Print Week articles from November 2003

Print Week archives from November 2003

Wam!Net issues blamed on changeover.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Wam!Net's owner, Savvis, has attributed customers' problems to the transition of the business, and has promised to offer a better service once it's completed. European managing director Richard Warley recognised the firm hadn't done its...

Sun says it might close Watford site.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Sun Chemical is considering closing its Cow Lane plant in Watford as increasing environmental legislation and the poor economic climate in the UK hit business. In a letter to the plant's 120 employees, Richard Pettifor, Sun Chemical...

MD Berkeley to leave Printcafe.(managing director Robert Berkeley )
November 6, 2003... Printcafe Europe managing director Robert Berkeley and marketing manager Sharon Hodgson are to leave the firm. Nick Orem, founder of Logic, one of the firms that merged to form Printcafe, will move to the UK to head up Printcafe's European...

German firm in UK plant talks.(Maul-Belser )(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... A German print group is believed to have approached one of the UK's leading print education colleges for help with its plans to set up a UK gravure plant. The group is rumoured to be looking at three sites, including one in the Sheffield...

Williams Lea boosts exposure in Ireland with Pierce purchase.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Williams Lea has increased its presence in Ireland with the acquisition of Pierce Corporate Information Solutions (CIS), the outsourcing division of Ireland's RW Pierce Group. Pierce CIS was created in 2001 in a partnership between Williams...

Scitex reviews options for SDP.(Scitex Digital Printing)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Scitex is reviewing options for Scitex Digital Printing, including the sale of the high-speed ink-jet division that provides the bulk of its profits and revenues. The firm has appointed Goldman Sachs as advisers. The move follows renewed...

STOP PRESS: Xaar strengthens TTP arrangement.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Xaar has strengthened its arrangement with TTP to allow it to offer its OEMs in the US and Europe the latest ink-jet technology and specialist knowledge.

STOP PRESS: Picon survey reflects optimism.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Picon's third-quarter industrial trends survey reflects continued 'cautious optimism'. A fifth of suppliers surveyed were increasing capital expenditure on equipment, while the number spending less fell.

STOP PRESS: Deltor installs Lithrone.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Deltor Communications in Cornwall has installed a five-colour B2 Komori Lithrone 28 plus coater, which joins its B1 five-colour Lithrone 40 and single-colour Heidelberg. The Lithrone 28 has KMS workflow and CIP3 linking it to the 40.

STOP PRESS: Mirror Colour Print prints extra.
November 6, 2003... Watford's Mirror Colour Print, Trinity Mirror's newspaper arm, has been printing more than 30,000 extra copies of the tabloid version of the Independent for the Granada TV region.

STOP PRESS: Pindar Systems names chief executive.(Dave Roache )(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Pindar Systems, the developer of content management software, has named Dave Roache as chief executive. He was formerly vice president of sales for product information management software company Profile Systems and has held senior positions at...

New green law to affect paper firms.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Pulp and paper manufacturers were among 1,000 business across England and Wales contacted by The Environment Agency in the first stage of implementing a European-wide emissions trading scheme in the UK. The scheme, which is designed to cut...

Baulch hit by collapse of CVA.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Baulch Mailing Services' CVA has failed after a 'disastrous' few months of trading and it will go into liquidation. Accountants Hurst Morrison Thomson, which implemented the company voluntary arrangement in April 2002 (PrintWeek, 28 March...

PDG's Hibernia debt is insured.(Correction Notice)
November 6, 2003... In reference to our story on p4 of last week's issue ('Hibernia supplier deals safe', PrintWeek, 30 October), Print Design & Graphics of Newcastle would like us to point out that it is just one of a number of packaging suppliers to Hibernia...

Jarrold Printing doubles team.(two appointments)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Jarrold Printing has doubled its commercial sales team with two new appointments. Jon Shannon has joined the Norwich web offset printer from Pindar, where he worked in the firm's catalogue sales team. He becomes business development manager and...

SHORTS: CIP4 MIS working group.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... CIP4 has announced a new MIS working group to focus on the implementation and integration of JDF in MIS-managed environments. CIP4 will fast-track all applications for entry into the organisation from MIS vendors that are received before 30...

SHORTS: Crown Press moves premises.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Crown Press is moving to new premises in Glasgow's south side, doubling floor space to over 600 sq m, and will install a four-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster SM52E-4, a GTO-2 and a Prosetter 52 platesetter.

