Print Week articles from July 2007

Print Week archives from July 2007

Consultancy plans investment after saving Smith from admin.
July 5, 2007... Point-of-sale specialist Terry Smith Group has been bought by procurement and business consultancy Realisis after it went into administration on Monday. The West Drayton firm, which employs around 100 staff, was acquired by a new division...

Rapid Response sold after debts are cleared.(Rapid Response Press)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... The sale of east London printer Rapid Response (Europe) to Rapid Response Press, a new company founded by former director Mark Goulding, was finalised last Friday (June 29). Rapid Response (Europe) went into administration on 4 June and is...

Now more time to enter awards.(PrintWeek)
July 5, 2007... PrintWeek has extended the entry deadline of the print industry's premier awards by two weeks. To ensure your chance of toppling last year's Printing Company of the Year, Multigraphics, or any one of our 23 other 2006 category winners, you...

Moorgate sells FJP to Denian.(Moorgate Paper Co. sold Fredk. Johnson Paper Group to Denian Office)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Paper merchant Moorgate Paper has sold Fredk. Johnson Paper Group (FJP), which it acquired in November 2006, to Kent-based Denian Office. Confirmation from Denian Office joint managing director Ray Green of the sale, which was concluded on...

Stop Press.
July 5, 2007... Howitt Digital has rebranded as Dialogue Solutions in a bid to communicate its wider range of services. The new name was officially unveiled today (5 July)... Further talks have taken place this week over a possible sale of...

FSA cautions printers of takeover information.(Financial Services Authority)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Financial printers have been warned to take heed of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) report into takeovers, or risk being accused of leaking sensitive information. It follows a 'thermatic review', which began at the start of the...

Ex-NJP staff win compensation.(New Jarrold Printing)(Union Unite)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Union Unite is trying to contact former staff of New Jarrold Printing (NJP) after winning a tribunal that ruled that they are entitled to over pounds 2,000 in compensation. An estimated 275 union members from the firm's 286 ex-employees...

Brown may bring less legislation.(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Small printers have said they are excited by the prospect of Gordon Brown taking over as Prime Minister. According to the BAPC, the changeover could mean simplification when it comes to new legislation. BAPC chairman Sidney Bobb said:...

In Brief: Archant Life acquires Wedding Link.
July 5, 2007... Archant Life Magazines has announced the acquisition of Wedding Link. The company, which is currently owned by the Quartermaine family, publishes Cheshire Bride magazine. Archant Life North regional managing director Liz Page said: 'We are...

In Brief: HIPs under attack.(Home Information Packs)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Home Information Packs (HIPs) have again come under attack amid claims that they are 'totally unenforceable'. According to The Sunday Telegraph, vendors can get out of purchasing an HIP simply by marketing a fourth bedroom as a spare room or by...

In Brief: Polar Print Group wins contract.
July 5, 2007... Polar Print Group in Leicester was one of the companies awarded a contract to print for the House of Commons and the House of Lords, it has emerged. Six companies were handed deals (Printweek, 31 May), but the government has been tight-lipped...

In Brief: Micromac Printers installs new press.
July 5, 2007... Micromac Printers has installed a two-colour Ryobi 522HE press and a DPX System platesetter from Ryobi distributor Apex Digital Graphics Miromac partner Robert McClelland said: 'The quality of the plates is just fantastic and it really speeds...

In Brief: Glasgow Print+Design Centres upgrades digital press.
July 5, 2007... Glasgow Print+Design Centre has upgraded its digital capabilities with a Xerox DocuColor 5000 digital press. The company said the new machine will increase both the media it can support and the speed of production

In Brief: Trinity Mirror to announce proposed sales.(Financial report)
July 5, 2007... Trinity Mirror has said it would be announcing the first of three proposed sales in the coming weeks. The publisher is set to sell off the Racing Post and its regional divisions in the Midlands and South East

In Brief: Halstan Printing Group awarded accreditation.
July 5, 2007... Halstan Printing Group has been awarded ISO 14001 accreditation for its Environmental Management System. MP for Chesham and Amersham Cheryl Gillan presented the certificate to the firm during a recent visit. The company recently installed a...

