof will feature on five stands at this month's Northprint exhibition in Harrogate. The software will be used by Apex Digital Graphics as part of its pre-press to press line-up culminating in production on a Ryobi 524GX press. Xelix...

Shorts: Cacidi Systems launches Extreme 6.0.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Cacidi Systems has launched Extreme 6.0, a plug-in for Adobe InDesign CS2 that allows the automatic creation of catalogues and brochures. The enhancements include a new user interface, which gathers all functions into one palette. Demo files...

Shorts: Filetransfer.co.uk to use Northprint.(Northprint Manchester Ltd)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Filetransfer.co.uk will use Northprint to launch the shipping version of Nverge for web-based managed file transfer. The firm will also be highlighting a raft of other products including preflighting and file delivery software PrintSure,...

Shorts: Quark joins Ghent PDF Workgroup.(poratable document format)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Quark has joined Ghent PDF Workgroup, the international assembly of graphics arts professionals that creates, tests and disseminates best practices and specifications for publishing workflows.

Shorts: Modern Colour Solutions invests.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Modern Colour Solutions has invested in KPG's Northmann Automatic Graphic System (AGS). The 'real-time' product will link the firm into its customers' digital assets, which can then be uploaded onto a secure web-based system. Modern can then...

Shorts: AdsML teams up with Adobe.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... AdsML, the international standards-writing body for the advertising industry has teamed up with Adobe to design 'custom panels' for ad metadata. The panels, exposed through Adobe's CS2 software, will allow information stored in its XMP...

Shorts: Esko-Graphics launches options on Scope packaging workflow.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Esko-Graphics has launched certified PDF file creation and preflighting as options on its Scope packaging workflow. The format is based on the Enfocus PitStop profiles as defined by the Ghent PDF Workgroup. 'Preflighting incoming PDF jobs is a...

Shorts: Colyer Computing appointed value added distributor.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Colyer Computing has been appointed value added distributor for the Casper suite of software for streamlining the management of Mac operating systems. Casper is made up of five modules and includes functions such as new workstation integration,...

B&P cuts price of UV-cured flatbeds.(B&P Lightbrigade Group Ltd.)(ink-jet printers)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... B&P Lightbrigade is set to launch a range of flatbed UV-cured ink-jet printers at Sign UK at a dramatically lower price point than the competition. The Uniform Commander comes in 1.8m, 2.5m and 3.2m widths and prices range from pounds...

3D adds second Xerox iGen3.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... East London-based 3D Digital has completed a 60,000 run of personalised horoscopes and added five staff members after installing a second Xerox DocuColor iGen3. Expansion in contracts from the financial sector has forced the firm to invest...

Shorts: Appointment at Domino Amjet.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... David Ellen, former head of Domino's commercial printing business unit, has become director of sales at its US operation Domino Amjet. Ellen left the UK for the US in 2004 to become director of Domino's commercial print division. He said: 'I am...

Shorts: Xera-Logic to host print show.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Xerox dealer Xera-Logic (Scotland) is to host a print show at Livingston Football Club on 11-12 May. The firm will demonstrate the whole range of Xerox digital printers and workflows, as well as offering visitors the opportunity to win a Red...

Shorts: HoF Fabric Display Solutions begins production.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... HoF Fabric Display Solutions in Taunton, Somerset has begun production on its large-format NedGraphics Mutoh printer. The 2.23m-wide, 720dpi press prints eight colours on a range of fabrics including satin, knitted polyester, Digi-Maya and spun...

Shorts: Hewlett-Packard names new chief exec.(appointments)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Hewlett-Packard has named Mark Hurd as its new chief executive, filling the slot made vacant by the ousted Carly Fiorina. Hurd, who was previously head of NCR in Dayton, Ohio, is expected to take up his position tomorrow (8 April 2005).

Shorts: AIT to launch upgrade.(Applied Image Technology)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Applied Image Technology (AIT) is to launch an upgrade to its Shiraz RIP at Sign UK next week. Shiraz v6.1 will be on display at the Birmingham NEC show running a Mimaki JV22 wide-format dye-ink printer. AIT managing director Roger Ward said:...

Shorts: ESMA Digital Printing World show changes name.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Frankfurt-based show ESMA Digital Printing World has changed its name to The DPE - Digital Printing Exhibition. The show, which will take place next March, made the change to avoid confusion with the British show Digital Print World. ESMA is...