SHORTS: Windsor Print produces calendar.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Windsor Print in Tonbridge has produced the 2004 Countryfile calendar, with proceeds from sales going to BBC Children In Need. Presenter John Craven visited the firm with Pudsey Bear to film the first calendars rolling off the firm's B2...

SHORTS: Advanced Vision Technology growth.(revenue growth reported)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Advanced Vision Technology, the developer of inspection systems for print, reported its seventh consecutive quarter of growth with revenues up 34% year-on-year to pounds 2.6m (dollars 4.4m). Its order book also grew by 20%.

SHORTS: Gallus open day.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Gallus will hold an open day from 18-20 November at its Royston headquarters. Contact: 01763 242244.

SHORTS: Nirvana Print installs folder.(Heidelberg's Ti52 folder )(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Nirvana Print Solutions in Maidenhead is the first UK company to install Heidelberg's Ti52 folder with round pile delivery. It had previously outsourced 90% of its folding, but one week after installation it was able to fold a 400,000-run 4pp...

SHORTS: George Stewart wins award.(Integra Office Solutions Member of the Year Award )(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Edinburgh firm George Stewart & Co has won the Directory Member of the Year Award at Integra Office Solutions' national conference. Integra chief executive Rick Needle presented the award to sales director Terry O'Hare and business development...

SHORTS: Klose Integraf secretary general.(Beatrice Klose )(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Beatrice Klose is the new secretary general of Intergraf, the confederation of printing and allied industries. Klose had been assistant secretary general for two and a half years.

SHORTS: Bowne & Co announces loss.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Bowne & Co has announced a third-quarter loss of pounds 721,600 (dollars 1.21m), compared to a profit of pounds 2.77m in 2002. Sales rose 17% to pounds 149.2m.

SHORTS: Woods of Perth installs press.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Woods of Perth has installed its third Mitsubishi press. The five-colour B2 joins another five-colour and the firm's flagship eight-colour B1 4/4 convertible perfector.

SHORTS: APP signs deal.(Asia Pulp and Paper restructuring deal )(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) has signed a pounds 4.3bn (dollars 6.7bn) restructuring deal with some major creditor groups. The agreement has been signed with the export-credit agencies of nine countries, which hold about 40% of the pounds 4.3bn...

Greaves back in production after boiler explodes.(Polestar Greaves )(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Polestar Greaves in Scarborough has resumed full production after an explosion last Wednesday (29 October). Polestar had to divert the production of weekend newspaper supplements to other plants after the explosion at one of Greaves'...

Smurfit makes a loss as poor conditions tell.(Jefferson Smurfit Group)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Jefferson Smurfit Group's third-quarter losses reflect the 'challenging' environment in the packaging sector. The Irish group's net sales fell only 0.4% to pounds 805.3m (EUR1.18bn) compared to the same period in 2002. But it made a pre-tax...

Potts sells CCS to growing Dataform.(Dataform acquires CCS from Thomas Potts )(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Dataform has propelled itself up the print management league table with the buy-out of Thomas Potts subsidiary CCS. The 'multi-million' pound deal takes Newcastle-based Dataform's sales to pounds 40m - up pounds 10m on its projected...

Senator to get first Bograma 750s in the UK.(Senator Print Finishers )(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Senator Print Finishers is to take delivery of the UK's first two Bograma 750 punching units within the next two weeks. The Leicester-based firm visited the Friedheim International Open House last week to view the Swiss-made machine, which...

North keeps httprint focus after buyout.(Rob North)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Httprint Europe's print management arm will continue to focus on the mail order market after a buyout led by managing director Rob North. The deal, revealed by PrintWeek last month (PrintWeek, 23 October), also includes the acquisition of...

Extra ink hampers recycling efforts.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Paper recycling is becoming more difficult as paper mills become more sophisticated and the deinkability of recovered paper decreases, a new study claims. Newspapers now contain more coloured pictures, which means that more ink is being...

Multigraphics finalising sale.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Multigraphics in Halifax is in sale talks with a 'financial outfit'. The deal to sell the large-format screen and digital print firm will not be finalised until the end of November and joint managing director Benedict Clark has said he...

Games and Print deal agreed.(acquisition by Carta Mundi)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Games and Print Services, the Essex-based playing card manufacturer and trade finisher, has been bought by Belgian firm Carta Mundi. Sales director John Norwood said the 75-staff, pounds 3.5m-turnover firm would continue to operate...