In Brief: Correction.(Correction notice)
July 5, 2007... Canon's ImagePress C7000VP has a list price of pounds 166,450, not pounds 250,000, as reported in last week's article about the machine's first UK installation at New Leaf Printing Group

MPG Books gets set for buyout with two KBAs and pounds 5m spend.
July 5, 2007... MPG Books has embarked on a pounds 5m summer spending spree, centred on two KBA 142 1/1 presses, ahead of its long-awaited management buyout. MPG Books managing director Tony Chard and sales director Andy Simpson agreed an MBO from Martins...

Harry Potter print run tightens Clays security.(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Harry Potter printer Clays has stepped up security ahead of the 21 July publication of the final instalment in the successful book series, according to local newspaper reports. According to reports in the Eastern Daily Press (EDP), Clays...

Wyndeham improves colour with latest ISO.(Wyndeham Press Group)(International Organization for Standardization )(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Wyndeham has boosted its colour management capabilities after successfully trialling a new standard with magazine clients. The Fogra ISO 39L is a revised sheetfed colour standard that offers more vivid colour saturation on lightweight...

Anger at Adobe, Kinko's tie-up.
July 5, 2007... Adobe has caused a row in the US after introducing an option in its Acrobat product line allowing users to send files direct to FedEx Kinko's to be printed. The firm's latest edition, 8.1, of its ubiquitous PDF creation and reading...

Wales to clamp down on DM.(Wales. National Assembly)(direct mail)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... The Welsh Assembly is the latest organisation to put the boot into 'junk mail', with plans to ban certain mailings in a bid to improve its green credentials. According to an interview in Wales on Sunday, Welsh Assembly sustainability...

TPF Group bolsters account team with ex-Williams Lea sales duo.(Damian Sorgiovanni and Dominic Harris appointed)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... TPF Group has appointed two former Williams Lea account managers, Damian Sorgiovanni and Dominic Harris, to its newly-formed, three-strong, senior account director team. Richard Wills, a TPF veteran of five years, completes the team, which...

Cash-rich Oakhill plots top-level spot in print.(Oakhill Group PLC)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Oakhill Group could establish itself as a top-level player in UK print after establishing a pounds 35m war-chest to turn around troubled UK print firms. Dublin-based Oakhill, which has turnover of around pounds 24m and is listed on AIM and...

Carbon contained.
July 5, 2007... Charterhouse has found a high-profile client for its CarbonNeutral print production programme in technology giant Sony. The Hatfield-based print management firm, which has been Sony's contracted print manager since 2004, offset the emissions...

Rainbow buys second SM 74.
July 5, 2007... Rainbow Print Wales is undergoing a massive overhaul of its facilities, including buying its second Heidelberg Speedmaster. Director Darren Roberts said the new SM 74-5 B2 press, which replaces a six-year-old SM-74, 'will be a replica of...

Augustus wins McColl contract.
July 5, 2007... Large-format printer Augustus Martin has taken on in-store marketing work for convenience store group Martin McColl. The deal aims to streamline the production and installation of point of sale (PoS), but will cover all areas of in-store...

McKenzie spends pounds 1m on new plant and kit.(McKenzie Clark)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Large-format printer McKenzie Clark has splashed out over pounds 1m on new equipment and a new London site. The firm has moved 100 yards from its old facility to a new building in south London, and has spent pounds 400,000 fitting out the...

Reader reaction: Does the print industry need a new skills academy?
July 5, 2007... DIRECT MAIL PRINTER - Rob Fagnani, client services director, Formpro MM 'Yes, this would make a difference. With the current poor performance of print colleges, there needs to be significant investment in a new skills academy which...

