Print Week articles from September 2007

Print Week archives from September 2007

XGS bags pounds 25m PM contract to add to public sector portfolio.
September 6, 2007... Xerox Global Services (XGS) has grown its public sector presence with a pounds 25m contract with the NHS in the North West. The division has won a five-year deal with the NHS' North West Collaborative Procurement Hub (NWCPH). It is...

Serious interest in Wace says TPF.(TPF Group)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... TPF Group has said that it has had two 'serious' approaches to buy Wace, the Swindon factory it plans to close. The print and print management group also maintains that 'plan A' for Wace is still for it to be closed down, with as many staff...

Former B&T chief Huett takes on group sales post at MPI.(Media and Print Investments Plc)(Butler and Tanner)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Adrian Huett has returned to print in a top sales role for Media & Print Investments (MPI), the company that bought his former employer Butler & Tanner. Huett, who was sales director and joint managing director of the Somerset-based book...

Stop Press.
September 6, 2007... De La Rue Currency & Security Print executives have travelled to Kenya to discuss the sale of a 25% stake in its local subsidiary to the country's government, according to reports... Hewlett-Packard has launched a global marketing scheme...

ViaPost link with print to target letter market.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... ViaPost, a new postal provider, aims to grab up to 10% of the business letter market by 2010 by hooking up with print production partners. The service, which the firm terms Post Over Internet Protocol (POIP), will be launched in the middle...

WOCG launches web offset forum.
September 6, 2007... The Web Offset Champion Group (WOCG) has announced a new international 'best practice' seminar to be held in Chester, North Wales at the end of November 2007. The event, entitled 'Optimising Total Web Offset Production', launches WOCG's...

Partner rule lets down Print Sells.
September 6, 2007... Royal Mail has revealed it declined to get involved in Print Sells as it would have breached regulations, but claimed to back other initiatives helping print. The troubled postal operator's decision not to support the pan-European campaign...

In brief: Mosaic recruits sales manager.
September 6, 2007... Mosaic, the print management firm, has recruited Simon Gill as sales manager. Gill has 23 years' experience in the paper, print and print management sectors. He said: 'I was most impressed with Mosaic's passion for best value and fairness to...

In brief: RR Donnelley expands Indian plant.
September 6, 2007... RR Donnelley, the global print giant, has expanded its Indian business process outsourcing plant in Kerala. The plant will provide transaction processing and financial management services to clients in Europe and the US

In brief: James McNaughton Group produces Rugby World Cup wall chart.(James McNaughton Paper Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... The James McNaughton Group is helping its customers keep track of their favourite teams by producing two versions of its Rugby World Cup wall chart. The poster is printed on Claro Silk 250gsm, with die cut team characters (Claro Silk 400gsm)...

In brief: Presstek extends open house series.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Presstek has extended its open house series throughout the remainder of the year. The road show provides industry professionals with valuable information on how they can make their businesses more profitable and competitive through the adoption...

In brief: Akiyama to exhibit two new machines at IGAS 2007.
September 6, 2007... Akiyama, the Japanese manufacturer, will exhibit two new machines at the IGAS 2007 exhibition in Tokyo this September. Promoting the theme of 'Evolution', Akiyama will introduce its Mega-J double press deck and Supertech, its latest version of...

In brief: Xplor International revives university seminars.
September 6, 2007... Xplor International has revived its Xplor Document university seminars due to popular demand at the show this October. Four half-day seminars will explore all aspects of digital print. Top industry experts are billed to attend. For more...

In brief: Capital enlists Daley Thompson to open new facility.
September 6, 2007... Capital, the large-format firm, has enlisted the services of double Olympic champion Daley Thompson CBE to open its new custom built, state-of-the-art facility. The guest of honour will cut the ribbon at the event next Wednesday. David Gill,...

Marketers fail to exploit pounds 500m 'transpromo' opportunities.
September 6, 2007... Advertisers are missing out on a half-a-billion-pound opportunity by not placing marketing on bills and statements, according to direct mail giant Dsi CMM. Figures released by the company show that a total of pounds 502m of advertising...

BPIF says small firms post largest profits.
September 6, 2007... Small printers with a turnover of under pounds 1m post the industry's biggest operating margins, according to a new survey from the BPIF. The Federation's 'Printing for Profit 2007' survey has revealed that SMEs return, on average,...

HSE inspects safety of Yorkshire print firms.(United Kingdom. Health and Safety Executive)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is targeting printers in the Yorkshire region in an intensive inspection campaign that aims to raise safety awareness in the industry. A large number of printers across the county can expect to receive...

