Print Week articles from October 2006

Print Week archives from October 2006

Rumours abound as unnamed buyer makes a play for St Ives.(St. Ives Laboratories Inc)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... St Ives has been approached over a possible buy-out, heralding the start of a process that could lead to the biggest print deal since Astron's sale to RR Donnelley last year. In a statement to the stock exchange last Thursday, the UK's...

Andy Franks reveals his surprise Emap exit.(Andy Franks leaves from Emap group )(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Emap group production director Andy Franks, one of the most influential print buyers in the UK, is to make a surprise exit from the industry to take a 'career break'. His decision to leave the publisher follows the promotion of his partner...

Williams Lea to buy pounds 130m TSO.(Mergers and acquisitions)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Williams Lea is understood to be poised to buy The Stationery Office (TSO) in a deal reported to be worth pounds 130m. National newspapers this week claimed Deutsche Post-owned Williams Lea is now the only bidder for the Norwich-based...

Stop Press.(Xerox has acquired with data software company XMPie)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Xerox has acquired variable data software company XMPie for pounds 28.6m (dollars 54m)... The top 100 UK print companies have increased in value, according to a study by Plimsoll Publishing. A total of 57 companies had improved their...

BAPC, human resource firm offer payroll help.(British Association for Print and Communication)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... The BAPC has used its annual conference to unveil a discounted managed payroll service and to reveal this year's BAPC Award winners. The organisation has struck a partnership with Ceridan, one of the largest human resource outsourcing...

Macfarlane acquires Bloomfield.(Mergers and acquisitions)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Packaging giant Macfarlane Group has bought Gloucester-based Bloomfield Supplies in a bid to expand its reach into the south-west. The deal is worth pounds 2m with Macfarlane to pay an initial consideration of pounds 1.1m. Bloomfield is a...

Anton site move starts in earnest.(direct mail company)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Anton Group has begun its move to a 15,000m2 site, where it will run a new 12-colour press. Heidelberg has taken on the plant move to Basildon, Essex, which will not be completed until January 2007. The direct mail company said it had...

In Brief: Appointment at Apex Digital Graphics.
October 5, 2006... Ryobi press distributor Apex Digital Graphics has boosted its sales team by appointing Mike Kemp. Kemp, who joined after five years with Heidelberg, will be based in Warrington and will cover the Midlands and the north-west.

In Brief: Pira launches new course to help printers.(launched a new course)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Pira has launched a new course designed to help printers understand the estimating and pricing process. The organisation claimed the two-day event, which will take place on 23-24 November, would 'increase your sales and make your business more...

In Brief: New Heidelberg plant in Shanghai.
October 5, 2006... Heidelberg has officially inaugurated its newly opened assembly plant in Shanghai, China. The 5,000m2 facility, which is based in the industrial area of Qingpu, is part of a pounds 6.7m (EUR10m) investment. Production began on the site in...

In Brief: Oce posts disappointing figures for third-quarter results.(Digital Document Systems division)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Oce has posted mixed third-quarter results with disappointing figures for its Digital Document Systems (DDS) division. Operating income improved by 27% to pounds 11.2m (EUR16.7m), but revenues in the DDS division lagged behind. Its revenues...

In Brief: Alderson Brothers Print Group opens new sales office in Great Ormond Street.(opened a new London sales office in Great Ormond Street)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... The Alderson Brothers Print Group, which has its headquarters in West Moseley, has opened a new London sales office in Great Ormond Street. Managing director Peter Alderson said: 'While a number of print businesses have decided to close their...

In Brief: UPM Shotton wins Regional Best Factory Award.(Best Supply Chain Award)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... UPM Shotton has won the Regional Best Factory Award for the Midlands and Wales region at the Best Factory Awards. The paper mill also picked up an award for Best Process Plant and was highly commended in the Best Supply Chain Award for its...

