Printing World articles from July 2003

Printing World archives from July 2003

Polestar's lucky 13 invest heavily.(suppliers)
July 3, 2003... Polestar's decision to formalise its print and finishing outsourcing agreement with just 13 suppliers has justified the decision by some of those companies to invest millions in extra capacity. Andrews Print Finishing, Slough, for example,...

Ventura Works in sudden closure.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Some mystery is surrounding the sudden closure of Ventura Works, a major printing house in Orpington, Kent, after accountants Begbies Traynor was called in to prepare various options for the company's future, one of which includes liquidation....

Pindar's theatre of print.(new building)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Pindar is to become perhaps the only printer in the UK to boast its own fully fledged seminar theatre following a #5m development of its mailing business. The #5m development involves the acquisition of a 106,000sq ft building which will...

Color under review.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Communisis has warned that its Color Solutions plants in Europe, North America and Gateshead are under a `strategic review' following a fall in sales and profits. The division includes Waddington Labels in Gateshead and Three McCorquordale...

More glue.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... A 3,800sq ft production hub has been set up in Morden, south London by the Kall Kwik centres in Putney, Tunbridge Wells and Clapham. A new Quickmaster DI Pro, Heidelberg's fifth generation direct imaging technology, will be housed in the centre...

Xeikon in UK return.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Punch International, Xeikon International and MAN Roland GB have formed Xeikon Great Britain, a subsidiary that will provide direct sales and service for Xeikon colour equipment, including DICOpress and DICOpack. It will operate alongside...

Incorrect version.(Correction Notice)
July 3, 2003... The June 12 issue of Printing World featured an article on Creo's UK users' conference (p12). Creo unveiled Prinergy version 2.2 at this meeting, not version 2.1 as previously stated. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Parkside moves more flexo print to Poland.
July 3, 2003... Parkside International, the manufacturer of flexible packaging for Walkers Crisps and other foods, is closing its print plant in Stoke on Trent and moving its main press to Poland. The closure will cost up to 140 jobs and is blamed on...

Work starts on rule book rewrite.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Work has begun on rewriting the terms and conditions by which the industry operates, but the BPIF chief executive Michael Johnson warned this week that: "It's going to be unbelievably bloody - but someone's got to do it." The result of...

Print headlines at Glastonbury.(Q magazine teams up with Wam!Net to produce the Glastonbury Festival daily paper)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Proving that communication technology in print can operate despite any amount of mud, music and merrymaking, Q magazine last week teamed up with Wam!Net, Graphic Facilities and St Ives to produce the Glastonbury Festival daily paper. The...

Extensis gets Soft.(Extensis Inc. acquires DiamondSoft Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Extensis Inc has reached an agreement to acquire DiamondSoft Inc, the developer of the font management software solution Font Reserve. Extensis is wholly owned by Celartem Technology USA. Extensis will continue to market and support both...

Chevler reborn.(Cheverton and Laidler changes name and gets accreditation)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Packaging specialist Cheverton and Laidler has undergone a major rebranding exercise and changed its name to Chevler Packaging. The company has just been awarded the BRC IoP accreditation and implemented a full ERP system. Investment continues...

Digital Print World.(exhibition planned or November)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
July 3, 2003... Digital Print World organiser IIR Exhibitions has sold more than half of the floorspace at November's Olympia exhibition. Over the last few weeks Domino, Duplo, Electronics for Imaging, Printcafe, Morgana and Yuan Yuan Digital Media have...

GPMU executive breathes sigh of relief.(Graphical Paper and Media Union merger plans)
July 3, 2003... The GPMU has bought itself some time and now seems certain to merge with a larger general union next year. Delegates at its Biennial Delegate conference in Bournemouth last week voted by a substantial margin in favour of a tough package of...

Young guns in charge at B&T.(appointments and promotions at Butler and Tanner)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Peter Maunder has become non-executive chairman of Butler & Tanner, for which he has worked for 40 years, allowing Adrian Huett to be sole managing director of the Frome book printing company. The move is accompanied by other changes among...

Pike nets top proofing post.(Rob Pike to head color proofing at KPG)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Rob Pike, who hails from Watford, has secured one of the most influential jobs in KPG. He is to take on the role of head, worldwide colour proofing, taking over the role from Gary Reyerson who has left KPG to return to his roots with Kodak. ...

