Print Week articles from May 2007

Print Week archives from May 2007

Further woes for West Ferry as Telegraph contracts print to NI.
May 3, 2007... The future of West Ferry has been thrown into question following the Telegraph's decision to contract its printing to News International sites. Prior to this week's announcement, it was expected that the Telegraph Group would install new...

Stora tipped to acquire M-real.
May 3, 2007... Reports have claimed that paper manufacturer Stora Enso could look to merge or buy M-real, a subsidiary of forest industry behemoth Metsaliitto Group. Following a story in the Finnish press, the Financial Times has said that strong...

Trinity sell-off hits 2nd stage.
May 3, 2007... Bidding for Trinity Mirror's newspapers in the Midlands has reached the second round stage, according to press reports. Barclays Private Equity, ABN Amro Private Equity, and Exponent are rumoured to have come through the first round of...

Stop Press.(certification of Prinovis)(R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. companys earnings of first quarter)(newspaper awards raising funds for childrens society)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... Prinovis has claimed it has become the first rotogravure printer in Germany to become FSC certified. FSC-certification was issued this April for all German Prinovis plants, and the certification of Prinovis Liverpool is slated for May... ...

Amcor plans to cut 900 jobs across Europe sites.
May 3, 2007... Global packaging giant Amcor has proposed 900 job cuts across its European sites, but remains tight lipped on whether there will be any UK redundancies. The restructure is part of the group's drive to move production to lower-cost...

HarperCollins to use only recycled.(HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. to make use of recycled paper)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... HarperCollins UK has announced a major environmental drive after a survey of 1,500 UK book buyers found that 94% are concerned about the environment. The research, which was commissioned by the UK-based book publisher, found that 84% would...

SEM quadruples capacity with S40.(Komori Lithrone S40)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... SEM has quadrupled capacity after completing its initial pounds 3m investment programme with the installation of a six-colour Komori Lithrone S40 at its newly-built 4,000m2 site. The bespoke envelope printer, based in Spondon, Derbyshire,...

In brief: Haven Colourprint produces calendar.(Calendar)
May 3, 2007... Haven Colourprint UK has produced a calendar with photographer Kiran Ridley. The tax-year calendar runs from April 2007 to March 2008 Managing director of the Welsh printer Karl Long said: 'We intended to produce a colourful and imaginative...

In brief: Sale of FPS pushes up Goss International's sales.
May 3, 2007... Goss International's sales of its specialist newspaper press, the Flexible Printing System (FPS), have helped push up the firm's turnover for a third consecutive year. The US-owned press and finishing kit manufacturer has reported sales of...

In brief: Impact Publishing and Print Forum Wales to run course.
May 3, 2007... Impact Publishing and Print Forum Wales are to run a 'Greening the Supply Chain' course to help firms manage the print production supply chain, investigate new technologies and challenge long-held assumptions The event, to be held in Swansea on...

In brief: LPC Printing switches to Fujifilm's Brillia.(Fujifilm Graphic Systems)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... LPC Printing has switched to Fujifilm's Brillia HD Pro-T thermal processless plate. The Hampshire-based corporate printer said it was keen to move to processless platemaking as it wanted to completely get rid of chemistry and the waste that a...

In brief: Potts accredited with FSC & PEFC certifications.
May 3, 2007... Potts, the print and packaging firm based in Cramlington, Northumberland, has been accredited with FSC and PEFC certifications This is in addition to ISO 14001 for environmental management, ISO 9001 for quality management and OHSAS 18001 for...

In brief: Everydayprint launches online marketing arm.
May 3, 2007... Everydayprint has launched an online marketing arm, Everydayweb The division will focus on high-quality commercial websites, creating bespoke e-commerce campaigns. Jason Walker (pictured), managing director of the Macclesfield-based firm, said:...

In brief: Clarification.(Correction notice)
May 3, 2007... PrintWeek would like to make it clear that DRS was the printer of the affected Scottish postal ballots, which is a separate entity from the Electoral Reforms Services (ERS), which was contracted to manage the postal ballot

Wyndeham restructure goes on as another 30 jobs in question.
May 3, 2007... Wyndeham Impact has become the latest site to be targeted in the group's on-going restructure, which is believed to have claimed up to 370 jobs so far. Consultations have now begun with 30 staff at the company's Basingstoke plant, which is...

Polestar combines its specialist print arms.(Polestar Group)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... Polestar is to create a new pounds 45m division by combining three of its specialist printing services. Applied Solutions has absorbed Wheatons and Direct Businesses. The three will now work under Derek Kemp, who has been appointed managing...