Legal Notices.(Public Notice)
November 6, 2003... 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 Challenger Print Ltd...

Phoenix adds site as demand grows.(Phoenix Print Finishing)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Phoenix Print Finishing, PrintWeek's new Finishing Company of the Year, has taken on an extra building located yards from its existing Nottingham site while it searches for a new permanent base. The firm has moved its hand-finishing...

'Quebecor culture' to return.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Quebecor president and chief executive Pierre Karl Peladeau has promised to sort out the problems at the group's underperforming printing arm, Quebecor World, by 'reinstating the Quebecor culture'. 'We are highly disappointed once again...

Ink-jet bonds man lands in jail.(Graham Halksworth arrested for producing fake US bonds)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... A former forensic scientist has been sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of producing fake US government bonds worth pounds 1.4 trillion (dollars 2.3 trillion) using an ink-jet printer. Pensioner Graham Halksworth, of...

EU Tenders.
November 6, 2003... Please read the important notes at the foot of the page, as PrintWeek cannot supply any additional information or pass on your details. The tenders below are abridged. It is essential that you obtain a full copy of the tender before contacting...

Fuji extends reach with Litho signing.(Fujifilm Graphic Systems distribution agreement with Litho Supplies)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Fujifilm Graphic Systems has expanded its distribution network with the signing of the industry's largest independent supplier, Litho Supplies. Fujifilm Graphic Systems divisional director Keith Dalton said the deal marked the firm's...

Omnitek unveils SmartMove.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Omnitek has launched a pre-press workflow to compete with Dalim Twist and Agfa Apogee. The Cricklewood-based firm, run by ex-Crosfield researcher Surrinder Chita, has based SmartMove on the former Springtek SpringPS product for turning...

PPA to enforce use of PDF/X 1a.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... The PPA is allowing a period of grace for publishers and advertisers to take on board the new requirement for PDF/X 1a compliancy in pass4press version four. The new version was launched at last week's PPA Magazine Production Conference....

SHORTS: Taylor Brothers goes CTP.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Bristol commercial colour printer Taylor Brothers has gone CTP with a Creo Lotem 400 Quantum platesetter and Prinergy workflow running 20micron Staccato screening. Managing director Charles Taylor said the quality delivered by Staccato would be...

SHORTS: Northeast Press goes live.(Johnston Press using classified and advertising systems from Digital Technology International )
November 6, 2003... Johnston Press subsidiary Northeast Press has gone live on its upgraded editorial, classified and advertising systems from Digital Technology International (DTI). Northeast Press publishes daily and weekly newspapers including the Sunderland...

SHORTS: Esko-Graphics releases Adobe plug-in.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Esko-Graphics has released a new plug-in for Adobe Illustrator that allows users to bypass the need to flatten when importing files from Illustrator 9 and 10 into its FastLane for Packaging software. The plug-in exports a new EskoPrepFile...

SHORTS: Markzware and IO co-develop training.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Markzware and IO Technologies are to co-develop training for Markzware's FlightCheck Professional software. The training will be provided online using IO Technologies' olle learning tools including InfoFind, which allows content to be linked to...

SHORTS: Jane's Information Group to install system.(digital asset management system)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Jane's Information Group is to install a digital asset management system from Picdar to manage more than 100,000 images, PDFs and other digital files. The publisher will employ the Media Mogul system across titles including Jane's Defence...

SHORTS: Creo receives payment.(sale of stake in Printcafe)(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Creo has received pounds 13m (dollars 22.8m) in payment for its stake in Printcafe and an outstanding loan to its one-time acquisition target. The firm sold its remaining 4.7m common shares in Printcafe, which has been bought by Electronics For...

SHORTS: Prova software can drive printer.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Prova Digital software can also drive the Epson Stylus Pro 4000 ink-jet printer, which launched two weeks ago (PrintWeek, 23 October). Agfa, Best, Compose, Creo and Fuji Global Graphics RIPs are suitable too.

Xerox in European large-format push.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Xerox has set its sights on large-format print in Europe, and aims to triple its sales in this sector within three years to more than pounds 200m (EUR300m). Xerox Europe gave Valentin Govaerts, senior vice president of its Production...

Stralfors joins PrintCity DAG.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Stralfors is the latest company to join the PrintCity Digital Activity Group, which will show digital technology at next year's Drupa exhibition. Digital Activity Group chairman Thomas Opel said Stralfors, the Swedish-based supplier of...