ViP to merge with BPIF arm as DTI funds close.(Vision in Print)(British Printing Industries Federation)(Department of Trade and Industry)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Vision in Print (ViP) has became part of the BPIF three months after its Department of Trade and Industry funding came to a close. ViP has formally merged with the industry body's consultancy arm BPIF Business and will become a subsidiary...

Murdoch talks of online WSJ.
July 5, 2007... Rupert Murdoch has said that he could make more money from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) if he made it an online only publication. Speaking in an interview with Time magazine, Murdoch, who is currently trying to buy WSJ's owner, Dow Jones,...

Bright young things.
July 5, 2007... A group of 11 students received BPIF scholarship funding cheques at a ceremony in London last week. The pounds 2,500 bursaries were introduced to help young people pay for print training and encourage more to enter the industry. Successful...

Legal notices.
July 5, 2007... 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.gazettes-online.co.uk APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATORS Courier...

Heidelberg to unwrap first full JDF workflow.(job definition format )(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Heidelberg has revealed plans to demonstrate what it claims is the first ever JDF-based, end-to-end workflow at Drupa 2008, where it will unveil the third and final instalment in its Prinect workflow, Postpress Manager. The launch, which...

Focus UK seller for Impostrip.(agreement between Positive Focus Inc. and Ultimate Technologies Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Positive Focus has become UK and Ireland distributor for Ultimate Technographics' Impostrip product suite after signing a dealership agreement with the Canadian software developer. Under the deal, Positive Focus will offer distribution and...

Brightblue agrees to integrate with Prism.(Brightblue Systems)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Automated estimation specialist Brightblue has signed a formal 'integration initiative' with global MIS vendor Prism as part of an exclusive co-operation agreement. The strategic partnership will mean Brightblue's automated estimating...

In Brief: PerfectProof launches Pakready.
July 5, 2007... PerfectProof, the digital proofing software firm, has expanded into packaging prototype production with the launch of Pakready, a combined design, printing and cutting package. It will allow designers to produce point-of-sale and packaging...

In Brief: Quark announces new version of server.
July 5, 2007... Quark has announced the release of version 7.2 of QuarkXPress Server, which includes enhanced XML capability that allows users to repurpose content created in QuarkXPress into other systems, such as email servers, web servers, or other content...

In Brief: Screen announces launch of Trueflow SE workflow.(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Screen has announced the launch of its Trueflow SE workflow, which features the Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE). Trueflow SE has been designed for printers using multiple CTP and digital printing systems, and to enhance ouput consistency...

In Brief: Compose System to demonstrate dot proofing system.
July 5, 2007... Compose System, the pre-press workflow and colour proofing software developer, will be demonstrating its Star Proof true dot proofing system at Labelexpo 2007. Compose says that Star Proof can produce contract quality proofs on inkjet printers...

In Brief: Schawk completes acquisition.(Benchmark Marketing Services)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Schawk has completed its acquisition of Benchmark Marketing Services, the Cincinnati-based brand consulting and design firm Benchmark will become part of Anthem Worldwide, Schawk's strategic design subsidiary. President and chief executive...

In Brief: Markzware announcement.(availability of InDesign to QuarkXPress 7 software)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Markzware has announced the availability of the Universal Binary version of InDesign to QuarkXPress 7 (ID2Q7), the software tool that allows InDesign content to be converted into QuarkXPress documents ID2Q7 is available for immediate download,...

GI targets transpromo market with first four Screen Jet520s.(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... GI Direct has become the first European company to buy a Screen Truepress Jet520, snapping up four of them in a pounds 4.5m investment. The digital inkjet machines will be used to push GI into the potentially lucrative full-colour...

Bezier buys latest HP flatbed as it strives for more short-run work.
July 5, 2007... Bezier has beefed up its Bristol site after investing in an HP Scitex Corjet digital flatbed press to boost its short-run capabilities. The point-of-sale specialist has invested in a Corjet FB6700 and will install the machine at its Wick...

