VA

On paper, this latest merger of the two industry associations, Idealliance and Epicomm, makes sense. But the question that follows this latest coupling: Does this mark the end for consolidation of industry associations, or will more follow?

The merger of industry associations Idealliance and Epicomm is now complete, effective today. The combined staff of the new Idealliance is now addressing both the management and technology needs of industry companies across the entire visual communications supply chain. "We are expanding our initiatives to advance industry innovation and transform business, striving to serve as an indispensable leader in defining the future of visual communications," says Idealliance President and CEO David Steinhardt.

RICHMOND, VA—Employee-owned Worth Higgins & Associates has acquired Billet Printing of Manassas, VA. In addition, the account executives and employees of the former Colonial Printing in Richmond have joined Worth Higgins. The new assets are expected to generate an additional $8 million in annual sales. The company also plans to hire an additional 40 or so employees during 2009 and will break ground on a 30,000-square-foot addition to its facility.

ARLINGTON, VA—Print Buyers Online.com and PCPI will host their eighth annual Print Oasis 2009 Print Buyers Conference & Exhibit (www.printoasis.com) on May 17-19, 2009, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix. This year’s conference will provide educational programming featuring actionable advice from top print buying pros focusing on "Beyond Surviving, Thriving with Print in Tough Times."

ALEXANDRIA, VA—March, 20, 2008—IDEAlliance today announced that its GRACoL Committee is launching a new activity to assist printers in qualifying their presses for G7 Calibration. The new G7 press pre-qualification toolkit will provide guidelines and tools to help printers access the readiness of their press to undergo G7 calibration. Background After nearly two years of on-press G7-calibration experience on over 200 presses worldwide, the GRACoL Committee has learned some critical lessons. The first lesson was that G7 alone is not enough. Good printing techniques must be practiced on a daily basis if the true benefit of G7 is to be

DLT Direct's strategy and emphasis on "quality, service and price" have brought it major-league growth in the direct mail printing game. BY GEORGE WHALEN In 1932, playing for the NY Yankees against the Chicago Cubs, George Herman Ruth strode to home plate at Wrigley Field, raised his arm and pointed toward the centerfield fence. He silently predicted he'd hit a home run over it—and he did! Calling that shot made Babe Ruth a legend. What Ruth did in baseball, Sterling, VA-based DLT Direct and its owner David L. Taylor and General Manager Chester "Chet" Ruby, have now done in direct mail printing. Starting from