Pantone to unveil Goe colour match system at Graph Expo.
September 6, 2007... Pantone will unveil the first revamp of its colour matching system since its original launch in the early 1960s at next week's Graph Expo. The dominant colour firm has developed Pantone Goe, a successor to its ubiquitous Pantone Matching...

CFH buys pounds 1.7m VSOP machine.
September 6, 2007... CFH plans to strengthen its direct mail profile by investing pounds 1.7m in a second 10-colour Drent Goebel press. The 230-staff firm was the first UK printing company to order the 520mm web-width VSOP (variable sleeve offset printing)...

Gradual unveils scheme to make non-JDF workflows more simple.(Gradual Software)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Crossroads, a new initiative to automate workflows where JDF isn't necessary or practical, has been launched by Gradual Software. Peter Camps, Gradual founder and chief executive, said: 'There is nothing wrong with JDF and metadata...

Awards opportunity for top apprentices.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Recruitment specialist Harrison Scott Associates is offering seven print and packaging apprentices the chance to attend the PrintWeek Awards 2007 for free. 'I want to give these youngsters a chance to meet some of the leading industry...

HAZRED advises on chemicals.
September 6, 2007... Small printers are being offered the possibility of government advice to help them deal with the hazardous waste they produce. Government organisation HAZRED is holding a workshop on 17 October at Villa Park in Birmingham. Participants...

Local and regional ad revenues set to grow.
September 6, 2007... Advertising revenues are set to recover in the local and regional press, according to industry experts, signalling increasing print runs and improving newsprint sales. The UK's regional and local newspaper industry suffered a major drop in...

Crossprint adds Ryobi to spend.
September 6, 2007... Crossprint has taken its spending over the past three years to pounds 1.8m, after buying a Ryobi 525GX B3-format press. The pounds 360,000 machine will join an existing Ryobi 750 Series B2-format press. Both machines were purchased from...

Reader reaction: How can UK print strengthen its position with buyers?
September 6, 2007... WEB OFFSET PRINTER - DANIEL BARNETT, customer services director, Southernprint 'Customer service is the key, coupled with the ability to offer a greater range of services through one point of contact. You have to be flexible to meet the...

Prontaprint initiative supports young talent.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Two university graduates have become entrepreneurs in Bristol thanks to a new scheme from Prontaprint. The company has launched the Young Entrepreneur Scheme, which aims to find talented young business people and give them a chance to run...

Livesey old boy back to take lead.(appointment of Aidan Kidson )(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Shropshire-based printer Livesey has brought back one of its 'old boys' as business development director. Aidan Kidson started his career in print back in 1979 at Livesey. He will now be given the job of making the company 'one of the most...

Four printers merge to form RGL.
September 6, 2007... A pounds 3m-turnover print group has been formed after four companies were brought together under one roof. RGL Print Group has been launched in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire following a pounds 2m investment and the merging of RGL Print...

Legal Notices.
September 6, 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. WINDING UP PETITIONS B&S Print Ltd RO: 1...

Specle develops ad workflow software to cut process times.
September 6, 2007... Start-up business Specle has developed a software platform that integrates workflow data throughout the advertising production process, enabling repro houses to significantly cut costs. Specle Create, which has been in development since...

Quark plug-ins for Windows.(XChange International )(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... XChange International has launched three new extensions for QuarkXPress 7 running on Windows-based operating systems. Bookletizer, Resize XT and FlexScale have all reworked from existing Mac-based plug-ins. Bookletizer allows users to...

Aston switches to CTP with Suprasetter A74.
September 6, 2007... Aston Colour has moved into CTP production, after four years of deliberation, with the installation of a Heidelberg Suprasetter A74. The Twickenham, Middlesex-based firm said the move from film was driven by consumable prices. Aston...

Racing Green.
September 6, 2007... Fujifilm has agreed to a three-year sponsorship of a racing yacht skippered by international solo yachtsman Alex Bennett. The 40ft boat will be unveiled at the 39th Southampton Boat Show on 19 September and has been named Fujifilm. The...

Sun Chemical to launch 900dpi digital printer at Label Expo.
September 6, 2007... Sun Chemical Digital is aiming to take advantage of the demand for short runs in the labels market with the launch of a digital printer. The division of Sun Chemical is to launch the SolarJet UV digital inkjet at next month's Label Expo...

