Printing World articles from May 2004

Printing World archives from May 2004

Polestar's Sheffield plans hang on EU cash.(European Union)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Polestar is waiting to see whether it has received a grant of around #6m of European money at a crunch meeting before confirming that it has selected Sheffield as the location for its new True North gravure plant. Printing World...

The story behind the Xerox cover.(outer cover)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... While the hot topics for Drupa are going to be workflows, management solutions and digital printing, the modern printer can easily be let down by the performance of finishing equipment. When care is taken on preflighting prepress jobs and...

Merger goes to EC.(European Commission)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Axel Springer and Bertelsmann are to apply to the European Commission for permission to merge the gravure printing operations that the companies operate. According to a report in Der Speigel, negotiations between Springer's ceo Mathias...

Eco printer survey.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... IT Strategies has surveyed 149 companies on their use of eco solvent printers. It found that 75% either have or plan to purchase an eco solvent inkjet printer and of the 29% of companies that plan to purchase, half plan to make that purchase in...

Technotrans revenue up.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Technotrans has reported a good start in the 2004 financial year. Revenue is up 3.5% on the first quarter of the previous year to E26.7m with the positive trend of the previous two quarters holding up. The print segment performed particularly...

Signs of recovery.(Anglo Dutch publishing group)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Reed Elsevier, the Anglo Dutch publishing group, has reported signs of recovery in its trade magazines business due to a healthier outlook for the US market. Advertising revenues at Reed's B2B publishing arm have fallen as companies cut...

Magazine trends book.(Fipp/ZenithOptimedia World Magazine )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Fipp/ZenithOptimedia World Magazine Trends book is now available with savings on immediate orders. The 232-page book contains over 900 tables of information and 150 charts on the state of publishing in 71 countries from Argentina to Zimbabwe....

Fuji plate is favourite.(Fujifilm Graphic Systems)(Brillia LP-NV )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Fujifilm Graphic Systems has announced that its violet negative working plate, Brillia LP-NV has been chosen by ECRM, Esko-Graphics and HighWater to run on their violet platesetters in each of the company's showrooms. ECRM and HighWater are...

Price rise.(thermal spray equipment )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Praxair Surface Technologies has raised list prices an average of 5% - 12% on its line of thermal spray equipment and consumables. The company will also reduce price discounts to its global distribution network as contracts permit. The increase...

Norwich talks outsourcing with Lea.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Norwich Union is in discussions with Williams Lea about outsourcing its printing, mailroom and creative requirements. And according to David Ross, media relations manager at Norwich Union, a total of 541 countrywide jobs at Norwich Union...

Westdale Press to be Suprasetter pioneer.(Heidelberg Americas)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Westdale Press is to be the first company to install the Heidelberg Suprasetter, the ctp device that is being launched at Drupa this week. The Welsh company is spending #3m in total, the remainder going on a new 12-colour Speedmaster with...

The Print Factory's direct mail site already up and running.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The Print Factory's new #2m direct mail site opened last Friday and is already printing transactional and direct mail jobs for much of the Print Factory's customer base, which includes Sky TV and Vodafone. "We had parallel running the week...

Multigraphics appointment.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Large format screen printer, Multigraphics, has appointed Ivor Heller as account director for the London area. Mr Heller joins after spending 15 years at KPD London, manufacturer and designer of point-of-sale material in the UK, where he was...

Lasertel appointment.(Mark McElhinney)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Presstek has appointed Mark McElhinney as interim chief operating office of Lasertel, Presstek's Tucson, Arizona subsidiary. Mr McElhinney also announced that the company had received a significant order, worth $1m for high power,...

Dynagram showcase.
May 6, 2004... Dynagram will be showcasing DynaStrip, its high end imposition solution and Inposition 6.1, the Quark Xtension which will be compatible with the latest version of Quark XPress 6.1 at Drupa. Its booth will be located in Hall 9 at stand A74-4....

Creo appointment.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Creo has announced that effective June 1, Gudrun Baunach will take over as marketing communications manager of Creo Emea, Waterloo. Ms Baunach currently has responsibility for Germany, Austria and Switzerland and will assume the duties of Katja...