Communisis scoops billing deal for Centrica worth pounds 28m a year.
October 5, 2006... Communisis has won its biggest billing contract and the second major deal for its new Liverpool hub with a lucrative seven-year print contract for British Gas owner Centrica. Under the contract, worth pounds 28m per year, Communisis will...

Ex-Astron CEO Mitchell returns as chair of M2.(chief executive officer)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Former Astron chief executive David Mitchell made a low-key return to print last month as chairman of document support services provider M2 Digital. Mitchell, who was unavailable for comment as PrintWeek went to press, revealed last April...

Irish group signs up as first to install Goss FPS.(Flexible Printing System)(Goss Graphic Systems Inc contracts)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Goss has finally sold its first Flexible Printing System (FPS), the radical low-rise newspaper press that it launched at Drupa 2004. Irish publisher Independent News & Media, which publishes The Independent and more than 175 newspapers and...

Ward Knowles acquires print firm and 10-colour MAN press.
October 5, 2006... Accrington-based Ward Knowles has acquired Manchester colour printer Armin & Butler (A&B) for an undisclosed amount and signed a deal for the UK's first 10-colour MAN Roland 500 press. Ward Knowles sales director Tony Scott said: 'We've...

Potts plans more kit investment as it moves to new pounds 4m factory.(facilities of Potts Printers)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Potts Printers has revealed plans to up capacity with a new press, as the company undertakes a pounds 4m move into a new 5,000m2 plant. The move to the Cramlington, Northumberland site will complete at the start of November and will, the...

BPIF halves cost of Salary report.(British Printing Industries Federation)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... The BPIF is to offer non-members a 50% discount on its annual Salary Survey report, on the condition that they participate in the survey. Non-members can buy the survey, which gives information on salaries and benefits and is produced in...

All grown up.(printer Pensord is celebrating 20 years since the birth of one of its major contracts)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Specialist magazine printer Pensord Press is celebrating 20 years since the birth of one of its major contracts. Design Week, the weekly magazine for the design sector, launched in 1986 as a relatively small weekly and in 20 years has developed...

Yorkshire's Axis wins arts work.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... A new printing company in West Yorkshire has bagged arts clients that include Opera North, the Northern Ballet Theatre and Newcastle Theatre Royal. Axis, based in Brighouse, began trading at the start of August with an eight-colour B1...

DM industry says clever data can rescue image.(direct mail)
October 5, 2006... Direct mail printers have hit back regarding the industry's image after the sector came under a barrage of criticism in the national press last week. Industry figures have claimed that improved customer targeting and intelligent use of...

Simpson Group to teach clients.
October 5, 2006... North East printer Simpson Group has spent pounds 33,000 setting up a print academy course for its clients. The Tyne and Wear firm's course, which began last week, will last until May 2007. It is aimed at point-of-sale managers from the...

Reader reaction: How would a 1,000ppm inkjet head affect book-printing?
October 5, 2006... KIT SUPPLIER Peter Bray, national wide-format sales manager, Litho Supplies 'With several key manufacturers such as Agfa, Fuji, Screen and DuPont investing in inkjet technology, I feel that the impact for the future would be...

Williams Lea celebrates opening of pounds 10m plant.(Williams Lea Group Ltd)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Williams Lea has officially opened its new pounds 10m factory and revealed that operations director Keith Leeks is to move to a newly created pan-European role. The 6,500m2 factory in Wymondham, Norfolk, has been operational since June...

New director at Adare Group.(appointments)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... The Adare Group has finalised its nine-strong executive team by appointing Jeremy Shaw as group technology and solutions director. Shaw had filled the same role at Adare Lexicon since 2003, prior to which he held senior information systems...

Guiding light.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Beacon Press has boosted its creative credentials by printing 80,000 copies of the 160pp London Design Festival guide. The event was held during the last two weeks of September. Festival director Ben Evans said: 'We appointed Beacon because of...

Legal Notices.
October 5, 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 Grovewood Publishing Ltd...

