Print Week articles from March 2006

Print Week archives from March 2006

BBC Magazines to bring repro in-house over next 15 months.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... BBC Magazines (BBCM) has confirmed plans to abandon its preferred suppliers to move its repro in-house. Through the Smart Repro business model, the publishing division will phase-out its current repro suppliers Keene's, Icon Reproduction...

Wyndeham Press acquires Icon Reproduction.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Wyndeham Press Group has bought London pre-press firm Icon Reproduction. Icon, which was crowned PrintWeek's Creative Repro Company of the Year in 2005, will be incorporated into the group's pre-press division, which includes Wyndeham...

Cooper Clegg to cut workforce.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Cooper Clegg is to make redundancies at its Tewkesbury plant. Chairman Ian Cooper confirmed that a consultation period was due to begin but would not comment on the numbers involved. There is speculation that as many as 50 jobs could go....

PE firm makes 2nd purchase.(Media and Print Investments)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Media & Print Investments has made its second acquisition in the print industry, less than a month after its first. The private equity firm has bought Richard Harsher, a bookbinding and short-run print firm. Like its earlier acquisition,...

Press.(Financial Times)(Emap France)(Degussa)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Financial Times made pounds 2m profit last year, the first profit for the Pearson title since 2001, after cost reductions and an upswing in ad takings... Emap is formalising plans to sell Emap France following a strategic investment review......

Strategic industry plan targets young people.(World Class Printing)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... The revised edition of the print industry's first strategic plan, World Class Printing, is now available, featuring a new section dedicated to attracting more young people to the sector. The joint publication produced by BPIF, Vision in...

Cambrian buys an Acoro A5 binder.(Cambrian Printers)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Cambrian Printers has purchased an Acoro A5 binder as part of a three-year pounds 5m investment. Since receiving almost pounds 1m from the Welsh Development Agency last year, the firm has installed a Heidelberg Supra-setter platesetter, an...

Quebecor invests in Corby plant.
March 2, 2006... Quebecor World is to install two KBA Compacta 818 72pp web presses at its Corby plant. The site's managing director, Andrew Parker, said: 'This investment will allow the Corby facility to capitalise on the UK's vibrant magazine and retail...

In Brief: Pantone releases 125 speciality colours.
March 2, 2006... Pantone has released 125 speciality colours. A metallic formula guide offers 97 new metallic shades, while a pastel formula guide features 28 additions. The company said it is now the broadest collection of speciality colours.

In Brief: Mail on Sunday launches You.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Mail on Sunday's glossy title, You, is being launched as a standalone news-stand magazine on 7 March. Production manager Brian Lamb said 150,000 copies would be distrib-uted to 7,000 retail outlets, in addition to the 2.6m being polybagged with...

In Brief: British Coatings Federation forecasts no end to rise.(British Coatings Federation)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... British Coatings Federation has forecast no end to the rise in the cost of raw materials after oil topped pounds 34 (dollars 60) a barrel and the price of copper, used for metallic inks, rose 200%. Chief executive Moira McMillan warned printers...

In Brief: Ralph Allen Press installs its 14th Ryobi press.
March 2, 2006... Ralph Allen Press of Bath has installed its 14th Ryobi press. The new four-colour GX Series kit from distributor Apex Digital Graphics runs beside four-colour and two-colour machines. Joint managing director Jason Hindle (stan-ding) said the...

In Brief: Appointment at London College of Communication.
March 2, 2006... London College of Communication's printing and publishing school has appointed Sue Pandit as its new head. Her previous posts included director of under-graduate studies at the London College of Printing, as it was formerly known.

In Brief: Appointment at Emap.
March 2, 2006... Emap's board has named Alun Cathcart as chairman. He will take over from Adam Broadbent, who retires in July. Cathcart has been made deputy chairman to 'facilitate' the switch.

In Brief: Hiflex is to run live JDF connectivity demos.
March 2, 2006... Hiflex is to run live JDF connectivity demos at Ipex with leading makers of pre-press, press and post-press systems including Agfa, Esko, Fuji and KBA. Hiflex will show off a new workflow feature, the conversion of PPF ink-key profiles to JDF.

In Brief: Angela Brown from Cranfield Colours gains master's degree.
March 2, 2006... Cranfield Colours' head of its specialist ink section, Angela Brown, has gained a master's degree from the University of the West of England. She researched inks for specialist applications.

In Brief: Xerox celebrates 100th birthday of Chester Carlson.
March 2, 2006... Xerox is celebrating the 100th birthday of Chester Carlson, the inventor of xerography, which led to the first photocopier and, eventually, digital presses. In 2004, an estimated four trillion pages were produced by Carlson's invention, who...

