Print Week articles from March 2008

Print Week archives from March 2008

Stewarts targets M&A after factory relocation.
March 6, 2008... Stewarts of Edinburgh is looking to expand and is considering M&A activity after completing a move to a new site. The firm, which specialises in print for the financial and legal sectors and DM, has also upgraded its Heidelberg sheetfed kit...

PaperCo announces price increase.
March 6, 2008... Merchant PaperCo has announced new price increases of 4% to 8% on all its paper products. The increases, which the firm has blamed on the continued rising cost of raw materials, as well as reduced supply and strong global demand, came into...

G&H completes double acquisition.
March 6, 2008... Graham and Heslip (G&H) has bought two local printers as part of a pounds 3.5m investment. The Belfast-based digital and litho company acquired The Universities Press and Hodge Office Supplies, as well as buying a 10-colour B1 Heidelberg...

Man Roland GB celebrates 100 years in UK print.
March 6, 2008... Man Roland GB is celebrating 100 years in UK print with a centenary logo. The company can be traced back to The Victoria Press Manufacturing Company, established by Frank Frederick Pershke in 1908. The firm ran an in-house competition to design...

BPIF Educational Scholarships applications deadline 31 March.
March 6, 2008... The BPIF's Educational Scholarships applications deadline of 31 March is looming for those wishing to submit entries. Twelve scholarships of pounds 2,500 each are up for grabs to help people aged 16-30 to develop their career in print. For...

Norske Skog subject of speculation.
March 6, 2008... Norske Skog, the newsprint manufacturer, is the subject of mounting speculation as to whether it is on the verge of a sale to one of its Scandinavian rivals. Trading in the firm's shares was suspended early this week after they jumped 10%. This...

Appointments at Extensis.(Jean-Michel Laurent )(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Extensis has announced new appointments to its head office in Northampton. Jean-Michel Laurent (pictured) has been appointed systems engineer for France and Kevin Lamb is now EMEA channel sales manager Richard Bamford, Extensis European...

British Loose Leaf awarded Corporate Express 2007 Service Excellence Award.
March 6, 2008... British Loose Leaf in Kent has been awarded the Corporate Express 2007 Service Excellence Award for Corporate Social Responsibility. The company collects office equipment for recycling

Latimer Trend invests in Technotrans kit.
March 6, 2008... Latimer Trend in Plymouth has switched from manual to barrel inking with an investment in Technotrans kit. It is feeding its Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102-10P long perfector and SM 102-6P direct through connected piping and ducts

Death of Communisis Chorleys sales director.
March 6, 2008... Communisis Chorleys sales director Mike Normyle has died suddenly at the age of just 45. A popular and respected industry figure, Normyle spent time at Colorgraphic, Waddington Chorleys and Howitt, where he took part in the 2000 MBO. He also...

Long-run prices bounce back as closures tighten capacity.
March 6, 2008... Long-run prices could be on the up for the first time in almost a decade, according to some of the UK's largest printers, thanks to a spate of recent closures and the newfound strength of the euro. According to BGP group sales director Bob...

Xerox eyes UK growth with new head of XGS.
March 6, 2008... Xerox has appointed Peter Romaine as director and general manager of the UK arm of its Xerox Global Services (XGS) business process outsourcing (BPO) unit. Romaine, who previously headed up XGS Europe's Office Services, Document...

Corby workers seek funding for training.
March 6, 2008... Staff at the former Quebecor World site in Corby have set up a taskforce with Unite, a local MP and the local authorities to attain funding for training to help them find work. According to Tony Burke, assistant secretary general at Unite,...

Mystery around admin firm buy.(Turnergraphic acquires Hollyridge Enterprises)(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Basingstoke-based printer Turnergraphic has been bought out of administration by Hollyridge Enterprises. A statement from administrator Grant Thornton said that David Dunckley and his colleague Andrew Hosking were appointed joint...

Ex-Nestle exec joins Simpson.
March 6, 2008... Large-format firm Simpson Group has revealed the appointment of a former Nestle Rowntree marketing manager as its new sales and marketing director. Ed Reid joined the Tyneside firm at the start of the year after a three-and-a-half-year...

Nevisprint positive on securing rescue deal.(Company overview)
March 6, 2008... Administrators at troubled sheetfed firm Nevisprint have said they are hopeful of finding a buyer for the business after it was placed under their control last week. The firm, which is part of NBH Holdings and is the biggest printer in the...

