Print Week articles from June 2008

Print Week archives from June 2008

Polestar 'is in talks to acquire Wyndeham', sources claim ..
June 5, 2008... Polestar is understood to be in talks over a possible acquisition of Wyndeham, in what would be the biggest print merger in more than a decade. Industry sources claim that the two are in the early stages of talks with a view to creating a...

As Dutch firm plans Quebecor/Roto merger.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... Meanwhile, Europe is set for a new print powerhouse after a Dutch finance firm offered to buy Roto Smeets parent RSDB and Quebecor World's European operation. Hombergh/De Pundert (HHBV), which specialises in owning companies in...

Xerox launches iGen4 and entry-level 700.
June 5, 2008... Xerox has used Drupa to unveil the iGen4, a flagship colour press that boosts productivity and colour quality. The 110ppm iGen4 has more than 400 enhancements to improve productivity by 25-35% over the iGen3, mostly through the automation...

RCS opts for new large-format KBA.
June 5, 2008... RCS has fired up a new large-format KBA machine to reap productivity gains and move into new markets. The Nottinghamshire firm used Drupa to announce its spend on a five-colour Rapida 162a with coater. 'It's feature-rich with...

Wyndeham signs Agfa supply deal.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... Wyndeham will begin a massive pre-press overhaul at four of its sites next month after buying seven Avalon VLF platesetters and signing a five-year plate-supply deal with Agfa. Paul Utting, Wyndeham chief executive, visited Drupa on Monday...

In brief: Komori to expand flagship factory in Japan.
June 5, 2008... Komori, the Japanese press giant, is to invest Yen10bn (pounds 48m) to expand its flagship factory in Tsukuba City, Japan. Speaking at Drupa on Tuesday, the company's president Yoshiharu Komori said the investment was a response to...

In brief: The Times launches first phase of redesign.
June 5, 2008... The Times has launched the first phase of a redesign following its switch to full-colour printing. The paper, which is printed at owner News International's pounds 650m presses in Broxbourne, Knowsley and Glasgow, has moved its leader columns...

In brief: St Ives Web signs contract to print Sport.
June 5, 2008... St Ives Web has signed a contract to print Sport magazine, the largest sports title in the UK. St Ives Peterborough started printing the 350,000-run freesheet after the closure of Quebecor World in Corby and the contract has now been made...

In brief: DSR introduces system for customers online.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... DSR, the Northampton-based print management firm, has introduced a system to let customers create artwork for print jobs online. The system is called dsr@access and lets users create artwork based on pre-approved templates, personalise it with...

In brief: Taylor Bloxham adds to environmental credentials.
June 5, 2008... Taylor Bloxham has added to its environmental credentials by winning the best green initiative gong at the Kyocera Green Light Awards. The Leicester-based company has already achieved FSC and PEFC certification

In brief: WAN rejects claims it is under threat.
June 5, 2008... The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) has rejected claims that the medium is under threat, announcing an increase in global circulation. According to WAN, global paid-for newspaper circulation was up by 2.57% in 2007 and has increased 9.39%...

In brief: Stonehouse Press to sponsor graduate fashion show.
June 5, 2008... Stonehouse Press in Wellingborough is to sponsor the University of Northampton's annual graduate fashion show. An audience of around 2,000 is expected to attend the two showcases of fashion students' work on June 18. David Nelson, Stonehouse...

Anton Group builds for future at Drupa in pounds 20m investment.
June 5, 2008... Anton Group embarked on a pounds 20m press and pre-press investment programme at Drupa this week, in a bid to boost capacity by 50% within the next five years. Confirming his reputation as one of Drupa's top spenders, Anton's chief...

Scotprint adds Roland 900XXL to 700 HiPrint.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... After travelling to Drupa, Scotprint has confirmed an order for a four-unit Roland 900XXL, hot on the heels of an investment in a Roland 700 HiPrint, taking its current spending to pounds 4m. The Haddington printer, part of book production...