Celeritas appeals to Whitehall to switch to paperless proofs.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... A UK repro and typesetting company is pushing for Whitehall to make a wholesale move to soft proofing after launching its own online file-checking service. Celeritas, based in Kingston, Surrey, set up its PDF-based On-Line service earlier...

Gradual links with Markzware to provide online pre-flighting tool.
October 5, 2006... Publishing software developer Gradual Software has teamed up with pre-flight specialist Markzware to improve automation in its FlightCheck packages. Under the collaboration, Gradual's PowerSwitch will accept jobs submitted through...

Council inplant buys A52 CTP.(Wigan Metropolitan Council)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Wigan Metropolitan Council has been named as the first buyer of a Heidelberg Suprasetter A52 platesetter. The investment follows the council inplant's first move into four-colour offset with the installation of a Print-master PM 52 last...

F1 gets Creative.(Alfol)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... London-based repro house F1 Colour has been appointed to handle B2B publisher Alfol's pre-press. F1 managing director Ken Harrison said: 'It's been a good summer for us - we've picked up several pieces of business, mainly from smaller...

EFI joins inkjet market with Jetrion purchase.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... EFI has made its first in-roads into the industrial inkjet market, snapping up Jetrion for around pounds 20m (dollars 40m). Jetrion is a subsidiary of the Flint Group and manufacturers inkjet products for the label and packaging industries....

Oce adds to its VarioPrint line.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Oce has launched a number of additions to its VarioPrint range that it claims provide 'a new level of productivity, reliability and flexibility'. The VarioPrint Titanium family, which targets the commercial, corporate and transactional...

VIVA SCREENPRINT.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Large-format printer Viva Imaging has installed the UK's first DuPont Cromaprint 22-UV digital press. The Nottingham-based firm, whose customers include Powergen, Capital One Bank and Ikea, said the new kit would help it target traditional...

In Brief: Xerox scientists develop imaging font.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Xerox scientists have developed a 'MicroText' speciality imaging font, which measures at just 1/100th of an inch high. The tiny imaging font was designed to make it harder to forge valuable documents, such as birth certificates and cheques.It...

In Brief: Domino Printing Sciences launches company-wide strategic initiative.
October 5, 2006... Domino Printing Sciences has launched a company-wide strategic initiative called the 'plus Programme'. According to the company, the objective of the support programme is to 'deliver solutions aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of...

In Brief: Caprin buys MGI Meteor printer.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Caprin has bought an MGI Meteor DP40 Pro digital printer. The company, based in St Albans, purchased the machine to help it produce 'cost-effective, short-run work'. Caprin joint managing director Ajay Gudka said: 'Only an expert could tell the...

In Brief: Appointment at Fespa.(appointment of Marcus Timson)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Fespa has appointed Marcus Timson to the newly created role of group commercial manager. Timson (pictured), previously event director at the exhibiting show, will report directly to exhibition director Frazer Chesterman. Timson said: 'I look...

In Brief: Print4London.com to exhibit at Digital Print World under own brand.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Print4London.com, part of the Formara group, will be exhibiting at Digital Print World under its own brand on stand 405, not as Formara (DPW Preview, 28 September). Print4London.com will use the show later this month to promote its...

Rowe trials kit as part of plan to boost sales.(Antony Rowe Ltd acquired with Xerox Corp.)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... CPI subsidiary Antony Rowe, which specialises in on-demand book production, is busy trialling new kit as part of a pounds 1m investment plan designed to double turnover within the next three years. The Eastbourne-based company, which has...

Prolog studies PiP for clients.(Pricing in Proportion)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Forward planning and constant assessment of customers' postal needs are key to minimising the impact of Pricing in Proportion (PiP), according to Prolog. The fulfilment firm's associate director, Tim Logan, said it had undertaken detailed...

