Print Week articles from February 2004

Print Week archives from February 2004

Howitt rescued by 'dream team' bid.
February 5, 2004... The former Colorgraphic 'dream team' of Nick Dixon, Mike Hunter and Rick Taylor are poised to rescue Howitt, after the company went into administrative receivership at the end of last week. After months of speculation about its future,...

WE Berry set to close after no buyer is found.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Bradford-based web printer WE Berry is set to close after KPMG Corporate Recovery failed to find a buyer. Joint administrator Paul Flint said that despite negotiations with a number of interested parties over the past two months he had been...

Wam!Net's Savvis disruption.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Wam!Net was once again affected by service disruptions last week as a result of the transition to parent firm Savvis' network. Among firms affected was Polestar, particularly its Watford and Colchester sites, which has switched to the...

Morris opts for part-time role.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Guardian Newspapers has announced that production and facilities management director Fiona Morris intends to take a part-time role from this April. Morris, who will continue to have board responsibility for the company's facilities...

STOP PRESS: Swedish pulp producer ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Swedish pulp producer Sodra Cell will raise the price for its eucalyptus and birch hardwood pulp by dollars 30 a tonne to dollars 520 per tonne.

STOP PRESS: Ultrachem has announced sudden death of marketing manager ..(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 5, 2004... Ultrachem has announced the sudden death of marketing manager Aidan McElroy, aged 36, who died at home last Friday (30 January). It described McElroy as 'a dependable colleague and an exceptionally talented individual'. He is survived by his...

STOP PRESS: GPMU members at De La Rue's Byfleet ..(Graphical Paper and Media Union )(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... GPMU members at De La Rue's Byfleet plant have accepted the redundancy package on offer. Around 70 jobs will go, but 28 will be created at De La Rue's operation in Dunstable, which will have some Byfleet plant kit.

STOP PRESS: York document specialist DocQwise Business Services ..(Spectromedia)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... York document specialist DocQwise Business Services has merged with Derby firm Spectromedia to further enhance its national account work for the likes of KPMG, LearnDirect and Network Rail.

STOP PRESS: The Orchestra Group ..(Corporate Mailing Matters)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... The Orchestra Group has sold its London and South East operations to Corporate Mailing Matters. Orchestra chief executive Anthony Phillips has resigned as chairman, handing over to Brian Dickerson.

Headline profit up again at Polestar.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Polestar has pushed up its headline profit figures for the second year in a row, after announcing its annual results this week. Chief executive Barry Hibbert described the figures as 'not bad considering the market conditions'. ...

TSO probed over Hutton leak.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... The Stationery Office (TSO) has defended its security procedures after allegations that the source of the leak of the Hutton report to a national newspaper was from its printing works in Southwark. Lord Hutton has launched an inquiry into...

Victor production for Estonia.(Victor Stationery leaving Belfast for Estonia)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Around 150 jobs are under threat at Belfast's Victor Stationery as the company announced plans to relocate its production to Estonia. Allied Counties GPMU branch secretary Davy Edmont said that workers were still shocked and angry at the...

SHORTS: Appointment at Avery Dennison.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Avery Dennison has appointed Don Stoebe to the position of vice president and general manager, Roll Materials Europe. Stoebe brings 20 years' experience in Avery Dennison to the role, having started with the company as a process development...

SHORTS: Appointment at Xerox.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Xerox has appointed Ronnie Conway as the general manager for Scotland, effective immediately. The role will see Conway take responsibility for all of Xerox office businesses in Scotland, including Xerox Office, Xerox Production and Xerox...

SHORTS: Hartley's Printing Co has set up a digital print ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Hartley's Printing Co has set up a digital print operation at its Cardiff Bay print facility enlisting the services of former Meridian Digital director Kevin Ogden.

SHORTS: Sun Chemical has confirmed ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Sun Chemical has confirmed that the marketing director of its Bristol-based Liquid Inks division, Bob Mittins, has left the company. A spokesman for the company said that Mittins' departure was due to natural corporate wastage.

SHORTS: The staff in Komori's Leeds showroom ..
February 5, 2004... The staff in Komori's Leeds showroom couldn't resist the chance to donate with a doughnut this week as part of Save the Children's National Doughnut Week. Komori is still on the lookout for a paper supplier and finishing company to work on its...

SHORTS: The MetalFX Design Awards 2004 ..
February 5, 2004... The MetalFX Design Awards 2004, sponsored by Computer Arts, Honda, Safeway's, and Wrigleys, are now open for entry for UK students. The winning entry will be printed by MetalFX on a Komori press at Drupa. The winning student will win a trip to...