Trinity Mirror boss defends print as figures highlight digital boom.
March 6, 2008... Trinity Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey sees a positive future for print, despite her company experiencing a large increase in its digital business. The newspaper publisher announced its 2007 results last week, posting a pounds 1m...

Crowning Achievement.(Chris Levine)(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Chris Levine's 3D portrait of the Queen will go on show at the StolenSpace Gallery, The Old Truman Brewery, London from 14-23 March 2008. Hailed as the first ever lenticular 3D portrait of Her Majesty, the process involved printing Epson...

Public bodies in pounds 2m framework.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Two high-profile public sector bodies in London have launched tenders to create print frameworks worth up to pounds 2m. The Greater London Authority (GLA) and London Metropolitan University have both published tenders this week looking for...

Polestar Sheffield gets first in-plant college.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Polestar Sheffield has been named as the site for what could be the UK's first in-plant print college in a partnership with Leeds College of Technology Print Media. The 'learning base' will be equipped with eight computers, five laptops,...

Agrama chosen by Associated.
March 6, 2008... German firm Agrama's on-press material lifts have been chosen by Associated Newspapers for its new printing site at Didcot, Oxfordshire, and its existing site at Surrey Quays, London. Two lifts have been installed at the London site, one on...

Reader Reaction: How has the strong euro affected your print business?
March 6, 2008... We ask how far the euro's surge against the pound and the dollar is damaging print firms. POS PRINTER Ian Carnazza, divisional managing director, Bezier 'Bezier has not been hugely affected by the strong euro. We tend to stay...

Label Makers invests in Sun ink mixing system.(Solaris Colorsat )(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... The Label Makers has become the first UK firm to install a Sun Chemical Solaris Colorsat automatic mixing and dispensing system. Installed in January as part of a cost-saving exercise, the system reduces mixing times by 50% and 'eradicates...

Print start-up TPE gains SFI grant.(The Print Environment and Selective Finance for Investment in England )(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Niche print start-up The Print Environment (TPE) has won a pounds 65,000 grant to bring in new equipment. The Cornwall-based company has been awarded a Selective Finance for Investment in England (SFI) grant from the South West...

Pensord awarded HR standard.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... B2B magazine printer Pensord has achieved the Investors in People (IiP) standard for its human resources strategy. The company, based in Blackwood in south-east Wales, has more than 130 staff and is one of fewer than 2% of companies in the...

Legal Notices.
March 6, 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 WINDING-UP PETITIONS Paper Products UK Ltd...

CGT concession may be too late for SMEs forced into quick sales.
March 6, 2008... Chancellor Alistair Darling has released the draft legislation outlining concessions to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) announced in January, in a move that many will see as too little too late. The 'entrepreneurs' relief' will mean the first...

Contract wins for TripleArc.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... TripleArc, the Aim-listed technology focused print management company, has posted a positive trading update in advance of the release of its full-year results for 2007. The group said that eight new print management contracts had been...

Everydayprint moves site to boost growth.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Turnover growth has driven Cheshire-based firm Everydayprint to expand into new premises, and make plans to take on new staff and equipment this year. The privately owned company, which was founded six years ago, shifted from its Adlington...

Communisis mulls cross-media acquisition after profits surge.
March 6, 2008... Communisis chief executive Steve Vaughan has said he is considering an acquisition to bolster the print management group's electronic distribution offering following a 472% increase in profits. 'We think that cross-media marketing, in...

Agfa scraps dividend as sales slide, but UK arm holds firm.
March 6, 2008... Agfa's UK sales are holding up despite another set of poor results from its parent Belgian company. Agfa-Gevaert suffered a 21% dive in its share price last week as shareholders were left without a dividend following 'disappointing'...

DTS bases W2P tool on Quark.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... German print IT provider DTS Medien has launched ISY3, a web-to-print tool based on QuarkXPress Server 7. DTS Medien chief executive Thomas Eusterholz said: 'The fundamental argument in favour of choosing QuarkX-Press Server 7 as the basic...

Fuji spreads processless message on UK-wide environmental tour.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Fuji has been promoting its environmental credentials over the past month with a five-stop UK environmental roadshow. The tour, which finished in London last week, featured speakers from Envirowise, Wrap, Print & Media Certification and...

Presstek, Press-sense strike supplier deal.
March 6, 2008... Presstek has signed a partnership agreement with web-to-print and MIS developer Press-sense, allowing it to sell the firm's software portfolio alongside its own digital offset presses. Press-sense vice president of sales Elly Perets said:...