Oce shows off green presses.
July 5, 2007... Oce highlighted its environmental credentials to the UK's public sector at the Procurement Solutions 2007 exhibition last month. The digital press manufacturer demonstrated its flagship Oce VarioPrint 6250 and the multi-functional office...

On-demand book kit installed at US library.
July 5, 2007... A machine that can print and finish a paperback 'in minutes' has been installed at the New York Public Library. The Espresso Book Machine, created by On Demand Books, has gone into the library's Science, Industry and Business Library. ...

CCC to up output with die-cutter.(Corrugated Case Company purchased machines from Crosland VK)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... The Corrugated Case Company (CCC) in Chesterfield has purchased a rotary die-cutter from cutting and creasing machinery manufacturer Crosland VK. Investing in the machine will allow CCC to increase its transit packaging and point-of-sale...

Morgana launches card folder for flexible jobs.(Morgana Systems launched CardMaster)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Morgana has launched a new folder aimed at the greetings card market. The Milton Keynes-based company has said that, although the new CardMaster is capable of folding 9,000 cards an hour, it is also suitable for the short-run market. ...

Alpha earns ISO accreditation.
July 5, 2007... Bradford-based finisher Alpha Media has obtained ISO 9001/2000 accreditation. The company, which recently celebrated its first birthday, began working towards the quality management qualification in November last year and was finally...

First4 Print operating at full pelt with two new Palamides stackers.(First4 Print Finishing)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Blackburn-based First4 Print Finishing has spent pounds 140,000 on two new Palamides stacker delivery systems. The company already has two, purchased last year, and has made this latest investment following the success of the first two. ...

St Ives binds in-house.
July 5, 2007... St Ives Peterborough is keeping its finishing in-house thanks to a new Kolbus Publica perfect binding line. The Kolbus can handle up to 15,000 copies per hour. St Ives Peterborough's finishing operation also boasts an HD152 trimmer and a...

FSC tag misused as firms call for clearer criteria.
July 5, 2007... The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has said that there is widespread misuse of its Chain of Custody trademarks as print and paper companies struggle to cope with what one expert called a 'quagmire' of guidelines. FSC advice officer Bec...

M-real to raise prices by up to 8%.
July 5, 2007... M-real has announced European price increases of 5-8% for its coated woodfree sheets, coated woodfree reels, its cut-size office papers and its business reels. In a statement, the European fine paper producer said that the continued cost...

HSP merges trade, business arms.(Howard Smith Paper)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Howard Smith Paper (HSP) has combined its Trade Paper and Business Papers divisions in another move to restructure the business. A separate company, known as Howard Smith Paper Office & Retail, will be created. It will be headed up by Mike...

In Brief: Cambrian Printers uses Fedrigoni UK's papers.
July 5, 2007... Fedrigoni UK's papers have been used by Cambrian Printers to produce a digital brochure to launch the printer's new division, Cambrian Digital Division. Sourced from Premier Paper, the brochure was printed on an HP Indigo 5000 digital press

In Brief: Newport Paper builds recycling facility.
July 5, 2007... Newport Paper, the multi-material recycler, is building a mixed materials recycling facility in Thetford, Norfolk. The pounds 1m investment will process paper, plastics and metals. It will initially have an annual capacity of 60,000 tonnes and...

In Brief: James McNaughton Group at summit on climate change.
July 5, 2007... The James McNaughton Group joined other UK businesses at the Prince of Wales' May Day Business Summit on Climate Change. At the event, hosted by Prince Charles, 800 companies pledged to take positive action to reduce their business CO2...

In Brief: UPM launches brochure.(UPM-Kymmene UK)(UPM: Fine)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... UPM has launched a 20pp brochure, UPM: Fine. The Versatile Paper, which focuses on the properties of fine uncoated paper. Anke Bockmann, brand manager for graphic papers at UPM, said: 'Uncoated paper is ultimately multifaceted and it can...