SHORTS: Scarborough-based print group Pindar ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Scarborough-based print group Pindar has won the PricewaterhouseCoopers Yorkshire annual report award for producing its own annual report. The company won the category for the best corporate reporting in the region for privately owned...

SHORTS: Appointment at Spectra.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... James Gill has been appointed to the position of European sales director for Spectra, the piezoelectric ink-jet head manufacturer. Gill was previously global marketing director, screenprint and signage, for Vutek.

SHORTS: Screen is to launch the TruePress 344 ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Screen is to launch the TruePress 344, a new direct imaging press to replace the TruePress 544, at Drupa. The machine sees Screen switch from visible light polyester plates developed in situ to processless thermal technology, using an as yet...

Ex-Printcafe chief runs Indian BPO firm's UK arm.(business products outsourcing)(Express KCS expands in Europe through outsourcing)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Robert Berkeley, the former Printcafe Europe managing director, is heading up the European operations for an Indian firm specialising in graphic arts business process outsourcing (BPO). Express KCS is a spin-off from one of India's largest...

Wyndeham in swoop for 2nd St Ives director.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... St Ives has lost a second high profile figure to Wyndeham Press group. Manufacturing director Roy Kingston is set to join Wyndeham as group operations director, a role that gives him a seat on the board. He is currently negotiating his...

Cubbon is named NAPM's next chief.(National Association of Paper Merchants )(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... The National Association of Paper Merchants (NAPM) has announced a change in the president's line of succession, following recent events at Premier Paper. Antalis managing director for UK, Ireland and South Africa, Henry Cubbon, will now...

Canon rethinks Europe graphic arts exposure.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Canon Europe is expanding its graphic arts market to include commercial printers following consultation with more than 1,000 printers and their customers. It has also reorganised its country, European and worldwide structure to focus on...

Sappi slips pounds 11.5m into the red.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Sappi has reported a net loss of pounds 11.5m in its first-quarter figures for 2004, a reversal of a pounds 28m profit on the same period last year, as the company felt the impact of restructuring charges and a weak US market. The South...

Precision Colour Printing (PCP) ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Precision Colour Printing (PCP) has ordered the UK's first 10-unit Rotoman press from MAN Roland. The press, with a value of pounds 6.5m, is scheduled to arrive in the UK in early July, for commissioning at the Telford-based printers in the...

Warburg buys Clondalkin in US-entry bid.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Irish packaging company Clondalkin has been bought by US equity company Warburg Pincus for EUR630m (pounds 430.8m) as it looks to expand in the US and Far East. The deal means Warburg now controls the 85% shareholding owned by rival...

Moss heads on to Colourhouse.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Westdale Press sales director Andrew Moss has left the firm and joined south-east London-based B1 printer, The Colourhouse. Moss has joined Colourhouse to head up its commercial sales division. Alan Padbury, managing director of...

AVT posts first annual profits.(Advanced Vision Technology )(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Advanced Vision Technology (AVT) has posted its first annual profit, after seeing a 38% rise in revenues in its latest year-end results. The results, for the year to 31 December 2003, saw the automatic inspection system provider report net...

Results expected: Union merger vote.(Graphical Paper and Media Union)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... The result for the ballot on the GPMU's planned merger was expected to be announced as PrintWeek went to press. GPMU general secretary Tony Dubbins said there was an indication there had been an incredibly high turnout for a postal ballot,...

Hortons, KBA Rapida dispute continues.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... The three-year dispute between Bradford-based Hortons Print Group and KBA over its Rapida 74 looks set to continue, with the two parties still negotiating (PrintWeek, 22 January). Mediation between the two parties on 28 January failed to...

ACP to receive UK's first Ryobi 526 HXX press.(All Colours Printers )(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Direct mail specialists All Colours Printers has invested in the UK's first six-colour Ryobi press. The 526 HXX was supplied by Apex Digital Graphics and will sit alongside the firm's existing four-colour Ryobi. The new press includes...

Adare: profits and turnover up in '03.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Adare Group has shown increases in both operating profits and sales from on-going operations in its newly published results. Adare business development director Robert Whiteside said the group had won some significant deals throughout the...

St Ives to shut Case-Hoyt op.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... St Ives plans to close its loss-making Case-Hoyt operation in the United States. The Rochester-based firm was acquired just three years ago when St Ives expanded its North American business with the pounds 50m purchase of Avanti Press and...

