Printing World articles from December 2005

Printing World archives from December 2005

Team's #1.5m investment.
December 1, 2005... Team Impressions is injecting #1.5 million into its Leeds plant, quashing speculation that the company is close to collapse. The investment includes a new B1 six-colour press and a digital press. To accommodate the new equipment the company...

Lorien Group speculation lifts shares.
December 1, 2005... Speculation grew this week that Lorien Unique's parent company could be the subject of a takeover bid. Shares in the Lorien Group have increased 30% from 31p on 1 November to 40p on the 28 November. The group, which specialises in IT...

Gravure economic at 150,000, says Krauss.
December 1, 2005... The head of the Prinovis gravure superplant turned up the pressure on web offset printers last week amid predictions of a boom in the UK gravure market. Stephan Krauss, chief executive, said run lengths at the Liverpool site would be...

Gloss Image acts on phoenix tag.
December 1, 2005... Gloss Image is threatening legal action against a group of Leeds printers, which has accused the company of being a phoenix. Derek Hartland, Gloss's managing director, said: "The printers involved are damaging the company's reputation and...

CFI beef up operation.
December 1, 2005... Chris Fowler International (CFI) is beefing up its commercial operation with the introduction of a fourth Heidelberg B2 litho press and a 5- unit digital Kodak NexPress. The investment research printer is also replacing Muller Martini...

Paperlinx to centralise distribution.
December 1, 2005... Paperlinx UK plans to centralise paper distribution for its big four merchants under a separate logistics company. The company said the consolidation will allow it to introduce state-of- the-art logistics throughout the country and improve...

IN BRIEF: Xerox conference.
December 1, 2005... Xerox held its annual investor conference in New York City last week. Anne Mulcahy, ceo, announced in America that the company is delivering value by capturing growth opportunities, competitive advantages and a strong business model. ...

IN BRIEF: HSW appointments.
December 1, 2005... HSW Print, Tonypandy, Wales has announced two new appointments. Dave Carr, 52, has been promoted to commercial business manager while Darren Thomas, 36, has joined as the sales and marketing co-ordinator. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Greenest Company.
December 1, 2005... Colour Works of Totnes has won #500 in cash and a bottle of Champagne from the Devon Environmental Business Initiative Organisation. The firm achieved first place in the `Greenest Company' category. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Communisis contract.
December 1, 2005... Communisis has renewed its print management contract with the Post Office, which covers the logistics of daily distribution of desktop consumables into the retail network of 15,000 Post Offices. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Personalisation software.
December 1, 2005... PatonBrown Direct Mail, Manchester and LetterWorks, Reading, claim to have become the first UK companies to adopt XMPie's uImage personalisation software from Positive Focus. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: AB Dick installs press.
December 1, 2005... AB Dick has installed the first Karat Plus DI press in the South East at GM Printing Ltd in Croydon. It replaces a 2-colour and single colour Heidelberg GTO litho press. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: Communisis announcement.
December 1, 2005... Communisis is planning to open a purpose-built direct mail plant in Liverpool in two years time. The announcement follows a #250m outsourcing contract with HSBC. Communisis has employed some 255 HSBC staff. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

BPIF plans funding scheme for Welsh.
December 1, 2005... Printers in Wales are in line for an investment and training boost under proposals for a regional funding initiative. The BPIF plans to create a similar scheme to Print-Yorkshire in Wales next year. This follows the Welsh Assembly's recent...

MAN waits for Ipex to show long perfector.
December 1, 2005... MAN Roland has developed a long perfector for the B2 market, ready for launch at Ipex. A ten-unit version of the Roland 500 has been kitted out with the company's InlinePerfector option giving 5/5. Dedicated coaters can be added for...

Price is the only choice.
December 1, 2005... Biddles has rolled out a new pricing system this month following successful trials with ten academic book publishers. Publisher's Choice is a scheme designed to help publisher's realise the benefits of short print runs by charging one...

Printhaus boosted by Docucolor addition.
December 1, 2005... Commercial printer Printhaus has beefed up its digital production by installing a Xerox Docucolor 7000. The press, installed this week at their Northampton plant, has allowed the Printhaus to win exhibition work for two companies. Mark...

Short run books ditch litho in digital switch.
December 1, 2005... Clive Fricker, head of the BPIF's Book Production Section, said digital printing could replace litho in the short run book sector in just five years. Fricker said that technology introduced at Drupa 2008 may trigger the demise of litho for...