Pressure from overseas drives Amcor and Brand to cut jobs.
March 2, 2006... Two packaging firms have announced job cuts as a direct result of work moving overseas, putting nearly 270 UK jobs at risk. 'Flexible packaging firms are facing a lot of competition from Eastern Europe and Russia,' said Amicus GPMS national...

BGP lands print work for NI magazine arm.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... News International's (NI) magazine division is to launch its second new title this year. It will be printed by Benhamgood-headprint (BGP) Bicester. Inside Out will be released on 16 March. The monthly 176pp glossy will cover homes and...

Lynx DPM sells a 60% stake to Avad Group.
March 2, 2006... Lynx DPM founder Keith Nicholl has sold 60% of his firm to Avad Group, the business stationery and office products company. 'The sale forms a lovely piece of the jigsaw for Avad, which wanted to move into colour sheetfed work,' said...

UPM clinches pounds 13m deal to supply Haymarket.(Haymarket Publishing)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Haymarket Publishing has handed UPM a three-year contract to supply the 'vast majority' of the paper for its UK magazines. The Finnish producer will supply the paper for 66 of Haymarket's 67 UK publications, which include Eve, Autocar,...

Limetree gains FSC accreditation.(Limetree Offset )(Forest Stewardship Council )(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Limetree Offset has scooped three accreditations in as many months, including Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The family firm rounded off its ISO 9001:2000 quality management and ISO 14001:2004 environmental management with the FSC...

ROI to unveil Xralle upgrade at Ipex.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... ROI plans to capitalise on its position as the leading supplier of e-procurement software in the UK by rolling out a new version of its Xralle package at Ipex. The firm, which boasts 270 customers for the package processing at least pounds...

In Brief: MAN Roland uses Coventry Bookbinders.
March 2, 2006... MAN Roland used Coventry Bookbinders to show off one of its latest Wohlenberg installations. The City e Edition 6000 binder system produces hot melt and PUR adhesive binding. The kit can handle thicknesses 2-50mm at 6,000 cycles an hour....

In Brief: Pillans & Waddies produces forms for a motorbike challenge.
March 2, 2006... Pillans & Waddies, the Edinburgh printer, has produced 100,000 promotional forms for a Barry Sheene motorbike challenge. Children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent, which is the late Sheene's chosen beneficiary, aims to raise pounds 100,000 by...

In Brief: Fuji Hunt claims to be the first.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Fuji Hunt has claimed to be the first coatings maker to launch an 'innovative range of water-based products combining the advantages of water-based coatings with the premium gloss level of UV coatings'. The Super Gloss range includes products...

In Brief: Taylor Bloxham prints brochures for Spark Children's Arts Festival.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Taylor Bloxham in Leicester is printing 20,000 brochures for the local Spark Children's Arts Festival, as part of its sponsorship of the event. The June festival will include dancing and a 'baby rave'. Julie Gregory, the firm's marketing...

In Brief: Sanderson buys Megabyte.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Sanderson Group has bought Megabyte in a deal worth up to pounds 1.5m in cash and 2m shares in the MIS firm. Megabyte, the software firm with bases in Bradford and Swanmore, Hampshire, has 66 staff, a turnover of pounds 3.8m and a profit before...

In Brief: The Daily Telegraph's business section is flagging up its cartoon strip.
March 2, 2006... The Daily Telegraph's business section is flagging up its Alex cartoon strip in full colour for the first time. The publisher is working with Xerox to enliven the 19-year-old strip as part of a Xerox colour brand campaign.

In Brief: Agripa launches a version of its Fleet Media.
March 2, 2006... Agripa has launched a version of its Fleet Media for vehicle ads product for the commercial van sector. The company is targeting firms such as Sky and BT.

In Brief: Repropoint celebrates its 30th anniversary.
March 2, 2006... Repropoint is celebrating its 30th anniversary by donating pounds 10,000 in cash and kind to The Lightbox, a new cultural centre in Woking. The digital print firm will produce banners and other material for the centre, according to sales...

In Brief: Harlands produces labels for Tesco's new My Baby range.
March 2, 2006... Harlands has produced labels for Tesco's new My Baby range of products. The 52 types of label were produced on white or clear substrates in up to nine colours.

Tangent's web order system.(Tangent Communications)(The Union Pub Company)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Tangent Communications has unveiled one of its most technically advanced projects: a web ordering system for The Union Pub Company. The system allows the company's 1,750 pubs to pro-duce customised marketing material relating to local...

