UPFRONT

Shareholders OK Vertis Plan

BALTIMORE—Vertis shareholders approved the company’s prepackaged plan of organization. Once the plan becomes effective, Vertis can proceed with its merger with American Color Graphics (ACG). The restructuring will allow Vertis to reduce debt and interest cost, refocus investments and complete both the reorganization and merger in a couple of months, according to Mike DuBose, chairman and CEO of Vertis.

Direct Group Makes Investment

SWEDESBORO, NJ—Direct marketing specialist Direct Group has purchased 32 Océ VarioStream 8750 systems to upgrade capacity; increase uptime, speed and operational efficiencies; and take advantage of some of the industry’s latest digital technology, including flexible color and MICR printing. Direct Group serves clients in financial services, insurance, nonprofit and other industries.

Allen, Odyssey Join Forces

LAWRENCE, KS—In an effort to provide competitive end-to-end publishing services for scholarly journal publishers, Allen Press, based here, and Odyssey Press of Gonic, NH, have integrated operations. The companies, which will remain separate entities, will be able to present customers with a single source for content management, digital and offset printing, online publishing, association management and publishing services.

CGX Inks Press Deal with HP

DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—Consolidated Graphics (CGX) and Hewlett-Packard have signed a multimillion dollar agreement for the installation of as many as 36 HP Indigo digital presses at facilities in the United States and the Czech Republic this year. The deal includes multiple HP Indigo 7000 presses and HP SmartStream Ultra print servers.

Major Expansion for NJBF

ENGLEWOOD, NJ—New Jersey Business Forms (NJBF) has completed a three-year, $5 million pressroom and bindery modernization project with the acquisition of a second new 16-color Muller Martini half-size web press with rewind and sheeting capability. In the bindery, NJBF added several enhancements, including two MBO folding lines with in-line Palamides paper bundlers.

Visant Closes Lehigh Plant

ARMONK, NY—In an effort to consolidate its book cover and component operations, Visant Corp. has opted to close its Lehigh plant in Pennsauken, NJ, and lay off some 200 workers. The work will be folded into facilities in Milwaukee, Hagerstown, MD, and Rockaway, NJ. Visant serves the school affinity, direct marketing, educational and trade publishing sectors.