Golden boots.
December 1, 2005... Clays rushed out a reprint of George Best's autobiography `Blessed' with new jacket copy to mark the recent death of the Irish football legend. Andrew Goodfellow, editorial director at Ebury Press, which published several of Best's books,...

Darlington corrugated plant closes.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... SCA Packaging has confirmed plans to shut its Darlington corrugated plant, but pledged to invest in three other North East sites. Corrugated manufacturing will be regrouped at SCA's integrated sites at Ellesmere Port, Hartlepool and Wigan....

Heidelberg education in London.
December 1, 2005... A new postgraduate course for print media managers and executives has been set up in response to a growing demand for skilled managers. Heidelberg's Print Media Academy has partnered with the London College of Communication, Elephant &...

Luton firm flying after second Xeikon.
December 1, 2005... WK360 has doubled itsXeikon machinery, upgraded the frontend and plans to bring both Rips up to Xeikon's latest X-800 standard. Richard Holland, the Luton firm's managing director, said although the digital market had opened up since WK360...

Plate expectations.
December 1, 2005... Clement & Foster has paired Agfa's environmentally-friendly Azura plates with a platesetter from Kodak. The Bermondsey company claims it is the first B1 firm in the UK to partner the chemistry-free plate with a ctp system from a third party...

Cambridge overhauls processes with ViP.(Cambridge Printing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Cambridge Printing, a division of Cambridge University Press, is working with Vision in Print (ViP) to overhaul its prepress processes. The Change Cycle scheme was launched this week following ViP's study. The drive is designed to apply...

Boot is on the other foot for DM figures.
December 1, 2005... Competition in the direct mail sector is poised to intensify after new figures showed an accelerated drop in volumes. The Direct Mail Information Service (DMIS) this week revealed a 7% decrease in direct mail volumes between July and...

Compulsory winding up.
December 1, 2005... The following cases are due to be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL * Gemma Print Finishing Ltd Teresa Gavin House, Woodford Avenue, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 8FB on 30 November at 10.30am. Petition by the...

Appointment of liquidators.
December 1, 2005... * A Finishing Factory Ltd Bookbinding and finishing. Liquidators: MR Meadley, Wild, Baker Tilly, The Clock House, 140 London Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1UW and GL Carton-Kelly, 5 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7AF * Hanage Publishing Ltd...

Meetings of creditors.
December 1, 2005... * Gate Press Ltd at Fergusson & Co Ltd, Shackleton House, Falcon Court, Preston Farm Industrial Estate, Stockton on Tees TS18 3TS on 1 December at 11.00am * The Oaktree Press Ltd at Third Floor, 3 Field Court, Gray's Inn, London WC1R 5EF...

Final meetings.
December 1, 2005... * KSC Printers Ltd at SPW Poppleton & Appleby, Gable House, 239 Regents Park Road, London N3 3lF on 23 December at 10.00am for members and at 10.15am for creditors * Laser Reprographics Ltd at RSM Robson Rhodes LLP, 186 City Road, London...

COMMENT: Towards a greener world.
December 1, 2005... Last month's audience at the inaugural Printing World Environmental Conference apparently left `astounded' at the #100,000 one company had saved by cutting its energy costs. The fact that such a conference was so well-received demonstrates...

Ipex into initiatives.
December 1, 2005... Ipex 2006 will for the first time dedicate an area to the growing market for flexible packaging. With cans and boxes being replaced by foils and film-based packaging, Ipex is aiming to provide a one-stop- show experience for building up...

PPA Magazine Production: Upbeat about future.
December 1, 2005... Tom Hawkins reports from the PPA production conference, where printers and publishers showed off their innovations After weeks of nailbiting and nervous anticipation, the UK's web printers are adjusting to the effects of Emap's recent print...

Challenges and opportunities.
December 1, 2005... There's no denying Barry Hibbert's sheer enthusiasm. It definitely helps being the chief executive of one of the UK's leading magazine printers. But the Polestar chief shows an infectious confidence in UK print. He used his keynote...

Wheels turning for JDF.
December 1, 2005... Using a combination of its inhouse-developed MIS and Delano project management plus ApogeeX 2.5 workflow software from Agfa, Wyndeham Press Group is trialling JDF production for Haymarket's weekly `Autosport' glossy magazine. David Brown,...