Heidelberg's Ipex kit to compete on short-runs.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Heidelberg will focus on improved production efficiency at Ipex with enhanced pre-press, press and post-press products, and additions to its Prinect workflow suite. Prinect Integration System is new central JDF controller that manages all...

Mondi floats on Stock Exchange.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Mondi, the global paper and packaging manufacturing group, is to be floated on the London Stock Exchange. According to newspaper reports, Mondi, which owns 50% of Kent-based Aylesford Newsprint, has an estimated value of pounds 3bn-pounds...

Reader reaction: How can the government help the UK printing industry?(Industry Overview)
March 2, 2006... MAGAZINE AND COMMERCIAL PRINTER - John Cooling, managing director, Goodhead Group 'I would like to see it push the industry to world-class standards by intro-ducing a tax regime to encourage investment in state-of-the-art kit. It could...

Legal notices.
March 2, 2006... 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 In-Speed Printers Ltd...

New IQA guidelines for handling digital pics.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... A set of guidelines for handling digital images has been launched by the Institute of Quality Assurance (IQA). The best practice guidelines are designed to be far-reaching, covering all sectors ranging from print to photography. According...

MP to launch Proskills in Wales.(Member of Parliament)
March 2, 2006... A senior MP is launching the Proskills initiative in Wales to improve training across sectors including print. Jane Davidson, Welsh Assembly minister for education and lifelong learning, wants to encourage firms to sit on the new Proskills...

Ipex Inquisition.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... BBC Newsnight anchorman Jeremy Paxman will be weighing into print's highest profile players at Ipex. At the Xerox-organised open forum at the NEC on 4 April, visitors will see him grill panellists including Xerox chief executive Anne Mulcahy...

EDF Energy awards Nova Direct Mail pounds 3m contract.
March 2, 2006... Nova Direct Mail has won a contract from EDF Energy worth pounds 3m over four years. It involves the production of up to 600 types of mailing pack for EDF's 5m customers. Nova's managing director, Andy Fry, said: 'This has been a...

Kent Art Printers wins eco-award.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... A family-run printer has joined an elite band of eco-award winners. Kent Art Printers won three prizes at the Liveable City Awards and was praised by an ex-environment secretary above other winners, which included Royal Mail and...

End of an era.(retirement of Mike Hancock )(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Pira managing director Mike Hancock is to retire at the end of the month. It marks the end of his 28-year career with the company, eight of which have been as managing director. Since taking over in 1998, Hancock has overseen the restructure...

In Brief: Avery Dennison launches the Ultra Metallic range of films.
March 2, 2006... Avery Dennison has launched the Ultra Metallic range of films. The company said the metallic vinyls projected the natural tone of real metals and would be typically used for retail window decor, vehicle wraps, in-store material and outdoor...

In Brief: LPC Printing m.d. will run the Flora London Marathon.
March 2, 2006... LPC Printing managing director Nick Lee will run the Flora London Marathon on 23 April in aid of Breast Cancer Research. Lee has already raised nearly pounds 3,000. To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/nickleelpc.

In Brief: TJ International receives accreditation.
March 2, 2006... TJ International has received Forestry Stewardship Council accreditation at its first attempt. The Padstow-based firm was assisted by SolPrint, which developed pallet tracking tools to track the movement and traceability of all stocks.

In Brief: AGI Labels holds two open days.
March 2, 2006... AGI Labels held two open days last month offering customers 'hands-on' demonstrations, plant tours, lectures and presentations by technical specialists. Speakers included AGI director of labels Bob Blow, UK business manager Neil Collier and AGI...

In Brief: Bezier staged a mock protest.
March 2, 2006... Bezier staged a mock protest at a marketing conference at Earls Court in London last week. The in-store print specialist aimed to provide information on how retailers and brands can get a better return on investment and how to campaign on...

In Brief: J&G Environmental becomes the first.
March 2, 2006... J&G Environmental has become one of the first companies in the UK to add a dedicated washing system to a plastics-shredding machine, at its Blandford plant. Granules were previously sent abroad for cleaning and recycling.

In Brief: T Snape & Co installs a Printmaster.
March 2, 2006... T Snape & Co has installed a Printmaster QM 46 alongside a GTO to handle its two-colour jobbing format work. Managing director Dominic Swarbrick highlighted the GTO's robustness, but said the QM 46's technical automation will offer faster...

In Brief: Appointment at The Ink Shop.(Andrew Gilmour McFadden appointed)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... The Ink Shop has appointed Andrew Gilmour McFadden as production director. He was previously studio director with Polestar in East Kilbride, and has a wealth of experience in pre-press and production. He will oversee the studio, pre-press and...