MM kit allows Alpha to extend offering.(Muller Martini)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Bradford-based Alpha Media Solutions has made its first inroads into stitching to boost its trade finishing offering. The firm, which moved to a new 3,000m2 site in August, has installed two reconditioned Muller Martini Bravo stitchers: a...

In Brief: Beck Print Finishers to instal Horizon VAC PowerCollator SPF-20.
October 5, 2006... Beck Print Finishers is hoping to tackle tighter margins and smaller print runs with the installation of a Horizon VAC PowerCollator SPF-20, which replaces a standalone collator and stitcher. Managing director Kevin Beck (pictured) said: 'Our...

In Brief: Encore Machinery to debut high-speed Pit Stop at Digital Print World this month.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Encore Machinery will debut its high-speed Pit Stop digital creaser/perforator configured online to the heavy-duty, four-plate, B3-format MB38 folder at Digital Print World later this month. Until now, the Pit Stop has only been linked inline...

In Brief: London Borough of Newham instals KAS Mail-master 465HS enveloper.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... The London Borough of Newham has brought all its mailing and fulfilment work in-house with the installation of a KAS Mail-master 465HS enveloper. Previously, all work was outsourced, except for the distribution of cheques, which were processed...

In Brief: Jimminson Packaging Services expands tray forming facility.
October 5, 2006... Jimminson Packaging Services of Nottingham has expanded its tray forming facility with the installation of a third Heiber & Schroder. The new H&S CE850-2 complements the trade finisher's existing CE850-2 twin lane and a CE650 single lane.

In Brief: Acorn Print buys automated combination folder.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Acorn Print in the West Midlands has bought a Horizon AFC-546 automated B2 combination folder from Graphic Arts Equipment. Acorn works manager Duncan Newman said: 'The B3 market seems to be saturated, so we have invested in a B2 press and, in...

Paper groups to raise recycling benchmark.(recycling of paper)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... A total of 12 European paper industry groups, including CEPI, ENPA and FAEP, have joined forces to increase Europe's recycling target to 66% by 2010. The ambitious paper recycling target would mean that around two tonnes of paper would be...

M-real officially fires up its biomass plant.(facilities of M-real Corp)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... M-real has officially launched a biomass combined heat and power plant at its Hallein mill in Austria. The paper merchant and manufacturer built the plant in response to lower targets for CO2 emissions and said it hoped to promote 'green'...

Belgian paper plant to close.
October 5, 2006... Arjowiggins has announced plans to close the carbonless copy paper operations at its Nivelles plant in Belgium. Following the closure, the site's activities would be transferred to the firm's second Belgian plant in Virginal, while...

In Brief: Appointment at PaperCo.(appointment of Chris Stockley)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... PaperCo has appointed Chris Stockley as group finance director. Stockley joined the merchant in November 2004 as finance director of its southern region and a year later became deputy finance director. He will report to managing director...

In Brief: Appointments at Howard Smith Paper.(appointment of Nick Linstow and Danny Knaggs)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Howard Smith Paper has appointed two members to its business papers management team. Nick Linstow, who has been with the firm for three years, has taken over the position of business papers brand manager from Chris Smith, who is joining...

In Brief: UPM finalises rebuilds of two paper machines.
October 5, 2006... UPM has finalised the rebuilds of two paper machines at its fine paper mills: German-based Nordland Papier and Papeteries de Docelles in France. Both mills have taken up production of woodfree uncoated paper on a PM 1 at Docelles and a PM 3 in...

In Brief: James Cropper creates computer simulation.(James Cropper has created a computer simulation )(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... James Cropper has created a computer simulation of its packaging activities to produce a 'what-if' scenario for different product volumes, product mixes, breakdowns and process efficiencies. Aetna UK has prepared a solution based on four...

In Brief: UPM Finesse ranked leading woodfree coated brand.
October 5, 2006... UPM Finesse has been ranked as the leading woodfree coated brand among heatset web offset printers by the Brand Equity Survey of Opticom International. The research, conducted from March to April, revealed that the brand had shown consistently...