Central Colour acquires first Mitsubishi V3000.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... Central Colour has become the first European customer of Mitsubishi's new B1 press, the Diamond V3000, after signing for the unit at Drupa. The Nottingham-based company will use the new machine, which can output at speeds of up to 16,000...

Screen's Jet SX launch brings on contest in B2 sheetfed inkjet.
June 5, 2008... Screen has joined the B2 cut-sheet inkjet fray at Drupa after unveiling its first machine in the class, the Truepress Jet SX. The full-colour machine, which is 740mm wide, runs at 1,600 sheets per hour (sph) and targets the general...

Xerox reveals gel-ink plans.
June 5, 2008... Xerox has claimed it is developing a next-generation inkjet technology. Steve Hooper, vice president of Xerox Research Center Webster, said: 'The challenge for inkjet is to solve a paradox. We took the challenge to answer the paradox of...

Kodak unveils 'world's fastest' cut-sheet black and white press.
June 5, 2008... Kodak has revealed upgrades to its sheetfed digital press line-up at Drupa, with new higher speed models including what it claims is the world's fastest cut-sheet black and white machine. The Digimaster EX300 is a 300 A4ppm machine that...

Vutek claims DS Series will end screen print.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... EFI Vutek has premiered a high-speed UV wide-format flatbed machine, the DS Series, with a sub-EUR1m (pounds 790,000) price tag that could sound the death knell of screen printing. 'We truly believe that we have pushed the economics of...

ProCo monitors performance.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... ProCo Print has hailed an increase in productivity, one year into its Key Performance Monitoring scheme. The Sheffield-based company has closely monitored several areas of its business, displaying graphs and figures to track changes in...

Borcombe gets new kit and aims for standard.
June 5, 2008... Borcombe SP, the Media & Print Investments-owned commercial printer, has completed installation of a new long perfector and made clear its intentions to improve its environmental credentials. The Romsey-based company has this week completed...

APP commits to PEFC certificate.
June 5, 2008... Asia Pulp and Paper, the company kicked out of FSC last year over allegations of destroying tropical forest in Indonesia, has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and the PEFC chain of custody certification. Speaking at a conference...

Reader Reaction: Should printers be concerned about rising levels of debt?(Discussion)
June 5, 2008... Plimsoll Publishing says that print debt is getting worse - we ask how serious a problem debt is. PRINT FINANCE CONSULTANT - PETER PETYT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, DECISION CAPITAL 'Not always. Taking on debt can be a positive move if it means...

Medica boosts carton kit with Komori press.
June 5, 2008... Benson Box subsidiary Medica Packaging has upgraded its carton-printing line-up with the addition of a second six-colour B1 Komori press. Medica's investment is the latest in a long line of Komoris that have found their way into the...

Label Apeel in rival firm buy.
June 5, 2008... Label Apeel hopes to bump up its turnover to pounds 4m after buying a stricken competitor. The Leicester-based firm, which specialises in the food, retail and pharmacy sectors, took nearby Label Studio out of administration, following its...

Pink Tints.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... A bright pink book printed with additional rhodamine red ink has won an award for Kent-based St Ives Westerham Press. Judges at the Sappi European Printers of the Year Awards gave the book, Noelle Represents, a bronze gong in the book category....

Legal Notices.
June 5, 2008... 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 Goodwin Press...

Formpro recruits raft of new staff.(Formpro Mail Marketing Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... Direct mail company Formpro Mail Marketing has continued its return to form with a successful recruitment drive to increase its permanent workforce. The Bristol-based business faced a difficult 2007, but ended the year on a high note when...

Print operator deaths prompt HSE safety alert.(Health and Safety Executive)(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... The death of two print operators, both crushed by machinery, has prompted health watchdogs to target print employers with a safety alert. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued the warning after the most recent accident, in Wakefield,...