Ipex: Hewlett-Packard to highlight its diverse range of products.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Hewlett-Packard is to highlight its range of sectors by dividing its Ipex stand into six zones. The stand will be separated into areas for commercial, labelling and packaging, personalised direct mail, creative and graphics, photographic,...

Ipex: CGS will launch Oris additions.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... CGS will use its 150m2 stand, its largest ever at Ipex, to demonstrate its Oris modular range of pre-press workflow, hard and soft proofing, PDF editing and ink-saving systems. Oris products for the flexo packaging market and a web-based...

Ipex: Flint Group to mark Ipex debut by showcasing new nyloflex plates.(Flint Ink Corp)(Ipex Inc)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Flint Group makes its 'post-merger debut' at Ipex, hoping new plates and inks will ensure a grand entrance. The firm, formed last year when Flint merged with Xsys Print Solutions, will show off a raft of product 'advancements'. ...

Agfa enhances thermal plates and violet CTP.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Agfa's Ipex pre-media launches will include a violet version of its Avalon plate-setter and a new range of thermal plates, alongside enhancements to its workflow and proofing products. Avalon LF-Violet is a B1 external drum platesetter that...

Press-sense ups Europe presence.(Press-sense Ltd)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Software firm Press-sense is expanding into Europe with a new sales group and the development of an unnamed workflow product. The specialist sales team includes former Scitex and Screen manager Ken Whild, who confirmed that the European...

Colour Systems grows sales team.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Colour Systems is expanding its sales team following the success of the virtual in-house production system (VIP). Dean Agambar will take the helm at the expanded sales team at the London-based repro house. The new sales director, who...

In Brief: Highworth Press celebrates its 21 birthday.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Highworth Press is celebrating its 21st birthday. Founder Mike Baylis appeared on the front of PrintWeek's predecessor LithoWeek in 1984 when he fronted typesetting firm Adsetters. The Swindon-based firm used advanced diatronic typesetting...

In Brief: Sansui Software extends its PublishNow! product range.
March 2, 2006... Sansui Software has extended its PublishNow! product range with a self-service display ad module. Classified Market Place allows advertisers to create, edit and pay for one-off display ads from a standard browser. The user interface includes an...

In Brief: Pro2col is now sole distributor for Hermstedt.
March 2, 2006... Pro2col is now the sole distributor of Hermstedt's range of internet- and ISDN-based file transfer products. Hermstedt UK business development manager Lonny Toso said the deal was a step towards making its flagship Stingray File Transfer a...

In Brief: Biddles upgrades it Fujifilm platesetter.
March 2, 2006... Book printer Biddles has upgraded its Fujifilm platesetter with the latest violet version. The Kings Lynn-based firm replaced its green photopolymer machine with a violet Luxel P-9600. 'We were impressed with Fujifilm and the quality of its...

In Brief: Heidelberg expans its Suprasetter CTP range.
March 2, 2006... Heidelberg is to expand its Suprasetter CTP range. The Suprasetter A105 allows a smoother transition to thermal technology and images up to 15 70x105cm plates per hour. It includes plate on demand, single- or multi-cassette loader and optional...

In Brief: Beijing Founder Electronics launches a European subsidiary.
March 2, 2006... Beijing Founder Electronics has launched a European subsidiary, Founder Europe in Brussels in order to provide local sales and service support. Derek Fearn has been appointed European sales and marketing director and will take charge of...

In Brief: Device Fronts - Ten Year Itch is now available.
March 2, 2006... Device Fonts - Ten Year Itch is now available from Fontworks UK and all good bookshops. Type and graphic designer Rian Hughes has documented every font design over the past 10 years for the publication, which costs pounds 9.99 (paperback) and...

In Brief: Vio recruits two colour and proofing consultancies.(Remote Proofing Solutions and Targetcolour)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Vio has recruited two colour and proofing consultancies to create Vio Colour Consulting. In collaboration with Remote Proofing Solutions and Targetcolour, Vio will now be able to offer advice on the installation and use of Vio products as well...

Agfa targets increased share of ink-jet sector.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Agfa will demonstrate an expanded range of industrial ink-jet machines at Ipex, including a duplex version of its Dotrix press aimed at the transactional print market. The company has set its sights on cornering 20% of the ink-jet market,...

UK leads Europe in POD market.(print-on-demand)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... The UK is pushing ahead of Europe for digital installations in the print-on-demand (POD) market, according to a report by InfoTrends. During 2004, the number of digital technology installations increased by 9%, compared with an average of...

In Brief: Canon launches the imagePrograf iPF5000 ink-jet printer.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Canon has launched the imagePrograf iPF5000 ink-jet printer. The A2 desktop kit features more than 30,000 print nozzles incorporated into two 1in heads. The company has also unveiled a range of black-and-white, light- to mid-production printers...