WHY BUY: Rollem Advantage.
December 1, 2005... Crafted, innovative, quality finishing is the name of the game for this versatile machine that slits, trims and gutter slits, perforates and scores, says Rod Hayes Is it a score? Is it a crease? The debate is endless, so it matters little...

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Will the Swiss miss him?
December 1, 2005... As Grant Penfield prepares to leave the Huber Group after decades of loyal service, Rod Hayes looks at what made the great man tick Ink courses through the veins of Grant Penfield, group managing director of Stehlin Hostag UK. Until now, if...

FINISHING: 2005's cutting edge.
December 1, 2005... Growing demands for bigger and better products has resulted in manufacturers and suppliers making further inroads in the digital market, Mark Foxwell reports There has been strong demand for products this year according to finishing...

Getting there: Hugh Baker-Smith.
December 1, 2005... Biography Hugh Baker-Smith, director of sales and marketing at Pelikon. His recent remit is to pursue sales growth in all of Pelikon's target markets in the period running up to its planned IPO in 2006 What was your first job in the...

In-house ctp investment pays off for Hexprint.
December 1, 2005... Hexprint has brought plate-making in-house by investing in a ctp and processless plate combination from Kodak and Screen. The company, which specialises in multimedia print for the games industry, installed a Screen PlateRite 8000II 8-page...

Acts leave firms on paper trail.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The number of digital documents printed is increasing despite predictions of the paperless office, according to a new survey Research firm Ovum revealed that 74% of firms said they were required to keep documents in hard copy format,...

Duprinter educates college.
December 1, 2005... Loughborough College has increased print production by 20% since it moved into digital in July. The college has achieved this impressive growth following the installation of a Duplo DP-460H Duprinter, which has produced over 200,000 pages....

Scottish power.
December 1, 2005... J Thomson has installed GMG's ColorProof software (above) in its prepress studio. The Scottish printer previously used three DuPont Digital Cromalin machines for proofing. The Glasgow firm now has one GMG ColorProof 8-up Rip running...

Three steps to heaven for more profitable Curtis Fine Papers.
December 1, 2005... A#60,000 grant from Scottish Enterprise has strengthened Curtis Fine Papers' position as a major employer in north east Fife. The first of three initiatives set up with the Fife funding is an organisational development programme for senior...

Howard Smith immortalises photographer Cornel Lucas.
December 1, 2005... Cornel Lucas' contribution to the British film industry is being celebrated in London, with an exhibition and a limited edition book. The late portrait photographer's work is being displayed at the National Portrait Gallery while the book...

Parky's American dream.
December 1, 2005... Granada TV's latest brochure for chat-show veteran Michael Parkinson is pitched at the American broadcasting market. The colour literature combines Robert Horne's paper technology, the expertise of Basildon-based printer Kameo Colour and...

#4.5m kit investment for Encore Direct's super plant.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Encore Direct claims its #4.5m investment in envelope manufacturing equipment has made it Europe's most advanced printed envelope factory. The equipment, which replaces a trio of 15-year-old Jumbo machines, includes a W&D Jumbo converter...

Waterman hits double top with in-house laminating.
December 1, 2005... Waterman Printers of Cork, has boosted production by investing #2m in an Autobond Mini 52 TH laminator, Heidelberg Suprasetter ctp and a Heidelberg CD74 5-colour press with coater. The Irish commercial printer has doubled the size of its...

Space invader.
December 1, 2005... Pitney Bowes' Flexible Productivity Series (FPS) inserter is aimed at companies with budgetary or space restrictions, according to the company. The FPS, which can process direct mail and transactional, has a modular rotary and friction...

Time to join vehicle wrapping regiment.(Printers training program)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Printers are being offered one-day courses on how to get the most out of Uniform Grenadier inkjet printers for vehicle wrapping. The free-of-charge courses provided by Uniform Digital, offer information on all aspects of vehicle wrapping,...

Large format: Game on.
December 1, 2005... Pro Evolution Soccer 5, the latest version of Konami's football game for computers, is being promoted on Tesco trailers using Agripa's Fleet Media. Images of Chelsea and Arsenal captains John Terry and Thierry Henry flank the slogan `Try...

Bassett blows his own horn.
December 1, 2005... Paul Bassett, director of Kent firm SCA Packaging, claimed that its Inca Digital Columbia Turbo printer's return on investment is better than expected. The Aylesford-based speciality products division of the SCA Packaging Group installed...