Manroland IPO still planned.
June 5, 2008... Manroland confirmed its intention to proceed with an initial public offering (IPO) last week, but added that the timeframe would depend on market conditions. Earlier reports had suggested the IPO would be announced at Drupa, although chief...

UK's largest printers have bigger market but more debt, says report.(Survey)(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... Market share among the UK's 200 largest printers has grown 4% since 2006, but almost half of the companies have increased debts, according to a new study by Plimsoll Publishing. The report revealed the largest printers now control 72% of...

Nipson claims results show recovery signs.
June 5, 2008... Nipson Digital Printing Systems has released its first-quarter results, which it claims represent 'positive signs of recovery'. The manufacturer of the VaryPress range experienced a sales slump in 2007, resulting in a 13.6% drop in...

Adobe aims to speed adoption of variable data with new tool.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... Adobe has used Drupa to launch its PDF Print Engine 2 (APPE 2), which will provide native variable data handling in its partners' workflows. The company hopes APPE 2, which processes PDF/VT - a new version of its PDF format developed for...

PCP eyes Europe with MIS tool.
June 5, 2008... Precision Colour Printing (PCP) is set to become the first printer in Europe to roll out a fully integrated EFI Management Information System (MIS). On 22 June, Telford-based PCP will add EFI's dynamic scheduling tool, PrintFlow, to its...

FFEI to invest pounds 2m to replace site destroyed in Buncefield blast.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... FFEI has unveiled plans to invest pounds 2m in a new HQ, following the destruction of its previous home in the 2005 Buncefield oil depot explosion. The Hemel Hempstead-based company, which was forced to relocate to temporary premises...

Papergraphics unveils Pruf to cut paper costs.
June 5, 2008... Papergraphics has released Pruf, a range of professional pre-press proofing media for the large-format digital graphics market. The Pruf range, which includes a Fogra-accredited paper, aims to provide a cost-effective alternative for...

Charlesworth Group buys two digi presses to meet demand.
June 5, 2008... The Charlesworth Group has invested in two new digital presses, a mono Kodak NexPress and a colour Ikon CPP 650, to help cater for the work it carries out for clients including Timeform, part of the Betfair Group. The Yorkshire-based...

Signs Express in Mimaki JV33 buy.(Signs Express Manchester)(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... A sign-printing franchise in Grimsby has splashed out on two wide-format printers after running its previous machine into the ground. According to Signs Express (North and North-East Lincolnshire) managing director Ken Vedis, the company...

Printmax launches online sharing community to deal out print work.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... A forum for companies to share digital large-format printing and finishing capability is due to launch this week, aiming to help them take on work they would otherwise have to turn down. Printmax Community is billed as a 'sharing system'...

Play Up Pompey.
June 5, 2008... The Hampshire Flag Company recently printed a large-scale flag for Portsmouth Football Club, which the team took to its victorious FA Cup semi-final and final clashes. The flag was printed on 100% polyester

Buhrs upgrades its BB700 for even faster rates of inserting.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... Finishing equipment manufacturer Buhrs has updated its envelope inserting offering by launching an improved version of its BB700. Previously, Buhrs had claimed the machine was the fastest in its field, churning out around 14,000 packets per...

Duplo finishers to 'add value'.
June 5, 2008... Duplo has kicked off its Drupa campaign with a raft of new equipment to complement its show theme of 'value added printing'. The company is showing off the Ultra 205A UV Coater DuWrap polywrapper for the mail fulfilment market, and a new...

Morgana quadruples fold speed with latest Digifold 500P creaser.
June 5, 2008... Morgana Systems is ramping up its digital finishing offering with a new piece of kit that is almost four times quicker than its predecessor. The DigiFold 5000P creaser-folder has launched at Drupa and runs at 5,000 creases an hour on A4...

New BravoPlus units ease the load at Alito.
June 5, 2008... B1 printer Alito Color Group has added to its growing finishing department with an investment in machines from Muller Martini. The Leyton-based company has installed new BravoPlus saddlestitchers The machines, which will finish work...