New magazine.(new lifestyle consumer magazine Trade)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... A new lifestyle consumer magazine, Trade, is to be launched in June. The title hopes to establish a readership of ABC1 adults aged 25-48. It will be published monthly and initially distributed free into 12 affluent areas within south-east...

Bezier consults staff over new site location.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Bezier is looking to move its Wakefield display printing operation to a modern industrial unit that will enable it to install larger presses. The choice of location rests upon the decision of the plant's 293 employees who have been sent...

GMG for UK.(GMG Aqua)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... GMG, the German provider of proofing software, has established a UK subsidiary in support of its GMG ColorProof product. As of May 1, the GMG UK name replaces distributor Togo Software, although the company will continue to operate out of...

Waterlow name lives on.(Powell Print )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The Waterlow name is to live on in printing, with the sale of Waterlow Christmas Cards to their printer, Powell Print in Dover. Waterlow owner, Oyez Straker, has disposed of the #2.5m-turnover division because it wants to concentrate on...

New forklift.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Tall Group has renewed its long term supply and service agreement with Crown. The company has bought a new 1,800kg capacity SC 3000 forklift to unload reeled paper from delivery vehicles and ferrying raw materials and finished products around...

Publishing survey.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The UK publishing market will grow by 12.9% between 2004 and 2008, according to Key Note, the market intelligence service. Magazines will lead this growth, with revenues up by 17.3%, while newspaper revenues will increase by 15.2%, and book...

Pearson upbeat.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Pearson chairman Dennis Stevenson has told shareholders that business is at a three-year peak. Mr Stevenson told the annual meeting of the Financial Times, Penguin books and US children's education publishing conglomerate, that trading...

Print department reorganised.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... South Nottingham College's Multimedia print department has undergone a thorough Ofsted inspection and QAA review and has been reorganised under the direction of new principal, Malcolm Cowgill. The team now offers industry focused professional...

New food magazine.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... BBC Magazines will add a third title to its food portfolio with the launch of Easy Food on June 16. The magazine will join others in the `Easy' range and will cost #1.99. It will have a print run of 120,000. BBC Magazines has just announced...

Strategic plan charts progress since Print 21.(printing industry)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The strategic plan for the printing industry, published last week in draft form, is framed as a progress report on sorting the problems identified in the Print 21 report and identifying the issues that still need tackling. It also acts as...

CUP eight finish first phase.(Cambridge University Press)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Eight trainees have completed their six-month probationary period of a new apprenticeship programme being run by Cambridge Printing, the printing business of Cambridge University Press. Michael Johnson, chief executive of the BPIF,...

Direct buy.(litho printer Pascall Print & Design)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The Direct Printing Company has bought Northampton litho printer Pascall Print & Design, incorporating its three staff and equipment into its own purpose built headquarters in Broxworth, Northamptonshire. Company secretary Sally Bradbury...

Statex tackles shortages with training.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Newcastle printer Statex Colour Print is implementing a training programme to tackle skills shortages in the region's workforce. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Statex is co-ordinating its own training efforts with the BPIF and...

VeriVide gains recognition.
May 6, 2004... VeriVide from Leicester has gained recognition from Ifra as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. Its DTP Proof Viewer was used in March at the competition for membership in the International Newspaper Color Quality Club. VeriVide worked with Dr...

Archant acquisition referred.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Archant's #63m acquisition of 27 newspapers in London, including the Islington Gazette and the Kensington Times, has been referred to the competition watchdog by the Office of Fair Trading. It is the first referral of a newspaper merger under...

New Light buys Xeikon press.(Greek printing company New Light )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Greek printing company New Light has reaffirmed its confidence in Xeikon technology and has become the first company in the south-east Mediterranean area to invest in a Xeikon 5000. The Xeikon 5000 is a webfed press which comes integrated with...

Asura at Drupa.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... OneVision will unveil a new solution for document delivery, quality control, tracking and administration of publication content over the Internet at Drupa. Based on OneVision's proven Asura Pro technology, Asura Enterprise enables print...

Workflow solutions.
May 6, 2004... Compose System will feature new ctp workflow and digital proofing solutions for commercial printers at its Drupa stand (Hall 9 B26-2). New at the show is Express ColorFlow, low cost workflow solution for digital proofing and printing on inkjets...