Europoint displays the desire to double in size and grow.
December 1, 2005... Europoint Display will double the size of its Manchester distribution and conversion centre to more than 3,250sq m. This increase will cater for anticipated growth in demand for Orafol's Oracal and Orajet films, of which it is the sole UK...

Rising costs in US forces PressLine to reduce web.
December 1, 2005... The press engineering firm that specialises in reducing the cut-off of Goss presses is predicting greater interest in modifications to newspaper presses. Rising newsprint costs in America have forced more newspapers to reduce web widths,...

TPP joins WoodWing to become UK reseller.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Publishing Practice (TPP), the UK publishing software specialist, has joined forces with WoodWing Software. London-based TPP will become the UK reseller and system integrator for WoodWing's Smart Connection Enterprise (SCE) system and...

TKS' lack of appeal over anti-dumping could cost firm a damaging #20m.
December 1, 2005... TKS, the Japanese newspaper press manufacturer, has lost its latest appeal against the anti-dumping case The Tokyo-based firm are in dispute with Goss, and is under threat to pay damages of up to #20m. The US Court of International...

Northcliffe wins bid for inaugural auctions.
December 1, 2005... Northcliffe Newspapers has fended off the challenge of rivals Johnston Press to the first eBay-style auction on some of their websites. Northcliffe's Bristol Evening Post was the inaugural UK newspaper to hold an online auction some 18...

#650k spend by Culverlands.
December 8, 2005... Culverlands has invested some #650,000 in Heidelberg equipment to support their growth in the commercial market. The Winchester firm have bought a KH66 folder, a Polar 78X, a Printmaster PM 52 two-colour and Speedmaster SM 52 5-colour,...

MPC: hands off.
December 8, 2005... The Magazine Printing Company (MPC) has been taken off the market despite interest from three potential bidders for the B2 specialist. Founder Tony Stokes claims that this was because the company registered their best six months of trading...

QuadTech to supply Prinovis.(Brief Article)
December 8, 2005... QuadTech has won a contract to supply register systems at Prinovis' Liverpool superplant. Four Autotron Gravure 2200 register guidance systems have been ordered for the first KBA presses. A spokesman for Prinovis said the ability and...

Race on for #3m press order from Dsi Group.
December 8, 2005... Heidelberg, Komori and MAN Roland have emerged as the frontrunners in the race to scoop a #3m press order from the Dsi Group. The Essex firm is aiming to buy two B1 10-station presses as part of an #18m investment plan. The big spend...

IN BRIEF: TP8 sells Taylowe Packaging.
December 8, 2005... Investment vehicle TP8 has sold Taylowe Packaging to an mbo which has formed CT Packaging. TP8 retains a shareholding in the new firm and all employees have been transferred. TP8 said it would concentrate on its Jowetts, Broadley and Hannibal...

IN BRIEF: #3m marketing budget.
December 8, 2005... A group of printers, design agencies and direct mail houses is among 26 companies in the West Midlands to share in a #3m marketing budget from the Advantage West Midlands development agency. Renaultprint, Belmont Press and Coventry Sterling...

IN BRIEF: Fresh Media Group appointment.
December 8, 2005... Fresh Media Group has named Dominic Duffy marketing director. He joined the London company's FMG prepress division Colour Systems as technical director and was later managing director of the group's Applecart premedia company. Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: Software launch.
December 8, 2005... Software developer Objective Advantage has launched its JDF-enabled Symbio production management application. It was developed in the US with several digital print and finishing suppliers to automate production across the sectors. ...

IN BRIEF: TecnoLink installation.
December 8, 2005... TecnoLink has installed the UK's Exact 5280 platemaker in a new flexo repro company called TecnoFlex. Located in Milton Keynes, the division is headed by Mark Canavan and incorporates Advance Graphics. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

IN BRIEF: PrintCity unveils details of IPEX plans.
December 8, 2005... PrintCity has unveiled details of its IPEX plans, including showing its technology in the PrintCity Hall 1. Integrated production facilities for the packaging and commercial segment will be central to the demonstration. Copyright: CMP...

IN BRIEF: Print invests in an Akiyama 540 Extreme press.
December 8, 2005... Print 4, Nottingham, has invested in an Akiyama 540 Extreme. The press was supplied by Graphic Arts Equipment with funding through Lombard, the asset finance provider of RBS group. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Rising costs could cripple industry.
December 8, 2005... Paper merchants have forecast a boom in the number of printers going bust in the New Year. Figures released this week by the National Association of Paper Merchants revealed a dip in debt levels in the third quarter. However, merchants...