Inca Digital set to unveil latest addition to Spyder 320 range.
March 6, 2008... Inca Digital will showcase its eight-colour Spyder 320-8 printer featuring the new Uvijet Ultratone enhanced colour set at Fespa Digital next month. The large-format, digital flatbed UV printer will be demonstrated by distributor Fujifilm...

Polestar enlists new executives.
March 6, 2008... Polestar Applied Solutions has strengthened its mailing services business with the appointment of new executives to its team. Simon Leeder, formerly sales director for St Ives Direct, and Andrew Pearson, from Philip Myers Press and...

RPS targets personalised work with new Indigo 5000 purchase.
March 6, 2008... Resource Print Solutions (RPS) has made inroads into personalised printing after investing in a seven-colour HP Indigo 5000 digital press. The Leeds-based printer has replaced an Indigo 1000 in a push to secure more variable-data work. ...

Real hires Goldwag to drive 200% growth.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Real Digital is targeting growth of 200% in 2008, pushing its turnover up to pounds 11m, following the appointment of Wanda Goldwag, the former BA Airmiles chief, as non-executive director. Real Digital managing director David Laybourne...

Alpha invests in Heidelberg kit to print Z-Card work in-house.
March 6, 2008... Finishing company Alpha Media Solutions has turned the tables on the raft of printers buying finishing equipment by splashing out pounds 2m on a new press. The Bradford-based company has purchased a Heidelberg XL105 press with Cutstar...

Record UK sales of folder gluers.
March 6, 2008... Finishing equipment manufacturer Bobst Group has reported record folder-gluer sales in the UK in 2007. The company sold more than 15 folder gluers to print and packaging companies between April and December last year. Buyers included...

Stitcher spend slashes Printability run times.(Horizon StitchLiner.)(B2 litho printer Printability )(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... B2 litho printer Printability has invested in a new Horizon StitchLiner. The saddlestitcher, from Graphic Arts Equipment, collates individual sheets, plough folds, stitches and trims all in one pass, eliminating the need to pre-fold into...

Steinemann brings in M-Partners to handle sales and service in UK.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Finishing equipment manufacturer Steinemann has appointed M-Partners as its sales and service partner for its high-end laminating and varnishing systems in the UK. Swiss firm Steinemann's previous UK agent, Ian Hamilton of Hamilton (UK),...

CW Print calls for green accreditation debate.(Commercial printer CW Print )(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Commercial printer CW Print has called for a serious debate about the efficiency of environmental accreditations within the print and paper industries. Bruce Carter, director of continuous improvement at the Essex-based firm, said: 'I'm...

Mondi announces profit increase after price rises and restructuring.(Mondi Group )(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Mondi Group has said its pre-tax profit increased by 71% due to improved performances across its business and increased pricing. Preliminary pre-tax profit for the year ending 31 December 2007 was EUR382m (pounds 291m), up from EUR223m last...

Reel Paper introduces G-Print Matt into its 2008 catalogue.
March 6, 2008... PaperCo's specialist division Reel Paper has introduced G-Print Matt, an FSC-approved matt coated paper from Stora Enso, into its 2008 catalogue. The paper is available in weights from 70-250gsm. Reel Paper managing director Steve Webb...

M-real to shut down mill in Lielahti and paper machine 2 at its Kangas mill.
March 6, 2008... M-real will shut down its Finnish mill in Lielahti and paper machine 2 at its Kangas mill. The firm has not revealed the extent of any resultant staff losses. The Kangas mill's PM2 will be shut down on 20 February 2008 and the Lielahti mill...

Arjowiggins to increase price of Idem Superior carbonless reels products.
March 6, 2008... Arjowiggins will increase the price of its Idem Superior carbonless reels products by 6% as of 17 March 2008. Arjowiggins Carbonless Papers said it had experienced a 'strong and continuous increase in raw materials, transport and energy costs'

Exotic Paper Company adds to range.
March 6, 2008... The Exotic Paper Company, known for producing unusual papers such as Ellie Poo made from elephant dung, is offering a box of elephant, rhino or reindeer poo, with an assortment of seeds. You can choose from banana, oriental grass, rose, or...

Confederation of European Paper Industries welcomes publication.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) has welcomed the publication of the 'Communication on Forest-based Industries', which formalises a clear strategy for the growth of the forest-based sector in Europe. It recognises the...

Sappi uses 'Ideas that Matter' programme for poster campaign.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Sappi's 'Ideas that Matter' programme has been used for a poster campaign by German graphic designers Jurgen Stephan and Johannes von Freydorf. The campaign is for a charity that helps people come to terms with the death of a loved one. Sue...