Httprint name dropped and Spencer steps up.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Polestar is to phase out the Httprint name and will now sell its software and print management services under the Polestar Applied Solutions (PAS) name. Httprint's iconic purple website has been switched off but the name will live on as a...

GPMU seek Dixon meeting.(Graphical Paper and Media Union )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The GPMU is seeking a meeting with Howitt's chief executive Nick Dixon to discuss the reported #14m gap in J Howitt and Son's pension fund. However, under the Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) rules the new owner has no liability for...

Orchestra in tune with Proximity.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Full service mailing company Orchestra and marketing agency Proximity London have entered into a strategic partnership. Labelled Proximity Works, the collaboration brings together Orchestra's back end data management capability with...

US firm Expresscopy.com boosts capacity with trio of Xeikon 5000s.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... US online digital printer Expresscopy.com has increased capacity with the purchase of three Xeikon 5000 presses. The Portland, Oregon company, which already owns three Xeikon DCP 32Ds and a DCP 50D, is the first printer in the US to order...

46 Karat at Drupa.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... KBA will show the new 46 Karat Plus digital offset press at Drupa. The A3 size portrait format four-colour digital offset press provides high level print quality and enhancements over current DI press models in the small format class. It...

Polyart promotion.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Working in conjunction with Arjobex, the Robert Horne group has made an immediate 8% price reduction on its entire range of Polyart papers and boards. Polyart has a unique clay coating which is possible to print without using oxidising inks on...

Kodak completes acquisitions.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Eastman Kodak has completed its acquisition of NexPress Solutions and Heidelberg Digital from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen. Kodak has also completed the purchase of NexPress, Heidelberg's German subsidiary. The acquired companies will be...

InkMonitor on show.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... HighWater will be showing its InkMonitor software in Hall 9 at Stand B34 to printers interested in saving makeready times and increasing efficiency. Available in two versions, InkMonitor Light and InkMonitor Pro, the software can be used as a...

EU guide.(European Union)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Belfast publisher CDS has produced a guide to the ten new states who joined the EU on May 1. Commissioned by Belfast City Council and written by Arthur Bell, coordinator of Language Network Northern Ireland. The book's title, Amber Road, comes...

Heyes returns to take helm at Image Factory.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... After a year-long career break, former Polestar Petty boss Jeff Heyes has started as managing director of a small screen printer with a difference. The Image Factory, formerly called Western Screen and Sign, changed its name and moved from...

HSW gets PrintReady.(PrintReady system)(HSW Print)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Taking out a couple of steps in the workflow is the claim for the PrintReady system recently installed at HSW Print, Tonypandy, Wales. Malcolm Hackman, managing director, says: "We are now working with a complete PDF workflow having gone...

Exel alters image.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Used machinery dealer Exel has revised its corporate identity ahead of Drupa. The group comprises four companies: Exel Graphic Services, Exel Printing Engineers, Exel Printing Machinery and Pressrental, established in 2003. Tim...

Centurion Publishing rebrands as Redactive Group.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Centurion Publishing Group, which provides contract publishing services to some of the largest membership organisations in Europe, has rebranded as Redactive Media Group. Redactive manages editorial and advertising services for...

MAN Roland forum.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... MAN Roland is arranging meetings with prominent industry personalities at exclusive `Personality Shows' at Drupa. The forum will deal with questions regarding technical processes as well as new business models and strategic planning. More...

New wiping blade.(Duralife Doctor Blade)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Daetwyler is introducing the MDC Duralife Doctor Blade, a new high performance wiping blade designed to exceed the flexographic industry's blade requirements. The blade can be used with ceramic anilox rollers and has a thin, reduced tip. The...

Buyers Guide.
May 6, 2004... The Digital Dots Buyers Guide has been developed to help anyone investing in digital technology make the right decision. The series of five independent books covers JDF, ctp, preflighting, colour management and proofing and digital printing....

Expanded range.(Stock Equipment Co.)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Stock in Germany has expanded its range of `A' series mounting machines for the display industries. Stock has also added a laminator capable of accurately mounting litho printed sheets as large as 2,050x2,100mm to corrugated and other...