In Brief: Papyrus reveals building plans.
July 5, 2007... Papyrus, Stora Enso's subsidiary paper merchant, has revealed plans to build a 27,000m2 Scandinavian central warehouse in Gothenburg, Sweden. Papyrus is purchasing 49,000m2 of land for the building site at a cost of pounds 2.1m (EUR3.2m). The...

In Brief: Antalis launches range of envelopes.(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Antalis has launched a range of FSC-accredited envelopes. They are available in window and plain, DL, C5 and C4. Peter Harrison, product manager at Antalis, said: 'As well as recycled envelopes, there is a pressing need for FSC-accredited...

In Brief: Brochure produced for The Museum of Science and Industry.
July 5, 2007... Premier Paper's Galerie Art range will be used to produce a brochure that uses Metal FX metallic ink technology. It was printed by Stoke-on-Trent-based Wood Mitchell and produced for The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. The...

Contract update.(briefs)(Scottish Water)(Royston Labels)
July 5, 2007... Packaging manufacturer Boxes GH has produced cartons for United Biscuits' new range of seasoned crackers, Jacob's Savours. The boxes were produced in six colours with a gloss varnish. Blackburn-based Boxes GH, which is part of the...

Client Audit: Sustrans.(Company overview)
July 5, 2007... Sustrans is a sustainable transport charity, which has 2,500 volunteers and 200 staff. It encourages people to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. This year, Bristol-based Sustrans is busier than ever as it...

Editorial: Four-way training spat just needs compromise.(Editorial)
July 5, 2007... Once again there seems to be a spat brewing over training. On one side of the argument is the lack of industry support, specifically from employers, and on the other (see Mark Snee's letter, left), how the funding is managed. According...

Comment: Lettering sparks political debate.
July 5, 2007... As a lifetime abstainer from the use of tobacco products, I have exercised only a perfunctory and random interest in the various bans of smoking that have encroached on the news bulletins of late. However, as a general statement, I am in favour...

Analysis: Multiple editions - Variable front covers face fruitful future.
July 5, 2007... Trend for multiple options is creating standout and benefiting printers, says Caitlin Fitzsimmons. Publishers producing multiple covers for magazines and books could provide new revenue growth for the print industry, with TV Times, Empire,...

Profile: Clinical Print Finishers - Miniature finishing specialist searches for growing areas within niche market.(Company overview)
July 5, 2007... Amid secretive MI6-style plans, Clinical is poised to take over the miniature market. The world of print finishing and James Bond are not often compared. But visiting Clinical Print Finishers (CPF), the adventures of Ian Fleming's hero do...

Technology Report: Consumables - New era for consumables.
July 5, 2007... Superior solutions and environmental considerations have put a huge premium on consumables, but it still pays not to go cheap, as Karen Charlesworth explains. On-press consumables for offset presses have changed almost out of all...

Product Portfolio: Product of the week - Kolbus BF 512.
July 5, 2007... Kolbus's BF line makes even the shortest-run book binding work economically viable, reveals Karen Charlesworth. In the world of short-run book printing, the print technology has evolved way ahead of the finishing technology. While DocuTech...

Product Portfolio: Me & My ... Komori LR 38S.(Product/service evaluation)
July 5, 2007... Paul Sadler, operations director at Ancient House Press, is impressed by the makeready speed and Quadtec automatic register on his new web press. - What is it? The Komori System LR 38S is a five-back-five 16pp heatset web press...

Product Portfolio: Tried & Tested - Fuji Luxel VX-9000.
July 5, 2007... Fuji's violet platesetter boasted a unique dual beam technology and, five years on, it can still hold its own on speed and resolution, says Lisa Berwin. In 2002, Fuji took a large step into the rapidly developing violet CTP technology...

Product Portfolio: Buyers' guide - Preflighting, RIPs and workflow.(Product/service evaluation)
July 5, 2007... Adobe's PDF Print Engine is going to change the way that repro works, with improved data integrity between proof and press, writes Lisa Berwin. There are four letters that have been firmly on the lips of the pre-press market over the past...