Print polarises as conditions stay tough.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... A split is emerging between print's haves and have nots, with the majority of firms coming under increasing downward pressure whilst the industry's cream continues to thrive, according to the BPIF's latest Directions survey. It revealed...

Mercury bags it.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Nottingham's Mercury Packaging recently supplied Conde Nast Spain with 50,000 bags for its GQ title. The resealable bags were flexo printed on both sides and produced from 50-micron metallised cast polypropylene. Mercury's export business now...

Pressision gets going.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Pressision has broken even immediately after its start up in Leeds two weeks ago. Founder James Taylor, installed a four-colour Lithrone 426 and approached former college friends running their own advertising and design agencies. Pressision is...

Expansion plans.(Color Company's litho arm pays off)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... The Color Company's decision to develop a litho arm to its digital printing operations appears to be paying dividends. Three months on litho work now accounts for over 14 % of turnover.Sidney Bobb, a spokesman for the Color Company, says:...

Luscher becomes the thermal speed king.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Swiss ctp specialist Luscher has thrown down the gauntlet to rival thermal manufacturers after staging a `world record' stunt in which it imaged 44 B1 plates in an hour, ten more than the closest competition, it claims. At an event in...

The workflow turned off.(Engage files for chapter 11 and has assets acquired by Scene7)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... The troubled history of pioneering workflow providers Cascade and MidSystems has taken another turn as their US owner Engage files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and sees its assets acquired by Scene7. However, Scene7 has already...

One for the road.(Ripware and TP Consultancy initiative)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Ripware and TP Consultancy have formed an initiative called Quality Control Solutions which aims to help customers identify products and services to establish and maintain a prepress quality control programme. At a series of Quality Control...

MAN's roller refurbishment.(MAN Roland GB )(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... MAN Roland GB has taken a bold move to try to create clear water between itself and competing suppliers in the fiercely competitive roller refurbishment sector. Since it became sole UK agent for Westland Rollers the MAN Roland GB strategy...

PlateRite 4300 boost.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Paramount Print Group in Manchester has replaced its BasysPrint computer to conventional plate system with a B2 thermal PlateRite 4300 device from Screen UK. Since installation Paramount has noticed significant improvements including better...

US Outlook Conference.(Executive Outlook Conference )(Brief Article)(Calendar)
July 3, 2003... Bruce James, the US public printer and head of the Government Printing Office, will be the keynote speaker at the forthcoming Executive Outlook Conference in McCormick Place South, Chicago, Illinois on September 27. It will be held before the...

Pro Sign 2004.(International Trade Fair for Advertising Technique and Digital Printing )(Brief Article)(Calendar)
July 3, 2003... The date of Pro Sign 2004 has been finalised. The International Trade Fair for Advertising Technique and Digital Printing will run in Hall 8 of the Frankfurt Exhibition Centre from October 21 - 23, 2004. The organisers, Reed Exhibitions...

Dorset Council and Bezier Poole link up.
July 3, 2003... Dorset County Council has signed a five-year contract with Bezier Poole in the first public-private partnership deal of its kind, the council claims. Following a best value review of its printing operations, Dorset decided to keep its...

Polestar tackles H&S issue.(health and safety )(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Polestar has launched a comprehensive training programme for all managers and staff involved in health and safety issues at work. The training will cover key safety issues such as the use of machine guarding, the safe use of chemicals and...

Mergers and acquisitions.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... The mergers and acquisitions market is active and will continue to grow according to Paul Holohan, chief executive of Richmond Capital Partners. He says there is a need in the market for rationalisation as companies consolidate costs. "It...

AdvantagePlus launched by Richmond.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Richmond Capital Partners has launched AdvantagePlus, a business tool designed specifically for the printing industry. Established in the US printing industry, AdvantagePlus is an integrated business improvement programme which identifies...

Space selling fast.(Print for Business show)(Calendar)
July 3, 2003... More than 70% of space has already been sold at this year's Print for Business show. The Midlands show is organised by the Independent Print Industries Association and is the UK's only print management, print buying and trade services show...

Rollers from Boss.(Boss Graphic Supplies)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Boss Graphic Supplies has added a full range of roller services to its extensive range of pressroom products available through Sun Chemical Gibbon. The rollers are delivered as single rollers or full sets with new or fully reconditioned cores...

Zapf's work on cd.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Linotype Library has recognised the typographical achievement of Gudrun Zapf von Hesse and Hermann Zapf with a special edition. The Gudrun & Hermann Zapf Collection comprises the Palatino, Optima and Diotima, as well as the popular Linotype...