Contract update.
March 6, 2008... Clays, the book printing arm of St Ives, is the printer behind horror master Stephen King's new novel Duma Key. The 592pp title, published by Hodder and Stoughton, was released on 24 January. Printed in both hardback and paperback, it was...

Client Audit: Newcastle college.
March 6, 2008... Newcastle College is one of the only UK colleges to achieve Beacon status. The Tyneside institution offers a range of undergraduate, school leaver, vocational and part-time courses. It received a grade 1 Ofsted inspection in 2004, and has...

Editorial: Long-run renaissance could benefit industry.(Editorial)
March 6, 2008... It appears that my wistful comment in last week's magazine on the strengthening euro forcing some long-run jobs back to the UK had a ring of truth about it. And I'm even more (happily) surprised that finally prices for web offset print...

Comment: Printer pens his people-less vision.
March 6, 2008... Percy the printer is in a pensive mood. He has mused for some time on the concept of people-less printing and feels confident enough to write to his chairman on the subject. Dear Sir Toby, After some painstaking research, I am...

Comment: Talking business.
March 6, 2008... Apprenticeships are the perfect way to equip yourself with future print talent. Despite major changes in the UK printing industry workforce in recent years, it is still big business - with annual sales of around pounds 12.5bn. But the...

Analysis: Personalisation - Technology key to new digital print age.
March 6, 2008... As personalisation gathers pace, William Mitting finds data manipulation is now paramount. Last week, Communisis chief executive Steve Vaughan said the new print management model was 'based on technology'. These comments, coming from the...

A secret service?
March 6, 2008... As instances of misplaced confidential data rise by the month, Philip Chadwick investigates what the print industry is doing to secure personal information. Front-page news stories about government departments losing data are cropping up...

Standing out with the perfect pitch.
March 6, 2008... For better or worse, the move towards more contract-based print work means pitching for tenders is swiftly becoming a fundamental part of winning new business, writes Karen Charlesworth. The traditional jobbing printer is dying a death....

Digital vs Litho: Technology report - The big print race.
March 6, 2008... Gone are the days when choosing between digital and litho meant sacrificing speed or quality. In fact, says Karen Charlesworth, a combination of the two could offer the ultimate in flexibility. On Christmas Eve last year, the staff of CFH...

Product Portfolio: Product of the week - Glunz & Jensen PlateWriter 2000.(Product/service evaluation)
March 6, 2008... High-end kit manufacturer G&J has turned its attention to smaller firms with its chemistry-free inkjet platesetter. Glunz & Jensen is no minnow in the pre-press market: its partners include Agfa, Fuji, Kodak and Heidelberg. But the...

Product Portfolio: Me & My ... Hamada B452A.(Mike Parkhouse)(Interview)
March 6, 2008... Mike Parkhouse, MD of Precision Print, turned to this press when four-colour work began to roll in, and he's now considering buying a third. - What does the machine do? The Hamada B452A four-colour press offers a high level of...

Product portfolio: Tried & tested - MBO K-800.(Product/service evaluation)
March 6, 2008... This fully automated combination folder is a market leader with unique carbon folding knife for speed and accuracy, finds Nosmot Gbadamosi. Full automation used to be something reserved for presses, but in today's competitive market, speed...

Product Portfolio: Buyers' Guide - Magazine paper.(Buyers guide)
March 6, 2008... Magazine consumers are increasingly demanding ethical and green paper sources and are willing to pay the extra cost, finds Nosmot Gbadamosi. It is impossible to ignore the environment, especially in the magazine sector, where being...

Product Portfolio: Joanne's help line - Coded neck collars & handblock envy.
March 6, 2008... Joanne Gardner tracks down the solutions to your print problems. - Q: My company is looking to run an on-pack promotional/advertising campaign with neck collars on wine bottles referring to a website where competition winners can claim...

Product Portfolio: Diary.(Brief article)(Calendar)
March 6, 2008... MARCH Everydayprint open day Date: 12 March Venue: Lyme House, Heather Close, Macclesfield Contact: www.everydayprint.co.uk APRIL Fespa Digital 2008 Dates: 1-3 April Venue: Geneva Price: free Contact: www.fespadigital.com...

Technical tutorial: eQuip recycling waste scheme.
March 6, 2008... The eQuip scheme, which is essentially a Residual Value Guarantee (RVG), was set up in 2004 by the government-funded Waste & Resources Action Programme (Wrap). It guarantees the future residual value of the machinery that you need to install in...