EU Constitution survey.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Most British companies oppose the EU Constitution according to a poll of 1,000 firms conducted by ICM for the New Frontiers Foundation. Chief executives felt that the economy would be more prosperous and secure if ministers took back powers...

CSI acquisition.(Ridder Packaging Systems)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... CSI Industries has acquired the technology and part of the company's operations associated with palletising of the Ridder Packaging Systems in the Netherlands. Total installed base is 250 systems in 25 countries. The new standalone business...

Linear thinks along big lines for billboards.(Linear Color Corp)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... A US printing company is hoping to redefine the outdoor advertising sector with the introduction of a new technology that allows billboards to be produced up to 15 times faster than current machines. Linear Color Corp says that its...

Unidrum goes in at Petty.(Ferag Unidrum )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... The first of four Ferag Unidrum lines is being installed at Polestar Petty this week as developments hot up in the world of high speed stitching. Each of the Ferag lines can stitch at 30,000 copies per hour and the extra productivity has...

SigmaLine is fruit of partnership.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Muller Martini has released details of its partnership with Delphax with which it has produced what it claims is the industry's first complete system for digital book-on-demand production. The SigmaLine will be demonstrated on the Muller...

6060 into three figures.(Docucolor 6060 family of digital presses )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Sales of the Xerox Docucolor 6060 family of digital presses have reached 1,000 thanks to a recent purchase by document management company Docuserve. The company, which already owns one Docucolor 6060, bought the system to cater for new...

Pride award for Osborne.(Colin Osborne founder of the Orchid Cancer Appeal)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Colin Osborne, founder of the Orchid Cancer Appeal, has been awarded the Pride of Britain Award for 2004 for Fundraising. Mr Osborne has worked at Charterhouse as a lithographer and proofer for 25 years and was picked from four finalists at...

Drupa News in brief: Atlas.(PrintShop Mail 5.0)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Personalisation software specialist Atlas is to announce the release of PrintShop Mail 5.0 at Drupa. The program includes several new features to benefit variable data printing such as text/page overflow, web to print copy fitting, direct...

Drupa News in brief: Vukek.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... On display for the first time at Drupa is the PressVu UV 200/600 digital inkjet flatbed printer from Vutek. Designed specifically for commercial imaging shops, Vutek believes the device's high end image quality and greater productivity combined...

Drupa News in brief: Esko-Graphics.
May 6, 2004... Esko-Graphics' stand at Drupa will be home to a two-week schedule of educational presentations. As well as new product demonstrations, highlights will include the introduction of Adobe Systems' Creative Suite and its integration with...

Drupa News in brief.
May 6, 2004... Demonstrations of the complete PerfectProof range of multi-platform ProofMaster Rip software packages will be available daily at Drupa. The various systems will be shown by Mitsubishi, MAN Roland and Apple as well as on PerfectProof's own stand...

Drupa News in brief: Spectra.
May 6, 2004... Spectra is planning to make several announcements associated with its precision inkjet technology at Drupa. The Apollo II printhead support kit will be shown for the first time in Europe along with the preview of Shaped Piezo Silicon, which...

Presstek puts faith in SureFire to be winner.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Presstek has announced the launch of a new laser imaging head for small format presses that the company claims will break down the cost barrier to thermal ctp. SureFire will be formally announced at Drupa and will be demonstrated on...

Biggest show breaks global barriers.(Drupa 2004 )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Drupa 2004 is set to be the biggest and most multinational in the show's 53-year history. 161,415sq m of floor space has been fully booked by 1,862 exhibitors from 52 countries; two more than the last Drupa and a significant increase on...

Agfa to offer JDF advice.(JDF consultancy )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Agfa is to provide JDF consultancy for commercial printers as part of its service portfolio from Drupa onwards. The firm will make an analysis of a printer's business and make practical recommendations on how JDF can be used to deliver...

Rima can handle the pace.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Rima System is one of the largest handling machinery manufacturers in the world. Compensating stackers and banding machines, bump turn systems, rotary trimmers and Robotics are all part of this manufacturer's portfolio. Often the equipment...