Burall PlasTec flies flag for investment.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... There was plenty to celebrate at Burall PlasTec last week. The Wisbech printer was presented with a Queen's Award for Enterprise by the Vice- Lord Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire, Michael Marshall, and a #1.6m investment programme completed its...

St Ives nets Komori double.(new equipment)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... St Ives has commissioned the group's second Komori 40SP at its Blackburn site in the wake of the start up of a similar press at Carrprint, also in Lancashire. Like the Carrprint machine, the St Ives machine is a 5/5 press. It will be used...

Warners centralises.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Warners of Bourne, Lincs, has centralised the ink handling for four Heidelberg M600 16-page presses and one eight-page Zircon machine. It now has onsite storage incorporating four mother tanks each containing 1.5 tonnes of ink. To ensure...

McGowans chooses Karat for longer runs.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Irish digital printer McGowans has installed its first `traditional' offset press, a KBA 46Karat, joining a print room including both Indigo and Xeikon presses. "We wanted something to cope with print runs above 1,000," says managing...

Ink is a craft in the past.(printing and ink use)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... The question of whether to fit some kind of automated ink dispensing system to a press is an issue that can be taken as a microcosm of much larger trends and developments. The arguments against point to a reduction in flexibility, because it...

Letter: Capital available if plans stack up.(Letter to the Editor)
July 3, 2003... An article in May 5 issue reports the Bank of England's forecast that venture capital money will be greatly reduced for 2001/02. Richmond Capital Partners would agree that venture capital funds are hard to come by as previously major players...

Letter: Grg has empathy with end user.(Letter to the Editor)
July 3, 2003... I read with interest your leader Progression of the proof (Printing World, June 19), and would like to inform you of our opinion and how we address this matter. A proof is the closest representation of the product that the client requires....

Xerox in the clear.(recapitalisation )(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Xerox has successfully pulled off its $3.6bn recapitalisation, raising $472m through new common stock shares and $920m of new three-year mandatory convertible stock. Xerox has also got $700m in new revolving credit and a $300m term loan. The...

Inveresk happy talk.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Inveresk shareholders were told at the company's agm last week that `the company has enjoyed a strong period of trading since the beginning of the year', despite the uncertainty caused by its recapitalisation. Interim results for the first half...

ABB makes the grade.(shares rise after asbestos case settled)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... ABB, the conglomerate that makes press controls and paper making equipment, has had claims against it by asbestosis victims capped by an American court at $1.3bn, less than many had expected. Shares rose to over $3.70 at the news but later fell...

Web press drought hits KBA interim figures.
July 3, 2003... KBA's drop in sales, down 19.5% in the first quarter, worsened in the second quarter and the company is now expected to make a small loss for the first time since the downturn struck in 2001. The pre-tax loss is expected to be less than...

Trinity disposal talk grows.(Trinity Mirror)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Trinity Mirror's advertising revenues have barely risen so far in 2003, the company has warned. Advertising revenues rose by 0.6% in the first quarter but have fallen by 0.4% in the second, the company has warned in a trading update. ...

Solid show from Domino.(sales and profits up)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Cambridge headquartered inkjet printhead manufacturer Domino has turned in a solid set of half-year figures with sales and profits up, thanks to a strong performance in Asia. Turnover for the six months to April 30 was #79.5m, up 6% on the...

Cordiant battle is anything but cordial.(Active Value tries to stop WPP from acquiring Cordiant)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Active Value, the investment fund, is trying to block WPP's takeover of struggling advertising group Cordiant, it emerged last week. Active Value, which also holds a 7% stake in print group Communisis, has increased its stake in Cordiant to...

Bloomsbury's wizard effect.(Bloomsbury expects profits from sale of Harry Potter book)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Publisher Bloomsbury was unsurprisingly upbeat about its prospects last week, on the back of its publication of the fifth Harry Potter novel, the highest selling yet. The group is already able to announce that it is expecting pre-tax...

Printcafe in legal battle.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... At the very moment it is being taken over by Electronics for Imaging, print buying system supplier Printcafe has been confronted by a class action lawsuit in the US. The ill-timed lawsuit alleges that the company was guilty of making...

Compulsory winding up.(petition against Solo Print Finishers Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... The following case is due to be heard at Leeds District Registry, The Courthouse, 1 Oxford Row, Leeds LS1 3BG * Solo Print Finishers Ltd Unit 4A, Saddleback Road, Westgate Industrial Estate, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN5 5HL on July 8...