Life 'n' Times.(celebrations of William Gibbons and Sons )(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... Midlands printer William Gibbons has produced a reproduction of the first issue of Yorkshire Life as part of the magazine's 60th anniversary. The 36pp souvenir magazine, which was originally printed by Derby-based Harpur & Sons in 1946, comes...

Max Factor.
May 3, 2007... David Suchet is to star as media tycoon Robert Maxwell in a one-off BBC2 drama to be broadcast tomorrow night. Written by Bafta-nominated Craig Warner, Maxwell dramatises events that led to his downfall and subsequent drowning in 1991. During...

Sakurai reveals details of low-cost SRA1 press.(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... Sakurai has announced the shipping date and pricing of its new SRA1 press, which it claims will come in at around a third of the price of a similarly spec'd four-colour B1 Heidelberg. The sub-pounds 500,00 OL-496 SD was unveiled at an open...

Not so green.(Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd. introduced bags which can be reused)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... Printers fearing their sales might be blighted by Anya Hindmarch's 'I'm not a Plastic bag' have probably got a wry smile on their faces. It was revealed last week that the bag, launched by Sainsbury's in 450 of its stores, was actually made in...

AB Co ploughs pounds 2m into new site and kit since Wellans merger.(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... AB Co has made a pounds 2m investment in new machinery and purchasing its premises in Batley, West Yorkshire. The move finalises the merger of AB Co and Wellans Studios, which AB Co purchased four years ago. AB Co rounded off its...

Aspect to offer B2 with SM 74.
May 3, 2007... B3 Heidelberg house Aspect Press has moved into B2 production with the installation of a five-colour Speedmaster SM 74 perfector. The London-based firm believes that offering its direct mail customers the ability to print 8-up rather than...

Guardian wins big at awards.(Guardian Print Centre was named Newspaper Printer of the Year)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... The Guardian swept the board at last week's Newspaper Awards, winning a hatful of gongs for its print facilities' use of colour and their environmental credentials. At the event at London's Park Lane Hilton last week, the newspaper, which...

Union locks horns with Pureprint over salaries.
May 3, 2007... Industrial action at Pureprint Group has been narrowly avoided after employees made a last-minute U-turn over a potential ban on overtime. Some employees at Pureprint Group, which is the parent company of East Sussex Press and Beacon...

Amicus sets up Crown forum.
May 3, 2007... Amicus and can-making giant Crown Packaging UK have agreed to set up a joint management and union information and consultation forum. The agreement covers around 3,000 of the firm's UK employees, over 15 manufacturing sites. Workers include...

Reader reaction: Does the industry need a northprint for the south?
May 3, 2007... PRINT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY - Nigel Cliffe, managing director, Cliffehanger 'As we are in the North, I don't think that the industry needs a similar event to Northprint in the South. I have no strong opinion either way, but I do think...

2020 Vision conference to demand fresh blood.(trends in printing sector)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... This month's 2020 Vision conference will call for more fresh blood from other industries to ensure the print sector's future. Vision in Print chief executive Richard Gray will also use the conference to reveal that, according to sector...

New label set to show print's carbon output.
May 3, 2007... The UK print industry could be set for a new environmental scheme that will show the extent of the carbon footprint of a printed product. The eco-label campaign, which has been put forward by the environmental working group fronted by the...

Unique invests in Stitchmaster.(Unique Printflo Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... B2 commercial printer Unique Printflo has purchased a Heidelberg Stitchmaster ST100-4 saddle-stitcher, as it celebrates its first anniversary in business. Director Tony Humblestone said: 'Four stations covers most of the work we do. We...

Legal Notices.
May 3, 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 Circular...

Pre-media: Compose signs deal to expand across Europe.(Compose System signs a distribution deal with Tetenal)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... Compose System is targeting overseas growth after signing a pan-European distribution deal with German-based company Tetenal. Compose, which has its European headquarters in Kent, said that the deal, signed on 16 April, proves the merits of...

Pre-media: Duo forms repro firm for SMEs in Liverpool.
May 3, 2007... An engineer and designer have joined forces and set up a trade repro operation to service SMEs in the Liverpool area. Wirral-based Graphic Output began trading last month, having been established by marketing and design consultant Carl...

Pre-media: Agfa workflow latest to incorporate APPE.
May 3, 2007... Agfa Graphics has revealed that it will be incorporating the Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE) into the latest release of its ApogeeX workflow. ApogeeX 4.0, which is due for release in June, is the third workflow to come out in support of APPE,...

Pre-media: Kodak on show.
May 3, 2007... Kodak GCG is gearing up for the first open house at its recently re-equipped north London showroom, which was unveiled last month following a six-week upgrade and redesign programme. The showroom, which is located at the firm's Watford...

