Lehigh Press

ST. LOUIS—Von Hoffmann Corp. announced it was integrating its two-plant facility Precision Offset Printing into Lehigh Lithographers, of Pennsauken, NJ, in a move to reduce costs and consolidate its services for customers of materials printed on plastics and other synthetic substrates. Precision Offset, which employs about 110 people at its Leesport, PA, and Dauberville, PA, facilities, is a leading manufacturer of plastic products, including overhead transparencies and plastic inserts for educational textbooks. Von Hoffmann will incur a pre-tax charge between $4 million and $4.5 million in the first quarter of 2004 to cover severance payments, relocation costs and the write-down of certain fixed assets that

BY chris Bauer Managing Editor The year 2003 can be summed up as a period that had its ups and downs as far as the commercial printing industry is concerned. For every plant closing, there seemed to be a plant expansion project. For every poor financial report, there was a major capital equipment expenditure. Some big names left the industry, making way for a new generation of leaders. And the industry's biggest annual trade show left attendees and exhibitors with a feeling of hope. Let's take a look back. The beginning of the year brought with it changes to the top spots at several

PIA/GATF Chooses New Home SAN ANTONIO, TX—After an 18 month review, the boards of directors of the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) and Printing Industries of America (PIA) have selected Sewickley, PA, (over Waukesha, WI) as the new site for its consolidated headquarters. While GATF/PIA will maintain a small office in Washington, DC, for public policy purposes, the majority of PIA operations will move to the current headquarters of GATF, located just outside of Pittsburgh.The timing for the move is the fall of 2004. Mail-Well Creates New Group ENGLEWOOD, CO—Mail-Well has formed its new 360° Enterprise Solutions Group for the direct marketing industry. The 360° Enterprise Solutions

ST. LOUIS—The Von Hoffmann Corp. has signed a stock purchase agreement to acquire the Lehigh Press for approximately $110 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. Founded in 1924, the Lehigh Press is a highly specialized component printer with market leadership positions in both book covers and direct marketing materials. Lehigh's operating platform includes Pennsauken, NJ-based Lehigh Lithographers, which provides component printing and digital premedia services, and Broadview, IL-based Lehigh Direct, which provides advanced direct marketing services. Lehigh employs approximately 450 people. In 2002, privately held Lehigh Press reported net sales of nearly $120 million, excluding its Puerto Rico affiliate. The company anticipates that its total

HIGHLAND PARK, IL—In corporate America, the word "partnership" between suppliers and customers often gets more lip service than actual practitioners—let alone in the often cutthroat, price-sensitive printing industry. But the Lehigh Press showed its appreciation recently to nearly 300 industry vendors, business friends and facilitators at an elegant Supplier Appreciation Gala Reception held outdoors here amidst the backdrop of the Exmoor Country Club along Chicago's upscale North Shore. "Tonight is really a gratifying celebration of success and our opportunity to express appreciation to a very important gathering of Lehigh stakeholders: our tremendous supplier community spanning equipment, technology, materials, supplies and, of course, lenders

Workflow Management Gets CEO PALM BEACH, FL—Gary W. Ampulski has been appointed president and CEO of Workflow Management. Ampulski brings to the position strong financial performance and hands-on experience in printing systems and services. Most recently he served as president and CEO of TAB Products, Vernon Hills, IL, a publicly held company. There he reportedly improved operating results, enhanced the management team, reduced costs and increased shareholder value by more than 175 percent in less than two years. California Printers Merge WATSONVILLE, CA—ColorAd Printers and Watsonville Press have joined forces to form PRINTWORX, which offers digital prepress, proofing and printing options. The new company has

ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM—Community Newspaper Holdings has purchased a 14-unit double-around press from Dauphin Graphic Machines. The six DGM 850 units and two DGM 860 towers will be used to print The Sharon Herald and The New Castle News, both in Pennsylvania. MONTGOMERY—Davis Printing has implemented Printcafe's PSI print management system. california NAPA—Label printer Jonergin Pacific completed a full conversion to CRC Information Systems' THE System accounting package in just one week. OXNARD—Ventura Printing is now producing pocket folders, CD wallets, packaging and boxes using a new Kluge UniFold folding and gluing system. The employee-owned company has been in business for 56 years. SAN

By Erik Cagle Good news! In October, Postmaster General John E. Potter told the Direct Marketing Association's annual conference attendees that, because of its reform efforts that enabled the USPS to remove $2.9 billion out of its bottom line in fiscal 2002, there would be no rate hikes until "well into 2004." The bad news, of course, is that the general economy and volume reductions in mailings made 2002 a challenging campaign for those companies that provide direct mail solutions from the production end. Thus, in noting that there will be no rate hike in 2003 is akin to pointing out, "At least the

(Editor's Note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2002. Therefore, companies that revised their 2001 revenues may have changed their 2001 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 ('01: 1) Quebecor World, Montréal, Canada Total Sales (millions): $6,300.00 Previous Year's (millions): $6,500.00 Change (%): -3 Principal Officer: Charles G. Cavell Employees: 40,000 Primary Specialties: PUB 26%; ADV 21%; CAT 17%; DM 13% Web Offset Units: 3,156 Sheetfed Offset Units: 985 Other: 808 Ownership: Public

The Printing Industries of America and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have entered into an agreement to establish a collaborative relationship to develop printing industry-wide voluntary guidelines to reduce injuries. The Graphic Arts Employers, a committee of PIA that serves unionized printers, has committed $20,000 in resources to begin the project. The alliance agreement will stress outreach and communications with the industry, promote a national dialogue on workplace safety and health, and improve training and education on ergonomics issues. EU Services, Rockville, MD, recently promoted two members of its customer service department to senior account managers. Lisa Fish has been an account manager