EU tenders.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Please read the important notes below as PrintWeek cannot supply any additional information or pass on your details. These tenders are abridged. It is essential that you obtain a full copy of the tender before contacting any of the...

Post script: An old dog learns more than a few new tricks.(Book review)
March 6, 2008... Let it never be said that PrintWeek is too hard-nosed to feature adorable animal stories. Post Script was left unashamedly doe-eyed this week after reading The True Story of Bilbo The Surf Lifeguard Dog, the heart-warming and true tale of...

Post script: Memory Lane.
March 6, 2008... ONE YEAR AGO Cooper Clegg safeguarded its future as Pindar finalised a takeover .. William Clowes asked staff to take a temporary 10% pay cut in order to guard against a sales shortfall... SR Communications considered growth through...

Post script: Francesco Griffo's italic.
March 6, 2008... Italic types are essential additions to the typographer's toolbox They can be used for anything from emphasis to foreign words and phrases. These versatile characters are almost as old as printing itself and it is the Italian letter cutter...

Post script: Q&A - Ian Schofield.(Interview)
March 6, 2008... Ian Schofield is group sales director at Watt Gilchrist. He turns 50 this year and has been in print since he was 19. He hates gossip, but would choose George Best to be marooned with on a desert island. That would be the same George Best of...

DS Smith expands in PoS sector with Multigraphics acquisition.
March 13, 2008... Packaging giant DS Smith has set out its stall to become a top player in the point-of-sale market after buying screen and digital specialist Multigraphics. The deal, completed last week, means Multigraphics has become part of DS Smith...

Industry icon passes away.(Lawrence Wallis)(Obituary)(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Lawrence Wallis, the highly respected print author, historian and PrintWeek columnist passed away last week. Lawrence began his career in print as an apprentice compositor in 1949 and went on to hold a variety of senior roles at pre-press...

Front-page news.(Associated Newspapers Holdings PLC's new facility)(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Conservative leader David Cameron was on hand this week with Lord Rothermere to open Associated Newspapers' new print site in Didcot. The pounds 82m plant, which houses four Cerutti presses, is the latest newspaper facility to open in the UK as...

Probe into conduct of ex-Claremont owners.(Claremont Press' Graham Sweett and Clive Shirley )(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... An official investigation could be launched into the conduct of Claremont Press' previous owners, according to administrator Smith and Williamson. PrintWeek has obtained the administrator's report into the company, which was bought by...

Ex-staff set for Alliance tribunal.(Carter Litho )(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Former employees of Carter Litho are to go to an industrial tribunal tomorrow in an attempt to get back monies owed by Alliance PM. The 12 staff will appear at Reading employment tribunal offices at 10am The former employees are claiming...

MPI on hunt for new MD after rejig.(Media and Print Investments)(Goodman-Baylis appointed Simon Hunt)(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... Media & Print Investments (MPI) is looking for a new managing director for its Goodman Baylis business following a management rejig in three of its key subsidiaries. Simon Hunt, who was previously managing director of the Worcester-based...

Brightsource appoints Minh Huynh.
March 13, 2008... Brightsource has appointed Minh Huynh (pictured) as its financial director. He has 18 years' experience from a number of senior posts at financial institutions. The direct marketing print management firm said its turnover figures have increased...

DSPA to relaunch.
March 13, 2008... The DSPA, the UK trade association for print specialists and manufacturers, will be relaunching at Sign & Digital UK. The association will be on stand AA40 between 22-24 April at the NEC in Birmingham

Visitor attractions for Drupa 2008.
March 13, 2008... The PrintCity Alliance has revealed plans for seven competence centres and other visitor attractions for Drupa 2008. Topics include brand and food packaging, and value-added UV printing

Changes announced for The Sun.(News International PLC)(Brief article)
March 13, 2008... The Sun has announced it will be making changes to its format over the next two months, now it has the capability of printing full colour nationwide. Changes are reported to include colour-coded sections and a new design that will bring it more...

Overwhelming interest for show.
March 13, 2008... The Independent Print Industries Association has said that interest in its Print for Business Exhibition and the National Incentive Show has been 'overwhelming'. The company launched registration for next year's show last month, and it has...

Enfocus named business partner of the year.
March 13, 2008... Enfocus has been named a 2007 business partner of the year for pre-press by Xerox Corporation's production systems group

8,500-mile motorbike ride completed.
March 13, 2008... Piggott Black Bear's database and mailing manager at its Cambridge site, Fil Schiannini, has completed an 8,500-mile motorbike trip over a five-week period. The trek was to deliver basic medical supplies and school equipment to an orphanage in...