Cradley: share rise is illogical.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Share prices in Cradley Print Group reached a high of 13.5p on 29 January, a jump of nearly 40%, forcing the West Midlands-based print group to issue a statement to the Stock Exchange. The statement said Cradley was not aware of any reason...

LEGAL NOTICES.
February 5, 2004... 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 Steve Reice Publishing...

Screen to flag up JDF-based workflow at Drupa.(job definition format)(trade shows of printing industry)(Screen Machine Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Screen will major in JDF-based workflow and CTP at Drupa. At the heart of its Trueflownet brand of workflow is Ritecontrol, a JDF-based production management system that will provide links into pre-press workflow, MIS and the internet. ...

Barco creates LCD with colour critical quality.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Flat panel displays have definitely come of age for colour critical applications with Barco's launch of its first LCD, the Coloris Calibrator. 'Barco has managed to unite the advantages of LCD technology with the colour accuracy and...

Telegraph adopts Vio ad submission.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... The Telegraph Group has successfully rolled out a joint Vio/Markzware preflighting solution that is already attracting 15% of all ad traffic through the system, only two months after installation. The solution, which has been integrated by...

EFI profits rise despite outlay of acquisitions.(Electronics For Imaging Inc.)(Best)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Electronics For Imaging (EFI) finished the year strongly after acquisitions raised its stake in the professional print market. Despite the costs of acquiring Best, Printcafe and T/R Systems, net income for the year rose 39% to pounds 14.4m...

X-rite to focus on colour value.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... X-rite will launch seven products at Drupa as part of its mission to make accurate colour quicker, cheaper and simpler to achieve. Products cover hardware and software for monitor, proofer and press profiling and quality assurance for all...

Fujifilm Electronic Imaging (FFEI) ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Fujifilm Electronic Imaging (FFEI) has sold its 500th violet platesetter, reaching that figure 18 months since launching machines using violet technology. The Luxel Vx-9600 CTP and Luxel V-6000 CTP platesetters were unveiled at Ipex 2002 and...

Mitsubishi opts for offline imaging for DI model.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses (MLP) will show a prototype web press with variable cut-off and re-writeable cylinders at the Drupa show in May. Unlike the MAN Roland DICOweb, which offers a similar concept, the sleeves will be de-imaged,...

Xeikon GB buys Openshaw's UK Xeikon division.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Xeikon GB has bought Openshaw's Xeikon business to bring it in line with the company's global strategy of having one dealer in each country. The firm bought maintenance contracts, spare parts and consumables. It has also taken on six...

Inca plans preview of Spyder at Drupa.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Inca has partnered with Sun Chemical to produce an ink-jet press for corrugated carton print and will show a prototype machine at Drupa, which will enter beta testing before the end of the year. It also has two new flatbed machines, with...

Dotrix gets UK debut and tells of Drupa plans.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Dotrix will launch a complete converting line for the.factory at Drupa. Another first for the firm at Drupa will be an interface allowing new parent Agfa's ApogeeX pre-press workflow to drive the roll-fed UV-cured ink-jet press. ...

UPM chief quits on back of tough '03.(Juha Niemela )(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... UPM president and chief executive Juha Niemela has resigned from his post as the Finnish paper manufacturer reported continuing falls in turnover and pre-tax profits for 2003. Niemela's resignation was accepted by the board and will take...

Paper Pricewatch Woodfree Paper, February 2004.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Talks of price increases for woodfree reel products are again order of the day, writes Andy Scott. One leading industry source said although there was stability at present in the woodfree market, price increases for January had not taken...

SHORTS: Sappi has launched Parade, a range of three ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Sappi has launched Parade, a range of three one-side coated label papers for wet glue applications. Parade Prima is aimed at the general dry goods sector, Parade Aqua at wet strength labelling for glass, bottles and jars, and Parade Souplesse...

SHORTS: Myllykoski Group has expanded its range ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Myllykoski Group has expanded its range of coated magazine papers for 2004 by adding 100gsm to its M-Brite brand. The additional grammage is a result of the production investments made last year by the Myllykoski mill in Finland. Improvements...

SHORTS: Fedrigoni is to show its latest paper innovations ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Fedrigoni is to show its latest paper innovations at the Paperworld show in Frankfurt. These include Sirio Pearl, and the warm shades of the Merida range. The Stucco collection now includes Stucco Kilim and Stucco Sirio ranges, joining the...