In Brief: Stora Enso's plans to shut down factory in France met with opposition.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Stora Enso's plan to shut down its factory in Corbehem, France, has been met with protest from several dozen paper workers and local officials. The demonstrators called on the Finnish Embassy in Paris to put pressure on the firm to sell two...

Contract update.
October 5, 2006... United Biscuits (UB) has appointed Boxes GH to redesign and produce the packaging for its McVitie's Victoria biscuits selection pack. UB decided to switch the packaging for the 400g pack from a tin to a high-quality carton, printed on...

Client audit: Tesco.(Company overview)
October 5, 2006... In 1929, the very first Tesco was opened in Edgware, North London, by founder Jack Cohen, who combined his surname with 'Tes', a partner in his tea supplier's firm, to create the now famous store name. UK print operations manager Bob...

Comment: Lawrence Wallis - Changing standards of literacy.(Brief article)(Column)
October 5, 2006... As a confirmed grumpy old man, I wish to moan about the declining literacy standards of school-leavers. Manifestation of the problem reflects in inept spellings, erratic grammar, and clumsy composition. Recently the Specialist Schools and...

Editorial: Darryl Danielli - Support your industry and you can gain too.(British Association for Print and Communication)(Print Congress 2006)(Editorial)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... What can we do to support the industry more and make the most our resources? That's the question that I was asking myself during last weekend's BAPC conference, which followed last week's news that the BPIF has had to postpone its Print...

Comment: Technically speaking - Simon Eccles - Going green doesn't have to cost the earth - it could help you save money.(Column)
October 5, 2006... At last week's Labour party conference, the Prime Minister pledged to double Britain's commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions under the Kyoto protocol. Not only will he save the world, but he's going to solve the Middle East crisis...

Profile: Analysis - Norman Revill - One of print's big guns takes his place at the head of the MAN Roland table.
October 5, 2006... Revill's in for the long haul and plans to use his sales experience to grow the kit giant's UK arm. He's been nicknamed Sir Norman of Newark by one customer, travels with distinctive personalised luggage and is said to have begun his sales...

Analysis: St Ives - Poised for MBO or competitive takeover.
October 5, 2006... A low share price and active market have stoked speculation on the firm's future. News last Thursday that St Ives had been approached regarding a potential bid set tongues wagging across the printing industry over who could be behind the...

League table: Book printers - Push button literature.(print-on-demand)(rankings of book printers)
October 5, 2006... Digital technology has created on-demand single-run book printing. As online ordering grows, could bookshops be on the way out, asks Noli Dinkovski. Picture the scene - you're sitting on a railway platform waiting for a train to take you...

Product of the week: Adobe Acrobat 8.(Portable document format)
October 5, 2006... Extended pre-flighting allows for closer examination of PDFs and automated error correction, says Simon Eccles. Another year, another Acrobat upgrade, although Adobe's announcement of Acrobat 8 is actually a few months late in its usual...

Me & My ... Esko Kongsberg i-XL44.(Interview)
October 5, 2006... For Gary Carr, managing director of large-format printer Graf, choosing his cutting table was a no-brainer, according to Nosmot Gbadamosi. What is it? It's a cutting table with two types of software so that it can accurately cut...

Tried & Tested: MAN Roland R300.(Product/service evaluation)
October 5, 2006... Its ground-breaking perfector technology has required little improvement in a decade and the ProServ option gives it a longer life, says Lisa Berwin. The MAN Roland R300's popularity has held steady since it was launched at Ipex in 1993....

Buyers Guide:Coated board.
October 5, 2006... As coated board adapts to satisfy an increasingly eco-aware public, the already vast range of products keeps on growing, explains Lisa Berwin. Coated board is used for a great range of products, from glossy magazines to fish finger boxes....

