IWCO Direct

Flint Ink, XSYS Print Merge ANN ARBOR, MI—Flint Ink and XSYS Print Solutions of Stuttgart, Germany, have agreed to merge. The combination creates a global ink supplier with revenues of roughly $2.6 billion and with about 8,000 employees. Pending regulatory approval, the deal is slated to be finalized around September 30. XSYS was created by the 2004 merger of BASF Printing Systems and ANI Printing Inks. Finnish Paper Lockout Ends HELSINKI, FINLAND—Finland's major paper manufacturers and unions representing more than one million forest industry workers finally reached a labor agreement after being urged to return to the negotiating table by Finland Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. The

By Erik Cagle Senior Editor One would be hard pressed to find a better model for success than the one that is constantly being crafted and perfected at IWCO Direct in Chanhassen, MN. The former Instant Web Companies, which recast its name last year to reflect its integrated direct mail package capabilities, has been a runaway train for billowing sales the past four years. Its revenues in 2001 registered a very respectable $84 million, a figure that climbed to $91 million in 2002 and $124.9 million in 2003, culminating with an estimated $146 million for 2004. Growth a Constant Perhaps culminating is an inaccurate

(Editor's Note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2004. Therefore, companies that revised their 2003 revenues may have changed their 2003 ranking as compared with the ranking that appeared in last year's Printing Impressions 400. Similarly, the percentage change in sales is calculated on the most recent information provided.) 1 ('03: 2) RR Donnelley, Chicago, IL Total Sales (Millions): $8,204.50 Previous Year's Sales (Millions): $4,754.94 Change (%): +73 Principal Officer: Mark A. Angelson Employees: 44,000 Primary Specialties: SPEC 26%; CAT/PUB 23%; BF 10%; COM 9%; BKS 8% Web Offset Press Units: N/A Sheetfed Press

By Erik Cagle Senior Editor Even though postal reform remains in a holding pattern and the 2004 economy dragged its feet en route to recovery, major players in the direct mail industry have high expectations to what the coming year will bring after a solid finish to the current year. The 2004 campaign was one of dramatic growth in top-line and bottom-line revenue for IWCO Direct, Chanhassen, MN. The company once again saw solid performances from the financial services and insurance markets, according to Jim Andersen, president and CEO. Top 10 Direct Mail Printers  CompanySegmentSales(millions)TotalSales(millions) 1Quebecor WorldMontreal$640$6,400 2RR DonnelleyChicago$492$8,204 3Vertis Inc.Baltimore$317$1,585 4Banta Corp.Menasha, WI$184$1,418

Ennis Acquires All Royal Stock MIDLOTHIAN, TX—Printed business products specialist Ennis Inc. has acquired all of the stock of Arlington, TX-based Royal Business Forms for $3.7 million in Ennis stock. Royal Business Forms posted sales of $12 million for its fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2004. Royal Business Forms opened its doors in 1959. Dollco Purchases Roland 700s OTTAWA—Dollco Printing, one of Canada's largest privately owned commercial printers, has acquired a pair of MAN Roland 700 presses, a five-color and a 10-color unit, to complement its sheetfed, heatset web and coldset press arsenal. Integrated into the installation are an in-line sheeter, coater and perfecting. Dollco

CHANHASSEN, MN—IWCO Direct announced it will invest more than $4 million for new equipment in an effort to increase lettershop capacity by 35 percent and add capabilities to reduce cycle time. The investment is also being made to provide products and services to support complex personalization models for direct mail programs, according to Jim Andersen, president and CEO of IWCO Direct. "We have seen overwhelming evidence that the marketplace wants a single source that can provide all of the components of a direct mail package with a postal strategy that drives speed to market and substantial postage savings opportunities," says Andersen. "Our expansion is focused on

THE FIRST decade in the 21st century has become known for its lists of Top 10s, 50s, 100s—you name it. We have assembled 20 of the printing industry’s finest young executives for your consideration.

CGX Tabs Xerox for Digital Gear HOUSTON—Consolidated Graphics (CGX) announced it has selected Xerox to provide digital color printing technology to its 65 nationwide commercial printing locations. As part of the deal, CGX has installed six DocuColor iGen3 digital production presses and six DocuColor 6060 digital color presses. Xerox will also provide marketing and business development resources to assist CGX in introducing these solutions to current and prospective customers. GPO Seeks $25M for Upgrades WASHINGTON, DC—Telling the Committee on House Administration and the House Legislative Subcommittee that the Government Printing Office had the groundwork in place to move the agency's transformation to the "next