Appointment of liquidators.(Public Notice)
July 3, 2003... * Unique Business Information Publishers. Liquidators: NR Gibson and G Robbins, CBA, Lichfield Place, 435 Lichfield Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 7SS * Merlin House Publishers Ltd Magazine publishers. Liquidator: Filippa Connor, B & C...

Appointment of receivers.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... * London City Press Holdings Ltd Previous company name Hop-Up Ltd Printing brokers. Receivers: SPJ Wadsted and PJ Yeldon, Middleton Partners, 48 Langham Street, London W1W 7AY Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Meetings of creditors.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
July 3, 2003... * Sondhi Kellar plc (formerly Kellar plc) at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 101 Barbirolli Square, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3PW on July 3 at 10.30am * Image International Publishers Ltd at Marygreen Manor Hotel, London Road,...

Notices to creditors.(Public Notice)
July 3, 2003... * Hawcocks Books Ltd Creditors to send claims to PM McConnell, 38-42 Newport Street, Swindon, Wiltshire SN1 3DR by July 24 * Allegro Technology Ltd (t/a John Smith Print) Creditors to send claims to RJ Brown of John Gordon Walton & Co by...

Free with ctp.(Heidelberg UK to supply Troika PlateCam dotmeter following trial)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Heidelberg UK is to supply a Troika PlateCam dotmeter with each Topsetter or Prosetter ctp sold, following a six-month trial of the simple to use device. The idea is that users will be able to check their units against the initial calibration...

Lithocraft adds server.(Xeus Graphics Server )(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Coventry printer Lithocraft has installed a Xeus Graphics Server running Silicon Systems WwwWebflow asset management application, and given the new online service the name Lighthouse to signify the access point. The company, once a prepress...

Phillips in the trade.(Phillips Digital Services provides trade platemaking service )(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Phillips Digital Services is providing a trade platemaking service using an Agfa Xcalibur 45 to produce B1 thermal plates. The thermal plate allows the company to be flexible enough to bake the plate for long runs and uv printing. ...

More power to violet.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Esko-Graphics is to offer its PlateDriver family with a 40mW violet diode laser as interest builds in violet diode technology. The new laser will boost output speeds on the four- and eight-page models. The PlateDriver 8HS will expose 42 B1...

Fujifilm enlarges product family.
July 3, 2003... Fujifilm ISIG, the prepress suppliers' software development operation, has substantially added to its Valiano Business Management Software application, and is now offering a suite of products that cover job tracking and cost management through...

Highwater to smooth workflow.(Highwater Designs' arrangement with Global Graphics)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Highwater Designs, Cheltenham, is extending its relationship with Global Graphics which has until now been confined to the Harlequin Rip. It has renewed this Oem arrangement for a further five years and has also signed a deal to take the...

The Wyke stuff: Epson proves a hit in Hull.(NCS Integrated Solutions using Epson 10600 )(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Stephen Connor, studio manager of Wyke Printers in Hull, is happy to see NCS Integrated Solutions sales director Tony Newton, which is a sure indication that things are going well with the Epson 10600 that is being used as a proofer. This is...

Domtar slow down.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Domtar is to shut down pulp and paper mills during July to help reduce stocks built up during low demand. As a result 15,000 tonnes of paper and 7,000 of pulp will not reach the market. This continues action started at the beginning of this...

Stora Enso starts up.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Stora Enso's new recycled PM4 newsprint machine at the Langerbrugge mill in Belgium was officially opened last week. The world's largest newsprint machine, PM4 can produce 400,000 tonnes a year of 4gsm newsprint, and this should reach 450,000...

CPI backs bin charges.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... The Confederation of Paper Industries has welcomed new recommendations on recycling from the government's Advisory Committee on Packaging. The CPI has asked for the landfill tax to be increased and charging households for rubbish collection to...

International paper makes the digital grade.(new Pro-Explore grade)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... With predictions of concerted annual growth in the digital print market - in some cases as much as 18% - commercial printers adopting the technology need to be sure their customers have a choice of substrates on which to best present their...

Consort's blue white shade.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Consort Royal Blue White - claimed to be the most brilliant shade of white, coated paper available - has been unveiled by Howard Smith Paper. The blue white shade, says HSPG, has been developed to enhance the vibrancy of the existing range...