Inca expects new large-format Onset to put pressure on screen.(Inca Digital Printers Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... Inca Digital is aiming to put the squeeze on the screen market, with the launch of its high-speed digital UV flatbed printer Onset. The large-format inkjet machine was unveiled to customers at its Cambridge facility last week and targets...

Mask increases its book printing capability with Varioprint 6250.
May 3, 2007... Mask Documents has added an Oce VarioPrint 6250 to its raft of digital presses as it bids to increase capacity. The London-based print-on-demand company invested in the 250ppm press to reduce lead times and increase revenue. Most of...

Infotec to keep Kodak account.
May 3, 2007... Infotec, previously Danka Europe, is to continue its partnership with Kodak despite its sale to Ricoh. According to Infotec UK marketing manager Philippe Chapel, the Ricoh division will continue to sell products such as the Digimaster and...

Xerox adds modules to ProfitAccelerator.
May 3, 2007... Xerox is to expand its ProfitAccelerator business development products with three programmes designed to help customers sell digital print, boost profits and expand into the book market. The firm has enhanced its ProfitQuick financial...

Perfect Bindery hooks up with Loveshaw as boxmaker agent.
May 3, 2007... Post-press supplier Perfect Bindery Solutions has teamed up with a packaging equipment manufacturer to offer boxmaking kit for printers. The supplier has sealed a deal to work alongside Loveshaw Europe, a company that manufacturers...

Celloglas offers green laminate.(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... Decorative finishing specialist Celloglas has introduced an environmentally friendly alternative to OPP laminate. The Reading-based group has created CelloGreen, an eco-print laminate The over-lamination film and adhesive are recyclable...

Woods of Perth updates finishing department with cutter from GAE.(Graphics Arts Equipment)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... Commercial printer Woods of Perth has invested in new finishing kit following a move to bigger premises. The company purchased a Perfecta 115HTVC AutoCut CIP4 through Graphics Arts Equipment (GAE). Woods' new guillotine, an addition to...

WML Rebrand.(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... West Midlands Laminators has changed its name to WML after adding other services to laminating, feeling its name did not reflect all it had to offer. WML managing director Martin Smith (pictured right with fellow director Gary Swan) said: 'It...

M-real to take on extra 50,000 recycled tonnes.(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... M-real has installed a 'cut-size' production line at its New Thames Mill in Kent, which will produce an extra 50,000 tonnes of recycled office papers a year. It will also increase the amount of recovered fibre from UK waste processed by...

UPM Q1 profits grow by 20%.(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... UPM's 2007 Q1 results have shown a boost in operating profit, which has grown by 20% to pounds 150m (EUR221m), compared to pounds 126m for January to March last year. President and chief executive Jussi Pesonen said: 'Enhanced efficiency...

Europoint hires new marketing manager.
May 3, 2007... Europoint, the digital and signage supplies arm of PaperCo, has completed the reorganisation of its sales and marketing operation with the appointment of marketing manager Neil McCarthy. McCarthy, who joined from consultancy Red Elephant,...

In brief: Tullis Russell expands trucard portfolio.(Tullis Russell Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... Tullis Russell has expanded its trucard portfolio with the introduction of trucard 1 matt. It is a solid bleached sulphate board, fully coated on one side, which makes it suitable for print and packaging applications. The Fife-based papermaker...

In brief: Stora Enso secures land for new mill.
May 3, 2007... Stora Enso has secured land for a new mill in China after reaching an agreement with Beihai City Government in Guangxi. It will provide Stora Enso with 250 hectares of industrial land. The purchase price is around pounds 18m (EUR27m)....

In brief: Arctic Paper's Arctic the Silk is certified.(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... Arctic Paper's Arctic the Silk, which is made at the Hafrestroms mill in Sweden, has been certified to the ISO 12647 print quality standard. Customer technical service manager Anders Fransson said: 'More and more of our customers are asking for...

In brief: James McNaughton Group creates Food for Thought.
May 3, 2007... James McNaughton Group has created Food for Thought, part of a marketing drive to promote the merchant's graphic board grades Marketing director Tony Porter said it enables customers to view the print results achievable on three of McNaughton's...

In brief: Ziegler Papier to stage competition for fourth time.
May 3, 2007... Ziegler Papier will stage 'Ziegler's best art & print work' competition for the fourth time this year. The Swiss firm will be looking for international print and design professionals that have made use of Ziegler papers for creative print work

In brief: Domtar announces agreement with WWF-Canada.
May 3, 2007... Domtar, the North American producer of speciality and fine papers, has announced a co-operation agreement for forest conservation with WWF-Canada. It solidifies their joint commitment to ensure the long-term conservation of the Canadian Boreal...