Finnish paper workers threaten strike action.
June 5, 2008... Finland's paper and pulp industry is facing the prospect of strikes after a union threatened action in a dispute over pay talks. Toimihenkilounioni (TU), which represents 6,500 white-collar workers in the Finnish paper and pulp sector, has...

Marchant takes helm at PaperlinX Europe as de Voogd stands down.(Toby Marchant)(Eduard de Voogd)(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... PaperlinX's Toby Marchant has been appointed to the chief executive's role at PaperlinX Europe with effect from 1 July. 'These are challenging times for this industry, with declining volumes in a number of markets, increasing incidents of...

In brief: Howard Smith Paper launches guide for print industry.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... Howard Smith Paper has launched a guide for the print industry to promote the use of sustainably sourced paper. The Northampton-based paper merchant said The Power of Sustainable Print Communication Environmental Guide is not based on its...

In brief: Sappi to demonstrate poster at Drupa.
June 5, 2008... Sappi will be demonstrating how music can be downloaded from a conventionally printed poster at the PrintCity Print Meets Electronics Competence Centre at Drupa. It has created a promotional poster that contains a special two-dimensional Upcode...

In brief: Arjowiggins appoints Shannan Hodgson.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... Arjowiggins has appointed Shannan Hodgson as marketing manager for Conqueror UK. She joined Arjowiggins as business development manager in 2006. Hodgson will be responsible for sales and customer strategy, communications and promotions. She...

In brief: ESP Colour adds to growing raft of awards.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... ESP Colour has added FSC and PEFC accreditation to its growing raft of industry standards and environmental awards. The Swindon-based company, which was already ISO 9000 and ISO 14001 accredited, said achieving its latest marks of recognition...

Contract update.
June 5, 2008... Totally Dynamic, the vehicle wrap specialist, has been chosen by global sports company Nike to give its European golf tour vehicle a new look. The company worked with large-format digital printer Dynamic Digital Imaging (DDI) to create the...

Client Audit: Manchester City FC.(Manchester City Football Club)
June 5, 2008... Manchester City has won the League Championship twice, the FA Cup four times, the League Cup twice and the European Cup Winners Cup once It claims to be one of the most socially aware football clubs in the country, running a host of initiatives...

Editorial: Long-run looks set for further consolidation.(Editorial)(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... In January this year, when Polestar announced it would end printing at its Greaves plant, chief executive Barry Hibbert called on the European industry to consolidate further. 'There is too much print capacity in Europe,' he said, 'and Polestar...

Comment: Continuing last month's contrition.(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... This week I continue to wear sackcloth and ashes and add to the list of apologies started in the column last month (PrintWeek, 8 May). Accordingly, I am desperately SORRY for the following irritations: - That the heritage of the print...

Comment: Talking business - No detox yet in sight as UK businesses brace for the mother of all hangovers.
June 5, 2008... The 16-year-long party for the UK economy has well and truly ended and the hangover is likely to be a particularly unpleasant one. Rarely in recent times have so many statistics, reports and surveys been so disappointing or gloomy at the same...

Comment: Technically Speaking - The packaging sector is under pressure but opportunities are there to succeed.
June 5, 2008... The recent Carton Conference, held in April, was very illuminating. The carton sector seems to be recovering and the key message from the day was that environmental pressures placed on packaging are being addressed, leading to opportunities for...

Profile: VLM - Print innovator cuts the cost of digital with bold new partnership offering.
June 5, 2008... VLM's pioneering founder Declan Malone has high hopes for the firm's latest venture, says William Mitting. Innovation is king in the modern digital print environment. Outside the major league of digital printers with a turnover of more than...

Printing and Street Art: Old-skool print.
June 5, 2008... A small Hoxton gallery is in thrall to traditional printing techniques - woodcutting, etching and linocutting - which are lending their finesse to hip street art, writes Nosmot Gbadamosi. It's a bitterly cold Saturday morning in February...