Shout about it.(Robert Horne Group showcases design and print)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Work by leading UK design agencies and printers is featured in the second edition of Shout, a design and print showcase from Robert Horne Group. Various stocks from the merchant were used by Abba Litho, St Ives, Westerham Press, Maincolour...

Analyst sounds warning.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... PricewaterhouseCoopers is warning that paper companies are not earning the sorts of returns needed to achieve a long term success in a survey looking at the top 100 companies in the paper industry. Concentrating on return on capital...

Educating the designers.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... The Paper Company's Southern Paper division has been doing its bit to help designers better understand the print process by organising a midsummer customer get together at Heidelberg's showroom in Brentford. Over 60 graphic designers attended...

DS Smith buys Rapak.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... DS Smith has acquired 100% of Rapak Asia Pacific, formerly a 50% owned joint venture with AEP Industries Inc. Rapak Asia Pacific is a leader in bag-in-box liquid packaging systems based in Australia and New Zealand, operating throughout Asia...

Rugby special brew.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... A distribution centre has been opened to service Rexam Beverage Can Europe & Asia for a just in time operation with Northampton brewer Carlsberg Tetley. The new 40,000sq ft warehouse in Northampton was officially opened by rugby stars Jon...

Aerosol guidelines.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... A guide for companies to assess performance against standards for every stage of the aerosol lifecycle has been produced by the British Aerosol Manufacturers Association. The BAMA Standard for Consumer Safety and Good Manufacturing includes...

ALS and Field team up for bigger shelf impact.(Advanced Labelling Systems and Field First Label Access)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Advanced Labelling Systems and Field First Label Access, part of the Field Group, say they have developed a method of labelling for the food industry. Tray-fix is a combined label and machinery solution that presents a robust alternative...

PA makes foods more convenient.(Packaging Automation)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Packaging Automation, the UK manufacturer of heat sealing machinery for the food industry, is to launch a new filling and sealing machine at the PPMA. The unit is aimed at the convenience liquid foods processing industry and provides three...

Windmoller & Holscher has largest ever tuber size.(flexible packaging machinery )(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Windmoller & Holscher unveiled the AM 8115 addition to its range of tubers for multi-wall flexible packaging machinery at a customer open day in Lengerich, Germany. Visitors from 24 countries saw the universal tuber with a size ratio of...

Delta Print takes Bobst Lemanic for McJobs.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... An eight-colour inline flexo press is to go into Delta Print and Packaging, Belfast. The company has moved away from litho printing with the Bobst Lemanic 67-F due for delivery at the end of the year. It will be used primarily for McDonald's...

Friedheim's foray.(exclusive agency for the UK and Ireland )(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... An exclusive agency for the UK and Ireland has been secured by Friedheim International for the highly regarded Finnish manufactured range of FBM mailing systems. Peter Morris, managing director, says: `The agreement, with immediate effect...

Isle of Man MM.(Bridson and Horrocks installs saddlestitcher)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... The family run firm of printers and finishers, Bridson & Horrocks of Douglas on the Isle of Man, has installed a Presto saddlestitcher. This new Muller Martini supplied machine will boost production by over 125%. Copyright: CMP Information...

Low volume bagging.(Record Packaging launches Minipack Mailbag machine)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Record Packaging has launched the Minipack Mailbag machine. The Stretford, Manchester company, says the machine is ideal for wrapping newspapers, manuals, catalogues and direct mail pieces. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Folding the production.(new equipment at Tawny Press )(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Tawny Press is supporting its new five-colour Komori Lithrone 40 along with two other presses with a Shoei SPK B1 folder. Gary Cheverall, managing director, reckons he can double productivity with these two new machines. The Shoei has two...

WH Ware celebrates first year in new home.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Over 140 guests visited WH Ware, the specialist trade book binding house, when it recently held an open day just over a year after work was completed on the 33,000sq ft facility. WH Ware do not do any saddlestitched work and Terry Kelly,...

Tradeforms secures exams.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Tradeforms, a small printer in Glasgow, has now produced over the past year 3 million `Infosafe' forms, mainly for universities and other examining bodies. This simple security system protects the identity or any other specified...

Bailiffs get smarter and quicker.(Equita installs Xeikon 7000)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2003... Time saving, increased productivity and automation of mundane tasks are all benefits discovered by users of MB highly automated folders. Even the bailiffs have got in on the act. Equita has the responsibility for the distribution of...