Robert Horne to sell ColorSpan.(Robert Horne Sign and Display)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Colourgen has chosen Robert Horne Sign & Display as an authorised reseller for its ColorSpan range of UV-curable flatbed inkjet printers. The deal, with the Northampton-based distributor, includes the new ColorSpan 5400uv series. The 54in...

Nipson set to show VaryPress spot colour add-on for digital presses.
September 6, 2007... Nipson is unveiling a high-speed spot colour add-on at this month's Graph Expo 2007, aimed at direct mail and transactional document printers. The new VaryPress Spot Color System (SCS) enables digital press users to add between one and...

Xerox unveils guide to getting into digital.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Xerox has responded to the growth in digital printing with a new resource to help commercial printers that want to move beyond web offset printing. The Xerox Digital Print Shop in a Box is an interactive CD and web-based collection that...

Kama brings multi-functional ProCut die-cutter to UK market.
September 6, 2007... Kama is making its UK debut with the launch of its versatile die-cutter. The German post-press kit manufacturer will unveil the ProCut 74 automatic die-cutter at Workshop 07, the collaborative event being held in Leeds on the 9-11 October....

Magellan opts for Morgana.(contracts of Magellan Group and Morgana Systems)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Magellan Group has invested pounds 70,000 in digital finishing kit, part of a move to bring print production in-house. The Morgana kit will be fed by the firm's two Konica Minolta bizhub Pro C500s. Basingstoke-based Magellan previously...

Lovaghy unveils first mobile inline folder.(Lovaghy Enterprise)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Lovaghy Enterprise has developed what it claims is the world's first mobile high-speed inline quarter folder for web presses. The HQF-18 has been designed for use in the production of direct mail, inserts and catalogues and can be used in...

Burcas and Dienes join forces to develop range of knife holders.
September 6, 2007... Midlands-based knife specialist Burcas has teamed up with German company Dienes to introduce a new range of knife holders into the UK market. According to Burcas, the new equipment will be able to be used by the whole printing industry,...

CEPI to draw up carbon framework for Europe.
September 6, 2007... Europe's paper manufacturing federation, CEPI, is to launch a framework for reporting carbon footprints later this month to offer the first open industry standard. The framework will allow companies to calculate carbon footprints of their...

Palm seeks sign-off for new site.
September 6, 2007... Palm Paper, the firm behind the planned pounds 330m UK newsprint manufacturing plant in Norfolk, has lodged a planning application just months after the project was first announced. 'Welodged our planning application on 9 August and we are...

Best of British.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Merchant GF Smith has launched Naturalis x3, a collection of works by English pop artist Sir Peter Blake, whose work includes maps, packaging and book covers, at a recent event at the Arts Club in Dover Street, London. It is the third in a...

In brief: UPM Raflatac launches label range for squeezable tubes.
September 6, 2007... UPM Raflatac, the UPM-owned supplier of self-adhesive label materials, has launched a range of labelstocks specifically designed for squeezable tubes used in markets such as the food industry

In brief: Ziegler Paper Mill says paper products not affected by REACH.
September 6, 2007... Ziegler Paper Mill has said that none of its paper products are affected by the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH), the new European law on chemicals which came into force on 1 June. Its paper products can still be...

In brief: NAPM launches series of training courses.(National Association of Paper Merchants)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... NAPM is launching a series of one-day training courses called The Master Class Series 2007, aimed at all levels of sales, purchasing and administrative employees. They will take place over a five-week period starting on 1 October, at The...

In brief: John Faraci to speak at conference.(Conference news)
September 6, 2007... International Paper chairman and chief executive John Faraci will speak at the UBS Global Paper & Forest Products Conference in New York City on 19 September. He will discuss the global uncoated paper and packaging company's business platforms

In brief: WRAP appoints director of communications.
September 6, 2007... The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has appointed Nick Gammage as director of communications. He has replaced Gareth Lloyd, who left earlier in the year to join the BBC. He has recently been director of communications for the...

In brief: James McNaughton Group holds series of seminars.(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... The James McNaughton Group has been holding a series of Chain of Custody seminars, explaining the background to the standards and providing practical advice on how to gain the certification. The group will be holding further seminars during...

In brief: M-real launches new gloss recycled coated paper.
September 6, 2007... M-real has launched a new gloss recycled coated paper, Era Gloss, which blends 50% post consumer waste with 50% FSC certified fibre. It is now available nationwide from Antalis and James McNaughton, and it is ideal for brochures, report and...

