Bowne Reducing Workforce by 10 Percent
NEW YORK—With a sharp year-over-year decline in revenue and profit due to difficult capital markets, Bowne & Co. announced it will reduce its workforce by 10 percent to provide cost savings of $21-$23 million. The cuts bring Bowne's total to 1,000 lost jobs in 2008, representing 24 percent of its workforce. Dave Shea, chairman and CEO, said the company will save $70 million annually as a result of the cutbacks.

Bowne's 2008 third quarter revenue was $164 million, down $17.7 million from the same period the previous year. Gross profit fell to $42.1 million for the third quarter, down from $63.1 million in Q3 2007.

USPS Registers $2.8 Billion Loss for FY 2008
WASHINGTON, DC—With mail volumes continuing to dwindle and added costs mandated by the Postal Act of 2006, the U.S. Postal Service finished its 2008 fiscal year with a net loss of $2.8 billion. The loss came despite cost-cutting measures in excess of $2 billion, including 50 million fewer work hours. However, mail volume plummeted by 9.5 billion pieces to 202.7 billion, a decline of 4.5 percent compared to 2007. The USPS also cited the national economy and the use of electronic mail as reasons for the decline.

Transcontinental Implements New Structure
MONTREAL—Transcontinental Inc. has implemented a new operating structure to support its growth strategy by creating the Marketing Communications Sector. The company's growth strategy is to accelerate the development of new services focused on one-to-one advertising and new communications platforms, while continuing to strengthen and extend its publishing and printing assets through its Media and Printing Sectors.

Brian Reid has been named president, Transcontinental Printing Sector. Reid has been with Transcontinental since 1992. Also, Hans Nielsen has been appointed president of Transcontinental Direct U.S.A. Nielsen was senior vice president for the Commercial Products Group for Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. He replaces Rob Young, who has headed Transcontinental's U.S. direct mail operations since 2005. Guy Manuel, president of the former Marketing Products and Services Sector, will leave the company at the end of 2008.

Suspicious White Powder Found at Plant
WINDSOR LOCKS, CT—A printing plant here received a scare when an envelope containing white powder was found inside another envelope, prompting the facility to be shut down temporarily. According to WFSB-TV, emergency service officials were dispatched to the Knights of Columbus printing plant, where they donned protective gear and removed the substance for testing. Results of the testing won't be available for several days, the station reported.

IP Shutting Down Paper Machine, Laying Off 50
FRANKLIN, VA—International Paper will permanently shut down its No. 3 uncoated freesheet paper machine here on Nov. 23 due to a decline in demand. The move will reduce IP's annual paper production capacity by 150,000 tons and cost 50 workers their jobs. Additionally, 60,000 tons of lack-of-order downtime will be taken out of the company's U.S. uncoated freesheet mills during the fourth quarter.

Document Security Systems Buys DPI Assets
ROCHESTER, NY—Document Security Systems is purchasing the assets of DPI, a digital and offset printer based here that filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. The deal is pending court approval. DPI registered sales of about $7.6 million in 2007. Publicly held Document Security Systems is an anti-counterfeiting technology company that produces, among other things, birth certificates, drivers licenses and passports for international clients.

OPINIONS & FEEDBACK: SUZANNE MORGAN

Are You Promoting Your Sustainability Efforts?
At last month’s GRAPH EXPO 2008, I did a “2008 Print Buying Trends” presentation at Heidelberg’s Print Media Academy. One of the many topics I covered was sustainability and how the best print suppliers are not only going green, but...

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