In Brief: Terracotta Press installs two Xerox DocuColor printers.
March 2, 2006... Terracotta Press, based in Wembley, has installed two Xerox DocuColor 250 printers. Director Karen Low (right) said: 'We wanted something that would handle stock up to 300gsm and do bleeds on SRA3. Overall colour on solids is very good and...

In Brief: Comcept Digital installs a HP Indigo press.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Concept Digital has installed a seven-colour HP Indigo press 5000 to produce variable-data and personalised marketing material at its base in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. Marketing director Jo O'Neill said: 'Demand for spot colour is...

In Brief: OTW Imaging installs a Durst Rho 205/16.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... OTW Imaging in Norwich has installed a Durst Rho 205/16 wide-format digital printer to branch into point-of-sale work. The kit, which has a list price of pounds 200,000, runs at speeds of 65m2 an hour. Managing director Darren Marsh said this...

In Brief: Oce claims.(multifunctional printing kit)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Oce has claimed its latest launch is the first multifunctional black-and-white printing kit to offer benefits such as fully-integrated, fingerprint-based printing and easy PDF document handling. The VarioPrint 2062/2075 printer, copier and...

Celloglas splashes out on kit to broaden its in-house services.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Celloglas has invested over pounds 300,000 in its Leicester site to add B1 die-cutting and folder/gluing to its range of services. 'There aren't many people (in the Leicester area) that can laminate, spot UV, die-cut, crease, and fold and...

Bobst to unveil handling kit.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Bobst will use Ipex for the world premiere of its Carton-pack GT auto packer. The automated handling kit for carton folder-gluer lines can pack cartons into their transit packaging at up to 200,000 boxes an hour. Bobst will run the GT...

Duplo widens outlook with post-press trio.(introduces three new commercial printers)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Duplo is targeting commercial printers at Ipex with three new products. The Eurofold DCM 45 creaser-perforator will be shown working together with the MKF 35 knife folder, targeting printers that produce 4pp card brochures, greetings cards...

Sealed Air to show off speedy and versatile shrink-wrappers at Ipex.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Sealed Air is launching what it calls Europe's most flexible and efficient shrink-wrapping kit, as well as a number of other machines, at Ipex. The Shanklin Omni will be priced between pounds 40,000-pounds 60,000 and can be tweaked for...

Lawyers drop criminal charges against UPM.(price fixing case)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Lawyers have shelved criminal charges against UPM for anti-trust offences in the US labelstock industry and the price fixing of magazine paper. But the Helsinki firm's chief legal adviser said of the probe by the US Department of Justice...

Paper-comparison tool launched.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... An online firm has launched a paper-comparison service to help specifiers select the right stock. PaperSpecs said specifiers need to compare papers, to find the one best suited to their client. The US-based firm's founder, Sabine Lenz,...

Paper pricewatch: Cartonboard, March 2006.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Cartonboard price changes that came into effect in the new year are likely to hold firm in the first half of 2006, writes Philip Chadwick. But there are warnings that increasing energy costs could force paper manufacturers to increase...

In Brief: M-real UK managing director retires.(Dick Dickinson )(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... M-real UK managing director Dick Dickinson is to retire at the end of the month after 39 years in the industry. Several senior staff will take new posts in a management reshuffle. Meanwhile, M-real has launched a coated, white-top kraftliner....

In Brief: Sovereign Paperboard expands its CD Microprint board range.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Sovereign Paperboard has expanded its CD Microprint board range. The 100% recycled product, targeted at the price- and environmentally-sensitive folding carton and print markets, comes in 200gsm, 210gsm and 220gsm. The firm said the board,...

In Brief: Paper recovered from waste stream.(Confederation of Paper Industries )(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... The Confederation of Paper Industries has said that about 7.7m tonnes of paper were recovered from the waste stream last year - up more than 8% on 2004. Increased recovery was fuelled by government drives, such as the landfill directive and...

In Brief: Curtis Fine Papers sends belated Valentine cards.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2006... Curtis Fine Papers is sending graphic designers and paper specifiers a belated Valentine's card on its Conservation 100% recycled papers. The promotion is going out on Wove Heather 280gsm, featuring the verse: 'Roses are red, our planet is...

In Brief: WWF and a state enterprise agree to ring-fence old-growth forests.
March 2, 2006... WWF, the conservation group, and a state enterprise that manages most of Finland's protected woodlands have agreed to ring-fence old-growth forests in the north of the country. Metsahallitus' conservation plan aims to safeguard 55,000 hectares...