Contract update.(Simpson Group's contract with Thomson Travel Group PLC)
September 6, 2007... Large-format specialist Simpson Group has produced high-street travel operator Thomson's new window display, 'Travel with a Smile'. The Tyne & Wear point of purchase firm printed the display on Priplak, the recyclable plastic sheet...

Client Audit - Science Museum.
September 6, 2007... Founded in 1857, the Science Museum was originally a home for objects shown at the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace. Today, the museum is world renowned for its historic collections and exhibitions. The Antenna wing contains an...

Editorial: Promising transpromo future for the DM sector.(Editorial)
September 6, 2007... There's been something of a fever for building or moving direct mail plants in recent months. Communisis, Adare, TPF Group, Howitt and now, according to reports, the recently formed DsiCMM (see page 5) have all been busily calling in the...

Comment: Rewarding engineering advances.(printing machinery)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Very few printers have technical development facilities; instead the industry relies for progress on the researches of machinery and systems suppliers. Sales and marketing achievements are commonly acknowledged, but engineering...

Comment: Talking business - Take heed of advice as hasty M&A deals cripple an increasing number of firms.(merges and acquisitions)
September 6, 2007... Consolidation, mergers and acquisitions continue to be commonplace within the printing industry. Owners keen to exit, growing competition and the digital era are helping fuel the rise in businesses up for sale or merger, supported by a...

Comment: Technically Speaking - With Pantone on board at X-Rite, is now a good time to give CxF another chance?
September 6, 2007... Last week, X-Rite announced it was to acquire Pantone. It's significant news for the future of colour in almost any industry, but for the graphic arts industry in particular. One reason for this is that the deal allows X-Rite to develop new...

Profile: Buckingham Binders - Kent finisher survives a difficult sector by keeping up with new technologies.(Nigel Crook )(Company overview)
September 6, 2007... A passion for post-press and finger on the pulse helps Nigel Crook keep his firm in check, says Adam Hooker. Would you do business with a crook? Probably not. That's why Nigel Crook decided not to use his surname when he started up his own...

Technology Report: Pressroom environment - Control your atmosphere.
September 6, 2007... Variations in temperature, humidity and pollutants not only put staff at risk, they also undermine quality and productivity, as Karen Charlesworth explains. Like charity, it seems that the environment begins at home. While plenty of...

Product Portfolio: Product of the week - Pantone Goe.(Product/service evaluation)
September 6, 2007... With double the spot colours and improved matching, Goe is aimed squarely at cutting-edge designers. Few modern print technologies can claim to have been successful for the best part of half a century, but Pantone's colour matching system...

Product Portfolio: Me & My ... Horizon SPF-200.(Product/service evaluation)
September 6, 2007... The Lion Press partner David Earl got capability, faster makeready speed and a host of automated options with his Horizon stitch/fold/trim line. - What does the machine do? It is a powercollating, stitch/fold/trimming line, which...

Product Portfolio: Tried & tested - Duplo Duprinter.(Product/service evaluation)
September 6, 2007... Halfway between a litho press and a photocopier, Duprinters are cheap, efficient and environmentally friendly, discovers Nosmot Gbadamosi. Duplo's Duprinter - a hybrid printer that sits between a traditional litho press and a high-speed...

Product Portfolio: Buyers' Guide - Letterhead paper.
September 6, 2007... As company branding becomes more vital to business, letterhead paper provides a means to project the right image, writes Nosmot Gbadamosi. In a competitive market, many companies are striving to make a bolder statement with their...

Product Portfolio: Joanne's Help Line - Promo processes & scuffed mailers.
September 6, 2007... Joanne Gardner tracks down the solutions to your print problems. Q: I'm looking to enter the promotional printing market and want to buy equipment to print on products such as pens, rulers, mugs and glasses. I then want to send my staff on...

Product Portfolio: Diary.(printing industry conferences)(Brief article)(Calendar)
September 6, 2007... OCTOBER Digital Print World Date: 16-18 October Venue: Earls Court 2, London Price: Free Contact: www.digitalprintworld.co.uk PrintWeek Awards Date: 22 October Venue: Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London Price: pounds 215...

Product Portfolio: Technical tutorial - Overflowing dampening trays.(Brief article)(Column)
September 6, 2007... Overflowing dampening trays can have a significant effect on the quality of print jobs, so it is important to know how to prevent it from happening in the first place. There are quite a few reasons why dampening pans overflow, but whatever...