Shorts: Dims! moves European head office.(DiMS! Organizing Print)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... MIS supplier Dims! has moved its European head office to new purpose-built premises in Lichtenvoorde in the Netherlands. As well as office space, the new building features demonstration areas and training classrooms. DiMS! chief executive...

Xerox releases Pantone books for digital accuracy.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Xerox has produced Pantone digital chip books for its iGen3 and DocuColor 8000 digital colour presses, when used with its own DocuSP workflow. The Pantone digital chip books have been released as part of Xerox's on-going collaboration with...

SBF installs its second Nipson 7000 machine.(Service Business Forms)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Service Business Forms has installed a second Nipson 7000 digital printing press, to deal with its increasing levels of direct mail work. 'Demand for two-sided personalisation from many of our customers has increased,' said Service Business...

Inca Digital lifts lid on its Spyder 320.(Inca Digital Printers Ltd.)
April 7, 2005... Inca Digital has launched its first foray into the competitive mid-market flatbed ink-jet sector with the four-colour Spyder 320, a larger version of last year's Spyder. The launch of the 3.2x1.6m printer, which carries a price tag of...

Creo's info tool gets Northprint debut via Litho.(Litho Supplies PLC)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Creo's Darwin variable information authoring tool for Adobe InDesign will be shown for the first time in Europe on the Litho Supplies stand at Northprint. Exclusive to Litho Supplies, the application, which is currently in beta testing,...

E-G adds autofeed to i-XL die-cutter.(Esko-Graphics)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Esko-Graphics has unveiled an autofeed option for its i-XL Kongsberg die-cutting tables, describing it as the 'missing link' in the i-XL's evolution from a sample maker to short-run production machine. The new roll sheet feeder, developed...

Capital MD McDowell sells up.(Managing director; Gerry McDowell)(Capital Print Finishing Ltd. sold to Charta Group Holdings)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Capital Print Finishing has been sold to Charta Group Holdings. Managing director Gerry McDowell decided to sell the Greenwich-based trade finishing house and to take early retirement. 'After 25 years I decided it was time to get round...

New Autobond Mini laminator.(Mini TP H 76)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Autobond has launched a sub-pounds 65,000 B1 version of its Mini thermal sheet laminator range, which was launched at Drupa last year. The portrait Mini TP H 76 features a Heidelberg Speedmaster 74 feeder and can handle up to 2,700 B1...

Shorts: Colourprint Central goes for Morgana DigiFold.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Glasgow start-up printer Colourprint Central has gone for a Morgana DigiFold and EBA551 guillotine for its finishing department. The digital printer, an offshoot of advertising and design firm Lateral Line, will run a Xerox DocuColor 5252 and...

Shorts: Renz UK expands desktop binding range.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Renz UK has expanded its desktop binding range with two new machines. The firm is currently looking for distributors for the new Copybinder 3, which features a one-touch bind operation and a side-entry tape loader. The Hatfield,...

Shorts: Eden Litho Reproduction brings work in-house.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Eden Litho Reproduction is bringing more finishing work in-house after installing a Horizon Stitchliner from Graphic Arts Equipment. The investment at the Edenbridge, Kent firm will allow it to combine collation, folding, saddle-stitching and...

Shorts: Stolk and Reese Kuvert opens distribution centre.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Envelope manufacturer Stolk and Reese Kuvert has opened a purpose-built 4,200m2 envelope distribution centre at Haydock. The plant, built next to the M6, will allow the firm to offer next-day delivery across the UK on its range of envelopes....

Shorts: Setmasters holds open days.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Horizontal collating equipment manufacturer Setmasters is to hold a series of open days in July to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The Lymington, Hampshire firm, which began life as a backstreet workshop in Manchester in June 1975, will...

Shorts: Spatial Group wins major contract.(International Scientific Communications)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... The Spatial Group in Castle Donington has won a major mail-handling contract for Maidenhead-based International Scientific Communications. Under the deal, which will be worth around pounds 250,000 per year, the firm will handle three ISC...

Shorts: Ashe Converting Equipment reports sales to China.(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... Ashe Converting Equipment in Ipswich, Suffolk has reported 21 sales of its slitters and rewinders to the Chinese print market. The machinery manufacturer has primarily sold its Sapphire slitter and Jade primary film slitter into the growing...

UPM is to focus on improving profits.(UPM Corp.)(Brief Article)
April 7, 2005... UPM will focus on improving profitability in 2005 and plans to increase its market share, possibly through acquisitions. 'UPM's primary goal at present is to bring profitability up to an acceptable level,' said UPM president and chief...