SHORTS: The Stationers Social Society ..
February 5, 2004... The Stationers Social Society would like to point out that the dress code for their annual dinner on 25 February is in fact lounge suits, not black tie as previously stated. The event is held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, Hyde Park. Contact...

SHORTS: James Cropper Speciality Papers ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... James Cropper Speciality Papers has introduced a new company logo to better reflect the key elements of its business. The distinctive bird emblem has been given a sleeker design while the stronger use of colour was designed to depict the...

SHORTS: To celebrate Euro 2004, the Robert Horne Group ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... To celebrate Euro 2004, the Robert Horne Group, in conjunction with manufacturer and key Euro 2004 sponsor Portucel Soporcel, is running a competition to win tickets to the championships. Over 170 tickets will be available in promotions that...

SHORTS: UPM has ordered the rebuild of its paper machine 6 ..(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... UPM has ordered the rebuild of its paper machine 6 at its Jamsankoski paper mill in Finland. The paper machine produces (SC) uncoated magazine paper, and the rebuilt machine is scheduled to go on stream during the first quarter of 2005. Due to...

RPM secures Age Concern DM work.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Chichester-based RPM Print and Design is to produce direct mail for Age Concern in addition to its other work for the charity. The firm will print promotional material and handle the direct mail project for Age Concern's London-based...

Tetra kit for Milk Link's Moo.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Milk Link has brought in new kit from Tetra Pak following the launch of its long-life milk range Moo. The cartons will be produced in-house with the group using a Tetra Pak A3 Flex filling plat-form. The equipment enables the milk to be...

Cooper to print allergy mag.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Cooper Clegg has won the contract to print A, the latest title from magazine publisher Electric INK, which aims to raise allergy awareness. The Tewkesbury-based web printer will produce the bi-monthly 116pp title, that has a print run of...

EU TENDERS.
February 5, 2004... Please read the important notes at the foot of the page, as PrintWeek cannot supply any additional information or pass on your details. The tenders below are abridged. It is essential that you obtain a full copy of the tender before contacting...

COMMENT: Still expecting the unexpected with Howitt.(printing house acquired by Dixon)
February 5, 2004... Well, that's my 10p down the drain then - I'd put it on The Print Factory picking up Howitt. It does need somewhere to print all that nice Vodafone work, after all. I was nearly right though I suppose; The Print Factory was certainly one...

OPINION: Data and transparency are key to CO2 papers.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... The EU Emissions Trading Scheme is the current issue for the papermaking industry. Graham Barnard, the Confederation of Paper Industries' (CPI) director of business affairs, has in recent months been devoted to poring over government...

WALLIS: Still early but the Heidelberg digital retreat is ominous.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... As the largest manufacturer and supplier to the printing industry, the recent upheavals at the Heidelberg machinery company have attracted much comment. It has to be conceded that any observations on the re-organisation are a bit premature, as...

PROFILE: Peter Taylor - Industry knowledge and mono nous raises Taylor up a notch.
February 5, 2004... As the recent addition to the Xerox UK board, Lauretta Roberts discovers why Taylor is definitely one to watch. 'I want an owl,' says Xerox UK director of graphic arts Peter Taylor of his ambitions for 2004. Not a real one mind, but the...

ANALYSIS: Patterns emerge for Drupa equipment.(trade shows of printing industry)
February 5, 2004... Drop on demand ink-jet and eco-friendly plates dominate the run-up to the big show. Barney Cox investigates. Last week over a dozen firms outlined their plans and product launches for Drupa, providing the first indication of the themes and...

Flexo breaks the mould.(Printing industry)
February 5, 2004... CTP, plate improvements and gearless presses have pushed flexo quality into the big league. Flexo - the process that was only considered fit to print brown-paper bags 30 years ago - has come of age. So much so that industry analysts...

Bidding war hots up.(online contract bidding auctions may eliminate many printing companies)
February 5, 2004... Some buyers love them. Most printers hate them. Alex Blyth reports on the controversial online auction. 'Reverse auctions are killing the print industry!' This was the warning issued by Lancastrian Labels managing director John Bambery...

PRODUCT PORTFOLIO: Product of the Week - Therm-O-Type FoilTech.(Printing machinery)
February 5, 2004... Short-run printers are queuing up for the new foiling technology emerging from the likes of Therm-O-Type, discovers Karen Charlesworth. Foil-blocking - particularly with metallic foils - has long been one of the most effective ways of...