EU Tenders.(Public notice)
September 6, 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: Printers get ready, it's time for your close-up.(Delroy Moore in the movie Exodus)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Good news for printers worried about the future of the industry: you could try your hand at another career... acting. Months ago, unemployed printer Delroy Moore agreed to appear in feature film Exodus, alongside 24 other non-actors, all...

Post Script: Memory Lane.
September 6, 2007... ONE YEAR AGO - New Jarrold Printing was to cease trading within a week after its biggest client, NatMags, pulled out... Communisis named its new chief executive, Steve Vaughan, following a five-month search... St Ives Direct managing director...

Post Script: Print's Past - Lakeland printing.
September 6, 2007... I recently enjoyed an episode of the BBC series Mountain, with Griff Rhys Jones exploring the Lake District and how the mountains inspired some of our greatest writers including William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey....

Post Script: Q&A - Adam Barnaby.(Interview)(Brief article)
September 6, 2007... Adam Barnaby is Komori UK's apprentice print demonstrator and is 18 years old. He got the job after completing a national diploma in print. He's a huge Castleford Tigers fan (that's Rugby League for those who don't know) and also likes...

Quebecor and Wyndeham lose top Emap contracts to gravure.
September 13, 2007... Emap has rejigged printing for some of its top consumer titles, resulting in a major blow for Quebecor World and signalling a switch to gravure for two high-profile titles. The loss of the 558,000-circulation celebrity gossip magazine Heat...

Oce takes toner speed crown.
September 13, 2007... Oce has launched what it claims to be the world's fastest toner-based colour digital printer. The German firm's ColorStream 10000, which was launched at this week's Graph Expo in Chicago, is a digital continuous feed machine that can print...

Prison terms loom for Scots currency counterfeiting gang.(investigations of Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency )(Brief article)
September 13, 2007... One of Britain's most notorious counterfeiters is facing jail following an investigation by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA). Thomas 'Hologram Tam' McAnea will be sentenced on 2 October along with six others for their...

Stop Press.
September 13, 2007... Flint Group has raised its ink prices throughout Europe, blaming rising raw materials costs. It has refused to disclose the extent of the hikes, saying only that they would be 'significant'... Listed print industry players Communisis and...

New printhead set to open digital avenues.(product development of Inkski)(Brief article)
September 13, 2007... Large-scale production of personalised newspapers and magazines has moved closer thanks to a Cambridge-based inkjet technology firm. Inkski, backed by Xaar and a group of Cambridge-based investors, has developed a method it claims combines...

MAN targets Asia with new press.
September 13, 2007... MAN Roland has unveiled a 32pp web press aimed at producing advertising supplements and telephone directories in areas including Latin America and Asia. The EuroMAN, also available in the UK, is a heatset web offset press with 965mm web...

US print promotion site launched.
September 13, 2007... A website promoting print effectiveness has been launched in the US by print advocacy group The Print Council and leading print college Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). The partners have described Print in the Mix as 'a clearing...

In Brief: Appointment at Pureprint Group.(Anthony Rowell )(Brief article)
September 13, 2007... Pureprint Group has hired Anthony Rowell as its business development manager. He will report to chief executive Mark Handford and will be in charge of front-line sales and will also focus on the company's CSR and environmental responsibilities....

In Brief: Artisan Press report.
September 13, 2007... Artisan Press posted a 2% turnover increase in its full-year report. It blamed overcapacity and pressure from Eastern European web offset and gravure printers for the flat results. The magazine printer's 2006 turnover was pounds 42.2m, compared...

In Brief: New press for Brunswick Press.
September 13, 2007... Brunswick Press, Ireland's oldest printer, has taken delivery of a KBA 10-unit press as part of a pounds 2m overhaul of its facilities. The Rapida 105 long perfector features fully-automatic plate-changing and Densitronic S colour control. For...

In Brief: Hampshire Flag Company to relocate.
September 13, 2007... The Hampshire Flag Company is relocating to a larger site in Waterlooville after a boost in staff numbers and the purchase of a DuPont ChromaPrint 22 UVSE that will allow the flag manufacturer to print on board, PVC and glass

In Brief: Appointment at Turning Point Innovation.
September 13, 2007... Turning Point Innovation has appointed Mike Watson to the role of business development manager as part of its move into the marketing and advertising sectors. Watson will oversee national sales of artwork automation, asset management,...

In Brief: Small profit increase for Litho Supplies.(Financial report)
September 13, 2007... Litho Supplies has reported a small profit increase in interim results after covering costs associated with the reorganisation of the business. Pre-tax profits for the six months ending June 2007 amounted to pounds 490,000 on sales of pounds...