Puerto Rico

WSD of Nordhorn, Germany, has selected manroland Inc., to be the exclusive North American distributor for its MAG-In® product line of on-press finishing blankets and dies. manroland will offer the magnetic inline cutting system for most of its presses, including large format, and those from other manufacturers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

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

LAS CROABAS, PR—Forget the red carpet and stretch limos for Hollywood celebrities, the provocative designer dresses and the "A-list" parties. The printing industry recently celebrated its own version of Academy Awards night here at the Wyndham El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa as part of Sappi Fine Paper North America's Printer of the Year celebration. Nearly 400 people were in attendance, including 36 Silver Award finalists vying for the six coveted Gold Awards, Sappi merchants and Sappi Fine Paper employees. The black-tie gala featured a giant mask on stage cascaded with special lighting, video clips highlighting each finalist's printed piece and short skits

Cherry Hill, NJ—Growth and success have been a consistent part of the Lehigh Press tradition since the company was founded, and are the sources for its confidence in a dynamic and expanding future. They are also bottom-line issues that are changing the direction of an industry leader. Lehigh operates in four industry sectors, including direct marketing, book components for EL-HI publishers, electronic prepress, and pharmaceutical inserts and labels in Puerto Rico (JV). Lehigh is currently ranked 50th among the nation's top 500 printers by Printing Impressions. Under new management since May 1998, the company grew 20 percent in its direct marketing print operations