Grafitec's Barrett all set to be in eleventh heaven.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... This year marks the 11th consecutive appearance at Drupa for Tony Barrett, chairman of Grafitec Group. Mr Barrett, who is 64, first attended the show in 1962 as an employee of graphic machinery suppliers Milthorpe of Wakefield, and has not...

Host's economy is on the mend.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Representatives from Germany's leading print associations have heralded an improvement in the business climate ahead of Drupa. At a pre-exhibition press conference, senior figures from Drupa related trade associations said that climbing...

Axeda debuts digital print monitoring.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Axeda Systems, a US software developer has created software that monitors digital printing systems to provide real time diagnostic data as well as historical performance related records. Sensors are installed across most facets of critical...

Lake ripples with Integra.(Lake Imaging Systems)(IntegraVision-LS )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Lake Imaging Systems, a specialist in managing data integrity on mail inserting lines, is introducing the IntegraVision-LS at the show. This is a line scan verification system which can monitor ten areas on a form or mail piece to ensure...

KBA goes the extra mile with off site tours.
May 6, 2004... With a high speed commercial web press and eleven sheetfed and DI offset presses on its stand, KBA is unlikely to be missed by most Drupa visitors. However, the press manufacturer is extending its presence beyond the grounds of the Messe...

Mitsubishi three.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Mitsubishi has revealed that its stand at Drupa will be divided into three separate zones, each showcasing advances in performance, innovation and ecology. Future Technology Zone features the Diamond 16 Max-V web offset press with variable...

QuickFlow teamed with Python.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... HighWater will be selling its Python platesetters with a new workflow called QuickFlow, being launched at Drupa. This follows an Oem agreement between HighWater and Compose System, which has scored among smaller printers with the Express...

COMMENT: The greatest show in print.(Printing World )(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... And they're off! After what seems an interminable period of foreplay, the doors of Drupa open this morning and the teasing of the industry is at an end. Everyone can find out what the new Heidelberg looks like, how the new Xeikon works and...

Xaar trading update.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Xaar issued a trading update at its agm last week, saying that the `strong turnaround' that started in 2003 has continued in the first quarter of 2004. Xaar also has high hopes of Drupa, where it will be showing the new OmniDot printhead...

BASF sales figures.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... BASF, the chemicals group, saw no rise in sales of inks and coatings in the first quarter. Performance polymer sales, which include printing inks, fell by 1.2% to E796m. Although volumes had risen, this was negated by currency effects and...

Kinko's rebrand.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... FedEx is rebranding the Kinko's range of copyshops it acquired in February as FedEx Kinko's Office and Print Centers. The new branding will be rolled out to all Kinko's branches, including the four shops in London, by this autumn. FedEx also...

Mbos increase.(Management Buy-Out)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Mbos increased in terms of both number and value in 2003, says the Centre for Management Buyout Research at the University of Nottingham. There were 670 mbos with a total value of #16.2bn in the UK in 2003, compared to 619 deals worth a total...

IIR chairman offered peerage.(IIR Exhibitions)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Irvine Laidlaw, founder and chairman of Ipex organiser IIR Exhibitions, has been offered a peerage. But Mr Laidlaw, who will take the Conservative whip, may have to move back to the UK from Monaco and renounce his partial tax exile status to be...

Trading improves.
May 6, 2004... CA Coutts Holdings, the point-of-sale design group, has told shareholders at its annual general meeting that trading in 2004 has been up on last year, partly because of a move into higher margin design and consultancy work, including online...

Tax stamp plans stick in the throat of MPs.
May 6, 2004... Plans for tax stamps on bottles of spirits distilled in the UK have been slammed by a committee of MPs, which says they are a "19th century solution to a 21st century problem". The Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster went on fact...

Canon and NUR show off Q1 figures.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Two digital press manufacturers have reported healthy increases in sales and operating profit. Canon has seen sales increase by 9.1% to Y798.1bn, with net profits up 17.1% to Y84.3bn. Most of the increase in sales is put down to digital...

Sequoia embroiled in US voting security row.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2004... Sequoia Voting Systems, an arm of security printing group De La Rue, has come under scrutiny in a row over voting security ahead of November's elections in the US. An advisory panel in California has recommended that the state only use...