LISLE, IL

IKON Office Solutions, a Ricoh company, and The NAPL Network will offer four, half-day, hands-on workshops focusing on how and why printers are differentiating themselves by transitioning from traditional print shops into marketing service providers.

BY CHRISTOPHER CORNELL Each little drop in the bucket doesn't amount to much, but after a while it can turn into a torrent; that's the metaphor that applies to the graphic arts industry in 1999. Each individual merger and acquisition during the course of the year didn't affect the industry that much, but, in the aggregate, 1999 will likely be remembered as the year in which the number of companies in it noticeably shrunk. The biggest news story of the year was one just about everybody saw coming. Just after mid-year, following weeks of industry speculation, Quebecor Printing and World Color Press signed a

LISLE, IL—Just when the breakneck pace of commercial printing industry acquisitions was slowing, the lull came to a resounding end with yet another spate of new purchases. Perhaps the biggest news was that, after months of regrouping, Wallace Computer Services, based here, returned to its acquisition course, acquiring Commercial Press, reportedly the largest commercial printer in San Diego. Commercial Press has 200 employees and projected sales this year of $26 million. The addition brings Wallace up to 25 commercial printing facilities throughout the United States. Mike Duffield, Wallace's president and COO, says Commercial's "profitability is strong, plus there is additional capacity that can be filled by

LISLE, IL—Just when the breakneck pace of commercial printing industry acquisitions was slowing, the lull came to a resounding end with yet another spate of new purchases. Perhaps the biggest news was that, after months of regrouping, Wallace Computer Services, based here, returned to its acquisition course, acquiring Commercial Press, reportedly the largest commercial printer in San Diego. Commercial Press has 200 employees and projected sales this year of $26 million. The addition brings Wallace up to 25 commercial printing facilities throughout the United States. Mike Duffield, Wallace's president and COO, says Commercial's "profitability is strong, plus there is additional capacity that can be filled by

More Blogs