Scitex returns to profit for Q3.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Scitex has returned to profitability and increased its revenues in the third quarter of 2003. The ink-jet printing developer turned last year's pounds 470,000 (dollars 800,000) net loss into a profit of pounds 3m. Revenues of pounds 42.2m...

SHORTS: Linx launches coder.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Linx Printing Technologies has launched the Xymark 300SL compact scribing laser coder for medium-speed production lines. The company said that the product, which uses steered-beam laser technology, would make laser coding more accessible to a...

SHORTS: Xerox to help charity.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Xerox is helping a social inclusion charity to set up a fully equipped commercial print room in Watford. The Industrial Therapy Organisation has installed a DocuColor 2045, a monochrome printer and booklet-making tools from Xerox, which will...

SHORTS: Presstek strengthens with appointments.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Presstek has strengthened its On-Press Business Unit with three key appointments. Scott Mitchell has joined as director of On-Press Consumables, with the remit to manage and develop Presstek's DI plate business for presses such as the...

SHORTS: Ryobi 3404DI press at heart.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... The Ryobi 3404DI press will be at the heart of Apex Digital Graphics' Digital Print Shop concept at the Digital Print World exhibition at London Olympia from 25-27 November. The firm will also exhibit the Screen Micra metal platesetter, the...

SHORTS: Graphic Arts Equipment to exhibit.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Graphic Arts Equipment will also be exhibiting at Digital Print World, demonstrating the 'new generation' of Horizon Touch-finishing bindery kit. Products will include the Stitchliner automated flat-sheet collate/saddlestitch/three-knife...

SHORTS: Rho 160 printer gives flexibility.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Durst says its new Rho 160 Plus large-format UV ink-jet printer will give customers more flexibility in colour management. The improvements compared to the Rhp 160 include full support for both RGB and CMYK, as well as new piezo electronics and...

SHORTS: Oce expands MICR capabilities.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Oce has expanded its magnetic image character recognition (MICR) capabilities with support now available for the 750II MICR, the VarioPrint 5000 family and the VarioStream 7000 series. The VarioPrint 5160 digital cut-sheet printer has also been...

CPI set to take up lead role in paper.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) says it is on schedule to become the paper industry's main body, and could welcome compatible associations into its membership (PrintWeek, 8 November 2002). CPI director general Dr Martin Oldman...

Holmen Paper profits halved.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Holmen Group's paper division has suffered from continuing weak conditions in the markets for newsprint and magazine papers. Holmen Paper's operating profits were cut in half to pounds 49m (SEK638m) for the first nine months of the year,...

Paper Pricewatch Cartonboard, November 2003.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 6, 2003... The cartonboard market is as 'quiet and stable' as ever, with the UK still in line with Europe, writes Rachel Barnes. Demand is 'fairly buoyant' due to the seasonal upturn in September and October. Although one producer expected...

SHORTS: Perivan White Dove uses Curtis.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Retreeve Pinpoint Saffron 280gsm from Curtis Fine Papers' Eco range has been used by Perivan White Dove to produce fashion designer Paul Smith's Christmas brochure.

SHORTS: Neusiedler launches light and coated.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Neusiedler will launch Color Copy light and Color Copy coated as part of its Color Copy range at Digital Print World from 25-27 November. Antalis, The PaperCo and Robert Horne, merchant stockists for Color Copy, will support Neusiedler on its...

SHORTS: Sappi launches Efficiency Award.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Sappi has formally launched the Sappi Print Media Efficiency Award, which is open to advertisers and ad agencies. The award will reward the campaign that has demonstrated its effectiveness in integrating print media in the most efficient way....

SHORTS: UPM-Kymmene to consolidate.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... UPM-Kymmene is to consolidate its Finnish paper industry research and development operations into its site at Lappeenranta by summer 2005. The company's R&D operations are currently located at Valkeakoski, Kuusankoski, Pietarsaari and...

SHORTS: James Cropper profits below expectations.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... James Cropper, the Kendal-based specialist papermaker, has said its full-year profits will be 'significantly below market expectations'. The group said its paper division continued to suffer from adverse trading conditions, and would report a...

SHORTS: Association and Symposium at Savoy.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... The British Wood Pulp Association and Hawkin Wright Symposium will be held on 13 November at the Savoy Hotel in London. Speakers will include Robert Horne group marketing director Bob Latham and CEPI forest director Bernard de Galambert....