Contract update.
May 3, 2007... Cooper Clegg has printed a new look magazine for online fashion retailer Asos.com. Contract publisher Seven Squared revamped the magazine and increased its pagination from 68pp to 100pp. The title will be distributed in 380,000 copies of...

Client audit: Brilliant publications.(Company overview)
May 3, 2007... Founded in 1993 by two teachers who felt there was a gap in the market for properly written and well-designed teaching materials, Brilliant Publications produces more than 130 titles aimed at children up to 14 years old. With more than 50...

Editorial: Enticing workers takes more than just money.(Editorial)
May 3, 2007... Show me the money! OK, maybe that's a bit strong, but in the BPIF salary survey, that's pretty much what more than 230 print firms did (pp28-30). The report, of which we've only published a selection of the most interesting snippets,...

Comment: Commemorating 50 years of EEC.(European Economic Community)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... Few will have failed to notice that the European Economic Community celebrates a half-century of existence this year. Two politicians provided the principal impetus for the European movement, namely Jean Monnet (1888-1979) and Paul Henri Spaak...

Comment: Technically speaking - Expensive trade shows may fade out as vendors investigate alternatives.
May 3, 2007... Following last week's Northprint, I began to think about the long-term future of trade shows. Of course, it's no coincidence that I'd just attended the three-day Xerox Forum in Rome, which encompassed four separate conferences and managed...

Analysis: Profile - First4Print finishing.
May 3, 2007... Fledgling finishing firm keeps it in the family to find its feet in just four years. The Blackburn-based start-up has a turnover of pounds 6.2m and has expanded from five to 63 staff. First4Print Finishing was started up four years ago by...

News Analysis: Northprint - Exhibitors reap rewards in Harrogate.
May 3, 2007... But claims of it being too regional may open the market to a southern spin-off, finds Simon Nias. Northprint, the bi-annual descent on Harrogate by the great and the good of the print industry, came off without a hitch last week as the...

Salary Special: BPIF survey - Putting pay in perspective.
May 3, 2007... While wages may be above the national average, the print industry needs an image makeover and more training to attract young blood. 'A fair day's wage for a fair day's work'. This was the old union demand, but in an era when the union's...

Product Portfolio: Product of the week - Durst Rho 600 Pictor.(Product/service evaluation)
May 3, 2007... Those contemplating the UV flatbed market could do worse than choosing this 1.6m-wide Rho, says Karen Charlesworth. Within large-format digital printing, UV flatbed technology is a relatively recent development - certainly it's only within...

Product Portfolio: Me & My ... Konica Minolta Bizhub 1050.
May 3, 2007... Maggy Buntin, operations manager at Sudbury-based Prolog, finds the scanner facility on her new Bizhub saves time getting proofs to clients. - What does it do? It's a full-production laser printer with stacker and stapling facility -...

Product Portfolio: Tried & tested - Busch ram punches.(Gerhard Busch)(Company overview)
May 3, 2007... Having found applications in labels, promotional print, packaging and digital print, the German punches are still going strong, says Lisa Berwin. The German firm Gerhard Busch was founded in 1952 and produced one of the first ram punches...

Product Portfolio: Buyers' Guide - Sheetfed presses SRA2 and above.(Product/service evaluation)
May 3, 2007... Increasing substrate capabilities mean large-format sheetfed is growing in uptake as it takes on formerly screen-printed work, writes Lisa Berwin. The large-format (LF) sheetfed market has enjoyed a significant upsurge in interest in...

Product Portfolio: Joanne's help line - Web blankets & digital training.(Digital Academy)(Product/service evaluation)
May 3, 2007... Joanne Gardner tracks down the solutions to your print problems. Q: As an ex-repro house that has moved into large-format, digital and display print, we need training for our new staff that is applicable to the changing world of print and...

Product Portfolio: Diary.(Calendar)
May 3, 2007... MAY SpectroEye/ColorQuality day Date: 16 May Venue: Walsall College, Walsall Price: pounds 250 Contact: 01625 871100, cwhitfield@xrite.com ADF & integrity seminar Date: 23 May Venue: National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham...

Product Portfolio: Technical tutorial - Standardising printing conditions.(four Ps of printing condition)(Product/service evaluation)
May 3, 2007... Standardising printing conditions involves the four Ps: philosophies, processes, presses and people. Colour management has had a tremendous impact on the industry, assisting in its transition to a more productive CIM (computer integrated...