Soaring energy costs.
December 8, 2005... Unions and paper bosses tackled energy minister Malcolm Wicks over soaring energy costs this week. Mike Griffiths, national policy officer, said the union appealed for the government to regulate UK gas markets to ease pricing pressure on...

Pensord's financial switch.
December 8, 2005... Pensord Press has changed finance providers to back a multimillion- pound investment in Heidelberg long perfectors. The Welsh firm in Blackwood, Gwent, has secured a #2.4m finance deal with CIT, which is headed by former Close Print Finance...

Czech mates.
December 8, 2005... Grey's Packaging of Bristol has launched the first foil magazine wrap in the Czech Republic. The wrap for popular men's mag `Maxim' holds a black book of 101 girls in bikinis. Readers then vote for the one they want to win a modelling...

BPIF helps kitemark take off.
December 8, 2005... The BPIF has unveiled a kitemark, PAS 75, which promotes excellence in printing. The British Standards Institute-backed seal was launched on Tuesday, and covers commercial and production performance measures. Accreditation is expected to...

IN BRIEF: Tony Rafferty stake.
December 8, 2005... Printing.com chief executive Tony Rafferty, who recently announced the print provider's expansion into Europe, has sold 2.6 million ordinary shares of 1p. The sale was to satisfy strong institutional demand and leaves Rafferty with a 20.3%...

IN BRIEF: Premier Aspects buys Trim Technology.
December 8, 2005... Premier Aspects, the Cardiff screenprinter, has been bought by Trim Technology, a membrane switches manufacturer in Llantrisant, Wales. The companies said Premier Aspects would enhance Trim's vending machine business, and benefit from Trim's...

IN BRIEF: Gordon Black dies.
December 8, 2005... Gordon Black died peacefully at home last Friday aged 77 after a long illnesss. Gordon was involved in printing all his life. He was managing director of Kemps Directories and also owner of Evrite Printing and Publishing. He leaves wife Cath...

IN BRIEF: Reed to take delivery of perfector.
December 8, 2005... Reed Print & Design is to take delivery of a 12-colour long perfector at its new custom-built factory near Newcastle. The Heidelberg SM 102 is part of an #8m spend on new kit to re-equip after the company's Washington site was destroyed by fire...

IN BRIEF: Oce creates Oce Imagistics.
December 8, 2005... Oce has created Oce Imagistics following the takeover of the US office business company Imagistics International h The new division will incorporate Oce's digital printing centres in the US while the document systems business will remain...

IN BRIEF: HH opens offices.
December 8, 2005... Print manager HH has opened offices in Leeds, Verona and Madrid following recent expansion into Europe that has won contracts with Black & Decker and the InterContinental Hotels Group. The company now has 30 offices. Copyright: CMP...

Woods' multimillion deal in revamp of operations.
December 8, 2005... Woods of Perth has signed a multimillion pound deal with Mitsubishi in a revamp of its operations. Last week the Scottish firm ordered three presses to be installed into its new Auld Bond Road premises, Perth. These include the UK's first...

Cartel fines #200m in bag probe.
December 8, 2005... The investigation into a plastic bag price-fixing cartel, that began four years ago with a series of dawn raids, has resulted in fines of #200m. British Polythene Industries, which co-operated with the EC inquiry, escaped a #36m fine under...

Walsall Group crashes.
December 8, 2005... The label printing business of Walsall Print Group has crashed owing the banks #1m and with an estimated #4.5m hole in its pension fund. Some 35 people were made redundant at Walsall Print Company last week. The business continues to...

Postman's knock.
December 8, 2005... Printers are among the first to receive Royal Mail's Pricing in Proportion information packs. By the end of this month, every address will get the pack, which provides information on potential price changes for sending mail as well as a sizing...

Richard Edward's big pay on the cards.
December 8, 2005... Richard Edward has invested in Agfa prepress equipment as part of innovating plans to specialise in the niche games and card industry. The company purchased an Xcalibur ctp system from Filmtechnik, replacing the three-year-old Agfa Galileo...

#50m site put on hold after Mail's decision.
December 8, 2005... The Northcliffe Press has been forced to put on hold the proposed building of a #50m-plus printing site in Lincolnshire. The doubt over the project comes from last week's shock decision by Daily Mail & General Trust, its parent company, to...