Victor Graphics

The past three years have been horrendously bad for the printing industry. Some industry experts say that printing market conditions were the worst in 40 years. I heard horror stories every day. I witnessed bankruptcies, I saw lost jobs and I grieved over padlocked companies. It was depressing and I considered buying an ocean-side bar in the Caribbean, or joining a traveling carnival, or running for governor of California (who cares that I reside in Pennsylvania?) or developing an online psychotherapy Website for unemployed printers. I was committed, however, to sticking it out because I had sponsored The Second Great American Print Sales Prospecting

It really chaps my cheeks when a great writer like me gets "tainted" by the unscrupulous acts of hacks like this Jayson Blair guy at The New York Times. It zaps the creativity right out of my bones. You all read or heard about Mr. Jayson "Phony Phacts" Blair in the newspapers or on CNN, Fox and MSNBC. The notoriety of his sins has slopped out of his pigpen and swamped my sty with some vile accusations. Just listen to this memo that I got from Attila the Editor and his nasty little henchmen. Dear Mañana Man (or whoever you think you are today): The recent New

The list of winners in the Mañana Man's second Great American Print Sales Prospecting Contest can be found on the next page. We just finished tabulating all of the results prior to the deadline for this issue. My crack staff comprised of Marvelle Stump (I had to hire him to get him out of rehab) and Wanda Thrillkill, who will be contacting the winners to arrange for photographs and for their prizes. I'm not sure my doctors are going to let me travel to wash all the winning sales teams' cars. There is talk of brain surgery or shock therapy and even a radical fatectomy

WESTAMPTON, NJ—With an assortment of traditional German Octoberfest foods and beer, as well as a showroom full of various finishing equipment available from the Germany-based folder and accessory manufacturer, the only thing missing from MBO America's recent customer open house held here was a German oompah band wearing lederhosen. According to MBO America President and CEO Hans Max, more than 150 existing clients and prospects—representing both commercial printers and trade binderies—attended the event. It was held over three days in MBO's U.S. headquarters facility. The modern site houses sales, service and parts operations; an extensive equipment showroom, which is used for MBO America's folding schools, training

(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.) 252 ('01: 275) Commercial Communications, Hartland, WI Total Sales (millions): $22.38 Previous Year's (millions): $22.75 Change (%): -2 Principal Officer: Robert D. Hegwood Employees: 250 Primary Specialties: PUB 50%; COM 30%; SPEC 10% (On-demand); BKS 10% Web Offset Units: 6 Sheetfed Offset Units: 18 Other: 14

Keeping in line with the supersizing trend, BookTech—The Magazine's list of the top 25 book manufacturers has been expanded to include the 30 highest grossing book printers in the United States and Canada. The decision to add to the list was to offer a more expansive look at those manufacturers at the top of their field. The types of products offered by the various companies run the gamut from fine editions to best-selling paperbacks to trade publications to textbooks to yearbooks. More detailed information about each printer follows the list in the form of brief synopses.  Company / Contact '01 Book Mfg. Rev. (millions)

Keeping in line with the supersizing trend, BookTech—The Magazine's list of the top 25 book manufacturers has been expanded to include the 30 highest grossing book printers in the United States and Canada. The decision to add to the list was to offer a more expansive look at those manufacturers at the top of their field. The types of products offered by the various companies run the gamut from fine editions to best-selling paperbacks to trade publications to textbooks to yearbooks. More detailed information about each printer follows the list in the form of brief synopses. In addition to expanding the list, there have

Okay, that's it! I'm enraged! I've taken another 150 print buyers hostage, and this time I'm not telling where I'm holed up with this motley crew. You remember the last time I took print buyers hostage; I admitted that I was holding them in the Ritz Carlton in Chicago. I served them Dom Perignon and the best Beluga. Eventually, the FBI "negotiated" their release. I'll tell you about my demands later. First, I want to tell why I'm so angry. It was this past Friday, about 4 p.m. I had given myself the afternoon off to tend to my garden. Why not? Most

American Spirit Graphics, Minneapolis, has promoted several key managers. Darren Carlson has been promoted to CEO. Myron Angel has been promoted to president and COO. Lauren Drevlow is now executive vice president. Jason Carlson has assumed the position of corporate vice president. The Segerdahl Corp., Chicago, has appointed John Kampa to its sales and account management staff, and Roy Perfetti has been named to the company's sales staff. Kampa has an extensive, 17-year background in the web printing industry. For the past seven years, he worked as a national account executive at Lehigh Direct. Perfetti has 20 years of experience in the printing industry. His

Editor's note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2001. Therefore, companies that revised their 2000 revenues may have changed their '00 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. 2001 Ranking:Previous Year's Ranking:Company:Total Sales (millions):Previous Year's (millions):Change (%):Principal Officer:Employees:Primary Specialties: Web Offset Units:Sheetfed Offset Units:Other:Ownership:Plants: 251217Central States Business Forms, Dewey, OK$25.84$28.88-11Kenneth G. Adams255BF 99%; SPEC 1% (Envelopes, labels,computer supplies) 7424Private2  Parent: Adams Investment, Bartlesville, OK  2001 Ranking:Previous Year's Ranking:Company:Total Sales (millions):Previous Year's (millions):Change (%):Principal Officer:Employees:Primary Specialties:Web Offset