Redundancies: Better business - What to do when cuts are a must.
June 5, 2008... Redundancies are a sad but all-too-regular occurrence in print these days. It's a difficult and pitfall-ridden process for both managers and staff who lose out, as David Waller discovers. Redundancy is an emotive subject, especially for...

Technology Report: Paper - The miracle crop.
June 5, 2008... In the past, hemp was widely used for many industrial applications, including paper. Now, a group of passionate supporters are planning its comeback. Think of Woody Harrelson and you will probably recall images from the controversial movie...

Product Portfolio: Product of the week - Goss Pacesetter + Ferag stitcher.(Product/service evaluation)
June 5, 2008... This joint venture allows faster running and makeready in order to meet today's market demands, finds Karen Charlesworth. Commercial web finishing brings its own technical difficulties, including static, lap variation and inconsistent...

Product Portfolio: Me & My ... Presstek Momentum Pro.(Product/service evaluation)
June 5, 2008... Trevor Short, managing director at Executive Image, has been impressed with the Momentum Pro's ease of use, competitive price and reliability. - What does it do? The Presstek Momentum Pro's central engine handles PDF normalisation,...

Product Portfolio: Tried & Tested - ECRM DPX.(Product/service evaluation)
June 5, 2008... Since ECRM bought it in 2006, this versatile CTP unit has been spruced up with a host of upgrades and refinements, writes Nosmot Gbadamosi. Now more than a decade old, the DPX CTP system was hailed as the first polyester platesetter to...

Product Portfolio: Buyers' Guide - Proofers.(Product/service evaluation)
June 5, 2008... Soft-proofing is no longer a high-tech niche - its cost and speed mean more are using it alongside hard-copy proofs, finds Nosmot Gbadamosi. Despite a growing interest in soft-proofing devices, many printers still need to provide...

Product Portfolio: Joanne's Help Line - Window graphics & serif font issues.(Product/service evaluation)
June 5, 2008... Joanne Gardner tracks down the solutions to your print problems. Q: Can you name some suppliers who can print white ink digitally on to clear self-cling window vinyl? We're looking for low volume, low cost, quick turnaround window graphics...

Product Portfolio: Technical Tutorial - Specialist coatings.(Product/service evaluation)
June 5, 2008... Coating options have extended significantly and today pre-coater units and one, two or three coaters after the printing units are possible. UV, water-based or combined coatings can be applied and unlike varnishes there will be no discolouration...

Diary.(Calendar)
June 5, 2008... MAY DRUPA 2008 Date: 29 May-11 June Venue: Messe Dusseldorf, Germany Price: from EUR37 Contact: www.drupa.de JULY PIRA PRINT PROCUREMENT SUMMER SCHOOL 2008 Date: 28-30 July Venue: Leatherhead, Surrey Price: pounds 940...

Post Script: Ipex's singing starlet wanted for comeback.
June 5, 2008... Komori has embarked on a quest to find the diva who took to its stage and stole the show at the now infamous Ipex 2006 last-day performance. The singer in question joined Alan Mills of kit manufacturer Nordson's on the mic. By all...

Post Script: Memory Lane.
June 5, 2008... ONE YEAR AGO - Prinovis appointed Richard Gray as managing director of its Liverpool plant... Telegraph Media Group said it had a contingency plan to transfer printing work to News International in case of strike action at West Ferry......

Post Script: Print's Past - Fairground prints.
June 5, 2008... For as long as I can remember, Whitsuntide has traditionally seen my local park hosting a fairground. This year was no different, except that at the ground I discovered a copy of World's Fair, a newspaper catering for showmen. Frank Mellor...

Post Script: Q&A - Richard Ives.(Euroworld Direct Marketing Ltd.)(Interview)(Brief article)
June 5, 2008... Motorsport fanatic Richard Ives, 40, is operations director at Euroworld Direct Marketing in Brentford, south-west London. He has worked in direct mail and printing for the last 15 years. Although his dream car is an Aston Martin DB9, he may...