PRODUCT PORTFOLIO: Me & My Machine - ECRM Mako 4.(violet laser platesetter)(KC Tompkin Printing Services)
February 5, 2004... KC Tompkin's Mako 4 has catapulted the Notts printer into the CTP arena without a hitch. From 24 hours to 24 minutes - this is the time that Nottingham-based litho printer KC Tompkin Printing Services estimates it has saved in plate making...

PRODUCT PORTFOLIO: Buyers' Guide - Film & film processors.(for packaging and printing industry)
February 5, 2004... Traditional film is still notching decent sales despite being in the twilight of its career. Darryl Danielli investigates. Although film sales are falling, as are the number of suppliers, there is still a demand, and in some sectors this...

JO'S HELP LINE: Jo Francis tracks down the solutions to your technical troubles.
February 5, 2004... Close-up view Can you tell me where I can get hold of a really good quality lupe, or linen tester. In the past I've used the folding metal type. My previous supplier no longer stocks these items. David Sewell, Via e-mail The following...

INSITE: www.avalonprint.com.(Avalon Print)(services of website)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... It warms the heart to see a company doing something imaginative and interactive with its website and have a relevance to what it deals with everyday. Northampton-based Avalon Print has done just this with some creative flair. Once you've...

DIARY DATES.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 5, 2004... International Direct Marketing Fair 2-4 March Earls Court 2, London Contact: www.idmf.co.uk MIS 2004 9-11 March Aston Villa Contact: www.piranet.com On Demand 2004 8-10 March New York, USA Contact: www.ondemandexpo.com...

PRODUCT PORTFOLIO: Tried & Tested - Muller Martini Panda.(Bindery equipment)
February 5, 2004... The Tigra may attract more demand, but the Panda still offers excellent entry-level binding. Muller Martini's Panda may have had less than half the lifespan of its cuddly, black and white namesake, but in that time there were nearly 100...

PRINT'S PAST: Cut-out toys.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... A Sony PlayStation may have kept your child happy this Christmas, but children of earlier generations were equally captivated by simpler - and cheaper - forms of entertainment. Printed cut-out toys were common in northern Europe and were...

POST SCRIPT: Mr Ebb set to make comeback, but his roaming days are over.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Leading independent paper merchant Elliott Baxter is considering taking the cardboard cut-out of its trading logo Mr Ebb back out on the social scene again, only this time he may be under tight security. Some years ago the firm staged a...

POST SCRIPT: Who prints that then? Esporta mailers.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... It's about this time of year when those New Year resolutions start to go pear shaped, unless you did the sensible thing didn't make a resolution in the first place. Getting fit is the perenially popular one to enter your head on 1 January....

POST SCRIPT: Memory lane.
February 5, 2004... 1 YEAR AGO Heidelberg lowered its expectations for the financial year after chief executive Bernhard Schreier said he didn't expect to see recovery in key areas... Agfa was expected to exceed its target for net profit with a figure of...

POST SCRIPT: PPS.(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Showing that print can ease a lonely German heart, designers in Berlin have unveiled additions to their 'Singles' wallpaper range. Printed on the paper are life-sized pictures of people to put up in each room - pretend friends if you will....

POST SCRIPT: Profile: Hans Klarenbeek, Vutek Digital Printing Systems.(Interview)
February 5, 2004... Hans Klarenbeek is Vutek Digital Printing Systems managing director Europe. He has spent 25 years in the industry with the last 10 in the digital sector. Klarenbeek is happily married with one son, 15 months old, whom he describes as his...

gl2 wins Matalan catalogue and DM work.(direct mailing )(Brief Article)
February 12, 2004... Print management company gl2, part of the TripleArc Group, has signed a contract with clothing chain Matalan worth pounds 5m a year. The deal covers Matalan's catalogue and direct mailing requirements for the UK market. The contract...

Williams Lea seals pounds 150m Abbey deal.(Brief Article)
February 12, 2004... Williams Lea has been awarded with a pounds 150m five-year print procurement contract by financial services provider Abbey. The contract was previously with Adare Carwin and had been under review, as exclusively revealed by PrintWeek (20...

Kodak offloads RSS division to ITT for pounds 388m.(Remote Sensing Systems )(Brief Article)
February 12, 2004... Kodak is to sell its Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) operation to ITT Industries in a pounds 388m (dollars 725m) cash deal, which includes the stock of its subsidiary Research Systems (RS). The move has added fuel to the flames that Kodak's...

NI steers clear of new site talk.(News International )(Brief Article)
February 12, 2004... News International has refused to comment on industry speculation that it may have bought an 85-acre site north of London, which could be used as its future printing plant. Industry sources have suggested that the location could be near...