Philip's Help Line: FM screening and full-colour A5.
October 5, 2006... Philip Chadwick tracks down the solutions to your technical troubles. Q: I'm hoping you can help me. We are a print management company looking for a supplier in West Yorkshire that can print either using stochastic or hybrid technologies....

TECHNICAL TUTORIAL CONSUMABLES FOR DIGITAL PRINT.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Printers and designers are prone to wax lyrical about their choice of paper for a job, but chances are they will be focused on one of two things - aesthetic and creative qualities, or the price. But with digital print, there are other issues to...

Diary.(Calendar)
October 5, 2006... OCTOBER IfraExpo 2006 Date: 9-12 October Venue: RAI Exhibition Centre, Amsterdam Price: pounds 34 (EUR50) for one day, pounds 88 (EUR130) for all days Contact: www.ifra.com PRINT FOR BUSINESS EXHIBITION Date: 11...

EU tenders.
October 5, 2006... 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: Model print staff keep the pace in 10km race.(raised thousands of pounds for the Marie Curie)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Leeds-based commercial printer Abco is used to completing long runs in record time, but the company is, we hear, into running as well - and running into busty celebs. The company has once again sponsored the Pudsey 10km challenge as well...

Post Script: Memory Lane.(Chronology)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... 1 YEAR AGO CGI managing director John Croft quit after a change of heart from the firm's chairman thwarted his hopes of leading the company... Hello! publishing director Sally Cartwright warned the industry to expect more green...

Post Script: Print's Past - Fanciful bindings.(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Maurice Hammoneau was a French book collector who re-cased all his volumes in bindings appropriate to their subject matter. Since most concerned animals wild and domestic, the visual effect on the bookshelf can be imagined. His collection...

Post Script: Q & A - Chas Moloney.(Interview)(Brief article)
October 5, 2006... Forty-year-old Chas Moloney is associate director of marketing at Ricoh. He has been working in the print industry for 19 years. His main hobbies are watching football, drinking Guinness and listening to U2. He is married and has two daughters...

Jaguar lays off last employees.
October 12, 2006... Jaguar Business Forms has ceased trading and its remaining 15 staff have been laid off. Joint administrator Simon Plant of SFP said: 'We had been in discussions with a third party concerning the sale of the digital division, but talks have...

Five charged in HP leaks probe.(Hewlett-Packard Co.)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... HP is cooperating with US state and federal investigators after criminal charges were brought against its ex-chairman Patricia Dunn. Dunn was among five people charged with criminal offences following allegations that she hired private...

Alliance PM takes on Carter as a going concern.(Carter Litho)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Carter Litho, the Slough-based direct mail and commercial printer, has been bought out of administration by Alliance PM. The deal was secured on 4 October. The company, which will continue to trade as Carter Litho, is headed up by Gareth...

Stop press.(briefs)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... The European Court of Justice has ruled that length of service may be used as a criterion in pay systems, following a complaint by a Health & Safety Executive employeeg... Charterhouse IPS has appointed former Centurion employee Neil...

No more news on bid approach as St Ives reports final results.(St. Ives Laboratories Inc.)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... St Ives revealed no more detail on the recent approach it had received from a potential buyer as it posted its full-year results this week. The print plc posted figures that were 'slightly better' than some City analysts had expected in...

Whiteoak closes axing 70 jobs as losses rise.(Whiteoak Packaging )(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Witham-based Whiteoak Packaging has shut, ending a turbulent few months. The firm had been bought out of administration by Southern Enterprise Management Services (SEMS), an acquisition vehicle headed up by Leslie Kerrison, in June this...

Sandusky shuts taking all 167 jobs.(Sandusky Walmsley Ltd.)(Brief article)
October 12, 2006... Administrators for Sandusky Walmsley have announced the business will close, and all 167 jobs will be lost. It was announced on Friday (6 October) that work at the papermaking equipment manufacturer in Bolton would be scaled down. ...