St Ives nets Sainsbury's 'pounds 20m' print contract ..
June 12, 2008... St Ives has emerged as the surprise winner of the multi-million-pound Sainsbury's print contract that has been held by Communisis since 1999. The news of St Ives' appointment emerged after Communisis revealed to the stock exchange that it...

HenDi acquires Alden Group.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Alden Group, the 175-year-old book and journal printer, has been acquired by HenDi Group for an undisclosed sum. John Pulford, HenDi Group chief executive and chairman of PrintLondon, said he was delighted to be merging HenDi with a company...

... as Communisis plans pounds 12.8m sale for Bath.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Communisis has announced the proposed pounds 12.8m sale of its Bath Business Forms (BBF) and Economailer businesses to the current Bath management team. Chief executive Steve Vaughan said: 'It has been clear for some time that Bath...

Drupa special: US firm signs for three dozen HP Indigo units.
June 12, 2008... HP last week signed a contract for 36 Indigo presses in what looks set to be the biggest single deal at Drupa. The multi-million-pound deal to supply 36 presses to US firm Consolidated Graphics was described by Alon Bar-Shany, vice...

Drupa special: Canon C1+ proves a Drupa success.(Canon (U.K.) Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Canon's new compact colour printer, the Imagepress C1+, proved to be a surprise star at this year's Drupa. The unit's clear fifth toner can be used to apply an overall coating to control gloss levels, and enable the application of selective...

Drupa special: Epson eyes new pastures in print.
June 12, 2008... Epson has set its sights on commercial and industrial print and is optimising its inkjet technology and increasing staff in the sector by 30% as it seeks to capitalise on demand. The first product to be launched will be a label press, which...

Drupa special: Kodak Magnus 800 platesetter for MPG Impressions.
June 12, 2008... MPG Impressions has signed an order at Drupa for a new Kodak Magnus 800 platesetter, along with an upgrade to its Kodak Insite Prepress Portal System and Kodak Prinergy workflow. The Chessington-based printer operates a selection of...

Drupa special: Xennia teams up with Hijet.
June 12, 2008... Xennia has created what it bills an 'unrivalled' Xaar 1001-based industrial inkjet print platform. It teamed up with Croatian partner Hijet for the technology, and together they are using Drupa to show off industrial single-pass printing using...

Drupa special: Direct Press Marketing signs several new deals.
June 12, 2008... Direct Press Marketing, the Kent-based used-equipment specialist, has beaten expectations by signing a number of deals at Drupa. Sales director Dean Beckett said the latest deal was made with a customer in Iran. The EUR600,000 (pounds 475,000)...

Drupa special: Kama launches world first.
June 12, 2008... Kama has launched what it claims is the world's first B3 format die-cutter, the ProCut 53. The 6,000sph machine can cope with stocks up to 800gsm and can cut, crease, perforate, kiss-cut, cold emboss and produce Braille. Options for...

Drupa special: Press-sense strengthens position.(Hewlett-Packard Co.)(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Press-sense has strengthened its position in the web-to-print software market, with HP announcing at Drupa that it is using a version of Press-sense's iWay 5 as the basis for its SmartStream Director job submission and management tools. This...

Drupa special: Tipografic installs latest label-cutting system.
June 12, 2008... Tipografic, the Liverpool-based printer, has installed the latest label-cutting system from Polar. With this system, cutting and banderoling cut labels is automatic; the indiv-vidual facilities are banderoled into one multi-function bundle. The...

Drupa special: Extra whip-round for chinese victims.
June 12, 2008... Manroland Greater China and its employees have donated a substantial sum for the earthquake victims in China. At Drupa, staff had an additional whip-round during the traditional half-time Drupa party, collecting EUR4,000. Manroland board member...