Better Business: Training - Many ways to make the top.
July 5, 2007... A good manager leads by example, so why is there a culture of complacency when it comes to the selection and training of those in charge? What makes a good manager? An individual that works his or her way up through the industry or a boss...

Product Portfolio: Joanne's Help Line - Reverse osmosis & Polyart paper.(Product/service evaluation)
July 5, 2007... Joanne Gardner tracks down the solutions to your print problems. Q: I have a 147-sheet job with a 200-run length - can I print on Polyart or any other synthetic paper using a digital press? I've heard conflicting reports. Jonathan Lea,...

Product Portfolio: Diary.(Diary entry)
July 5, 2007... JULY PRINTWEEK AWARDS ENTRIES DEADLINE Date: 20 July Contact: Liz Lockard on 020 8267 4145, www.printweek.com BIO PRINTING Date: 11-12 July Venue: Strand Palace Hotel, London Price: from pounds 399 Contact: 01372 802 026 ...

Product Portfolio: Technical Tutorial - Reverse Osmosis.(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Control and standardisation are key to maximising productivity and quality in the pressroom. For this reason, there has been a strong demand for reverse osmosis (RO) systems, which ensure the press runs with pure and stable water quality. ...

Post Script: Seven sprinting ladies support super cause.
July 5, 2007... It could be said that men lead the pace in the print industry, but that is certainly not the case at Welsh printer Stephens & George. The gloves were off and running shoes firmly on for seven of its female employees who took part in...

Post Script: Memory Lane.
July 5, 2007... ONE YEAR AGO: Pims Enterprises was up for sale after it slipped into administration... Adare was forced to pay a total of pounds 620,000 to 18 workers, following a legal dispute over whether it or Williams Lea should pay their redundancy...

Post Script: Print's Past - Letters of memorial.(Letter to the editor)
July 5, 2007... I like graveyards! Burial and memorial practices of previous centuries are a rich source of typographic design. Nowadays we shy away from the reality of death and funeral arrangements have become clinical and lacking in aesthetic values....

Post Script: Q&A - Andy Murphy.(Interview)
July 5, 2007... Andy Murphy is continuous improvement manager at Potts Printers Aged 36, he is married to Sandra and has a 13-year-old daughter called Charlotte. He dreams of 'working' in the Mediterranean but, failing that, is happy just to stay out of...

Beswick bags phone number as Moorgate Paper closes doors.(Beswick Paper buys Moorgate Paper)
July 12, 2007... Paper merchant Beswick Paper is hoping to take on some of administration-hit rival Moorgate Paper's clients after it ceased trading last week. Administrators David Crawshaw and Myles Halley of KPMG London were called in to Enfield-based...

Horne pioneers neutral paper.(Robert Horne Group PLC)(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Robert Horne Group has unveiled what it believes to be the UK's first carbon neutral papers, following an environmental overhaul of its Revive Silk and Revive 75 ranges. Robert Horne worked with papermaker Aconda and the Edinburgh Centre...

Antalis buys Map to become Europe's biggest merchant.(merger of Map Merchant Group )(Brief article)
July 12, 2007... Europe has a new number one paper merchant after Antalis paid more than pounds 250m to acquire Map Merchant Group from manufacturer M-real. The acquisition, which has been the subject of rumours for months but was announced last Friday, has...

Stop Press.
July 12, 2007... Emap has completed the sale of its French B2B exhibition business Agor to GL Events for pounds 58m (EUR85)... Ryobi distributor Apex Digital Graphics has appointed Andrew Graphic Systems as its dealer for Ireland and Northern Ireland......

Police crack major fake ID production network.
July 12, 2007... Police have continued the battle against counterfeiters after landing the UK's largest-ever haul of fake passports. Detectives from the Economic and Specialist Crime Command's operation Maxim arrested five men after uncovering a counterfeit...