SHORTS: James McNaughton showcase.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... James McNaughton Group has called on printers and designers to enter its McNaughton Review 2003 annual showcase. The theme for this year is Z003 as the awards ceremony will take place at London Zoo in March. The review celebrates outstanding...

Cradley rolls out first issue of Delicious food mag.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Cradley, the West Midlands web offset printer, has produced a new food magazine called Delicious for fledgling magazine publisher Seven Publishing. Cradley produced 250,000 of the 278mmx230mm perfect-bound magazines, which went on sale...

Print ad spend to rise, claims research body.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Print's share of the advertising pie should increase next year if advertising experts' predictions are accurate. The World Advertising Research Center's research director Colin Macleod said that in 2004 there should be a return to the kind...

Bemrose extends UK train contract.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... BemroseBooth has won a two-year extension to its contract with UK Train Operating Companies that will be worth 'several million' pounds over its lifetime. The Derby-based security print specialist has held the contract since 1996. The new...

Documedia to launch mobile print software.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... Documedia Solutions is to launch new products for just-in-time and on-demand print, including one that uses mobile communication technology. Marketing services director James Marsland said the company was close to completing beta testing...

COMMENT: Postal strikes, DM and minor Aussie celebs.(Editorial)
November 6, 2003... I've only received three pieces of mail in the last seven days. Two of them were credit card bills (wouldn't you just know that they'd make it through the picket lines) and the other was my contact lenses. Such a paltry post-bag is...

OPINION: Times are changing for proofing methods.(Editorial)
November 6, 2003... Significant technological developments in the past two decades have brought about a change in work practices in the print industry from analogue to digital. These changes have had a big impact on proofing. It was only a few years ago that the...

PROFILE: London Digital Printing Group - From variable to fashionable.
November 6, 2003... Tim and Nicholas Green's LDPG offers variable printing to vogue companies in Soho. Fashion may have its capricious side, but it does have one constant - things have to look as good as they possibly can. London Digital Printing Group (LDPG)...

WALLIS: Plymouth link-up and the birth of a training blueprint.(Brief Article)
November 6, 2003... It is generally accepted that a great deal needs to be done to promote printing as a career among young people to ensure that the industry gains its fair share of quality candidates. Any effort aimed at securing this objective is to be...

ANALYSIS: PPA hears magazine sector concerns.(Publishers Publicity Association)
November 6, 2003... PPA forum vote highlights industry's differing views on paper, recycling and profit issues. Publishers are divided on the issue of whether they should continue to force print prices down, according to the results of a live voting session...

At the movies.(printing industry portrayals in movies)
November 6, 2003... Print may be an unfashionable theme for the silver screen, but Paul Simpson revives some memorable moments Catch Steven Spielberg's film Catch Me If You Can if you've got the time. The movie, based on a true story about a counterfeiting...

Mailings on target.(Planet Arc campaigns against direct mail)
November 6, 2003... A campaign to curb the excesses of direct mail has attracted unlikely support, finds Jez Abbott Never before have two celebrities from down under taken so much interest in the affairs of the UK direct mail industry. But it is there before...

PRODUCT PORTFOLIO: Product of the Week - Horizon BQ-270.(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 6, 2003... Since its May launch, the Horizon BQ-270 has proved a hit with the digital print market, says Karen Charlesworth Automation in Horizon's range of adhesive binders has until recently been focused on the smaller end: automatic set-up has been...

PRODUCT PORTFOLIO: Me & My Machine - Akiyama J Print 44.
November 6, 2003... Cambridge University Press bought two Akiyamas that negotiate tricky stock with ease, finds Gordon Carson Cambridge University Press' (CUP) search for the right presses took three years from instigation to installation, but manufacturing...

PRODUCT PORTFOLIO: Buyers' Guide - Inks III.(Buyers Guide)
November 6, 2003... Picking sheetfed offset and screen process inks is down to the service on offer. Darryl Danielli takes a look Service is key in the inks sector. With manufacturers being increasingly cut to the bone on price it's virtually the only area...

JO'S HELP LINE: Jo Francis tracks down the solutions to your technical troubles.
November 6, 2003... Thermo-Fax finder My wife is a keen amateur textile printer, and as a result I've discovered that there's a thriving trade in a 3M copier from the 1950s-70s called Thermo-Fax. This was a dead-end technology that was killed off by dry toner...