EU Tenders.(tenders of printing industry)(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... 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: Spillages and spelling at Northprint expo.
May 3, 2007... Last week's Northprint event in Harrogate provided sales options galore for manufacturers and it seems early responses point to a good day being had by all. But there were one or two slip-ups as well. Duplo UK marketing manager Peter Jolly...

Post Script: Memory Lane.
May 3, 2007... 1 YEAR AGO Communisis was set to consolidate its direct mail production to its Leeds site and announced plans to cease production at Altrincham .. Wyndeham Graphics managing director and the group's largest individual shareholder Gavin...

Post Script: Print's Past - Talking postcards.(Brief article)
May 3, 2007... If you are sending a postcard home from your holidays, why not think about sending a talking postcard instead of a regular one? At the beginning of the 20th century, you were able to do just that: send your family a card with the...

Post Script: Q&A - Doug Gray, Cambrian Printers.
May 3, 2007... Doug Gray is operations director at Cambrian Printers. Aged 52, he has been in the print industry for 35 years. He is married and the proud father of two boys. His hobbies include golf and football. His worst memory is walking round the streets...

FSP lands pounds 16m home pack bonanza ..
May 10, 2007... Ambitious digital print firm First Sellers Pack (FSP) has landed a further pounds 16.3m worth of Home Information Pack (HIP) contracts. It means that the Fareham-based business now has a staggering pounds 61.3m worth of HIP business over...

... while gears up for share of the market.(VLM UK and FSM contracts)(Brief article)
May 10, 2007... VLM UK is aiming to go head-to-head with FSP for a share of the Home Information Pack (HIP) market after investing in a new site and eight digital presses. The Birmingham-based firm, which already prints brochures and literature for estate...

Tories push for debate on HIPs.
May 10, 2007... MPs are set to debate the introduction of HIPs ahead of their launch on 1 June, after pressure from the Conservatives. The Tories triggered a motion relating to HIP regulations and the debate in the House of Commons will take place next...

Stop Press.
May 10, 2007... Baroness Brenda Dean, the former general secretary of print union SOGAT, who is profiled in today's PrintWeek, is to be the speaker at this year's Printers' Charitable Corporation Annual Printing Lunch at Stationers' Hall, on Thursday 25...

SMEs dominate roster for print framework.
May 10, 2007... Names of 60 companies involved in the new cross-government print framework, which kicked off last month and could be worth up to pounds 1bn, have been revealed. The firms named to the four-year framework will be able to bid for work worth...

London Met reviewing print arm.(London Metropolitan University)(Brief article)
May 10, 2007... London Metropolitan University could be on the verge of closing down its in-house print services department in favour of outsourcing, it has emerged. A 30-day consultation period began last week with the department's 10 staff, while the...

Benson earns dual accreditation.(licensing of Benson Group)(Brief article)
May 10, 2007... Benson Group has joined the growing list of print's environmental leaders by achieving both FSC and PEFC accreditation. The firm, which has sites in Leicester and Newcastle, includes Marks & Spencer among its clients. Benson technical...

Duplo hails Northprint a success.
May 10, 2007... Duplo has hailed Northprint a success with on-stand sales topping pounds 185,000, in addition to pounds 300,000 worth of orders. Peter Jolly, UK marketing manager, said: 'Northprint was a tremendous show for us, not just in terms of visitor...

Mail Handling International commissions wind turbine.
May 10, 2007... Mail Handling International (MHI) has commissioned a wind turbine to power its IRIS mail routing platform. The turbine, which is situated on the roof of MHI's UK headquarters in Bristol, will on windy days generate 125% of the power required to...

Alden Group managing director to speak of setting up printing plant in Malaysia.
May 10, 2007... Alden Group managing director William Alden is to speak about his experiences of setting up a printing plant in Malaysia at the Vision in Print 2020 Conference on 24 May. Alden will be interviewed by Peter Day, business correspondent of the BBC...

Alwan Color Expertise to participate at newspaper printing show.
May 10, 2007... Alwan Color Expertise is to participate at newspaper printing show Newstec in Brighton on 11-12 June. The company will be demonstrating its CMYK Optimizer range of software, which enable newspaper publishers to standardise PDF files according...

Appointment at Trader Media Group.
May 10, 2007... Guardian Media Group has appointed John King as chief executive of Trader Media Group. Trader Media is one of Europe's largest specialist media companies and publishes the Auto Trader magazine and websites

RR Donnelley's US-based headquarters expected to hit target for the year.
May 10, 2007... RR Donnelley's US-based headquarters has said it expects to hit the high end of its earnings target for the year, after reporting results that exceeded Wall Street estimates for the first quarter