Training and Education

Take a ‘dip’ in the Drupa Pool
December 1, 2007

The Drupa innovation parc (dip) is best described as a “microcosm of innovations” and will feature eight different themed sections at the Drupa 2008 exhibition. It is particularly well-suited for startup companies and smaller-sized firms as an ideal venue to highlight their cutting-edge developments. Established companies will also have a strong presence, but there is an important prerequisite: They must be future-oriented and global. The products in this exhibition space will cover the gamut of printing solutions, from Web-to-print applications to workflow systems through to creative image retouching. Océ, the official print partner of dip, will provide the Drupa think tank with professional

Immigration Compliance —Fiorenza
November 1, 2007

IN A development of significance for graphic arts companies utilizing foreign talent, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently amended its regulations relating to the unlawful hiring or continued employment of unauthorized aliens. Specifically, the amended regulation describes the legal obligations of an employer that receives either 1) a “no-match letter” from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or 2) a letter regarding employment verification forms from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). An employer “no-match letter” (also known as an “Employer Correction Request”) is a written notice from the SSA that the name and social security account number submitted to the SSA for an

KBA Showcases Diverse Printing Applications
November 1, 2007

WILLISTON, VT—With the prime foliage season as a backdrop, KBA North America held an open house October 12-14 in its demo center here to showcase its wide range of 20˝ to 81˝ sheetfed offset press offerings, including the 20˝ Genius 52 UV, 29˝ Performa 74, 41˝ Rapida 105 and 56˝ Rapida 142 presses. Holger Garbrecht, newly named president and CEO of KBA North America, welcomed the 150-plus attendees. “We want to show you special applications because this is a segment where you can still make a lot of money,” he noted. During the three-day presentation, presses produced jobs on a variety of substrates, including canvas, lenticular,

xpedx Opens Ryobi Demo and Learning Center
November 1, 2007

LENEXA, KS—xpedx Printing Technologies opened its new 20,000-square-foot Ryobi press demonstration and learning center here in suburban Kansas City on October 22. The facility is designed to provide high-level education and demonstrations of Ryobi sheetfed press capabilities, as well as detailed information on the latest printing technologies such as UV, chemical embossing, spot metallic color and lenticular printing. Presses shown at the new center will rotate, enabling printers to see demonstrations and gain technical and business knowledge about specific Ryobi presses. At the grand opening, models on display included a five-color, 23x29˝ Ryobi 755 with coater; a five-color, 14x20˝ Ryobi 525GX with coater; a four-color,

Who’ll Fill Your Shoes? —Michelson
November 1, 2007

NO DOUBT about it, the printing profession is far down the list of career options being considered by high school and college-age students. Chalk it up to a misconception among the general public and media outlets that print is dead. To the belief that television and, now especially, the Internet, have supplanted the printed word as the communication vehicle of choice for young Millenials and Generation X. To college guidance counselors who still think of printing as a “down and dirty” industry, not realizing the computer, electronics and information technology skill sets now mandated to perform many graphic arts industry job functions. Admittedly,

Presstek CEO Jeff Jacobson Appointed to EDSF Board of Directors
October 9, 2007

HUDSON, NH—Oct. 9, 2007—Presstek, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRST), the leading manufacturer and marketer of digital offset printing business solutions, today announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Jacobson has been appointed to the EDSF board of directors. EDSF is the international, non-profit organization dedicated to the document management and graphic communications industries. As a charitable foundation, EDSF is dedicated to preparing the next generation of professionals for the document management and graphic communications marketplace. The organization supports the industry’s future by granting scholarships to students in support of their academic careers, providing a research grant/mentor program for colleges and universities, building career awareness, and recognizing

NPES 2007 Annual Conference to be Held November 3-5 in San Diego
October 5, 2007

RESTON, VA—10/05/07—The NPES 2007 Annual Conference will be held November 3-5 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, California. Themed “Navigating the Winds of Change”, the program is designed to equip attendees with all of the knowledge, trend and market place data, and insights needed to strategically move their companies forward in the months and years ahead. Among the highlights of the conference will be keynote speaker Bo Burlingham, Editor-at-Large of Inc. magazine and author of Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big. Burlingham will reveal why a growing number of maverick companies have decided to pass up the growth

PINE to Host Annual Industry Awards Gala November 1st
October 4, 2007

SOUTHBOROUGH, MA—Oct. 4, 2007—Printing Industries of New England, the region’s largest trade association for printing and graphic communications companies, will host its annual Industry Awards Gala Thursday, Nov. 1 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel in Framingham, Mass. The Industry Awards Gala has grown to become the preeminent evening for leaders in New England’s $12 billion print marketplace to gather to recognize achievements over the past year. PINE’s Influencer Award, given to an individual who has positively affected the graphic communications industry, will be presented to Randy Davidson, president and founder of WhatTheyThink.com. The popular web site has emerged as a leading source of unbiased information for

Graph Expo Delivers —Michelson
October 1, 2007

HYPE RARELY lives up to reality. But, in the case of Graph Expo in Chicago last month, the trade show met—and, in many cases, surpassed—the expectations of exhibitors and visitors alike. More than 650 exhibitors filling more than 460,000 square feet of exhibit space made Graph Expo 2007 the largest one since 2000, and the second largest ever. It wasn’t just the sheer size of the event that delivered on its advance billing, though. Most impressive was the upbeat mood that permeated the four-day event. Despite the sub-prime mortgage crisis and an erratic stock market capturing national headlines, Graph Expo hit on all cylinders

Graph Expo Goes Green —Morgan
October 1, 2007

SUSTAINABILITY was the focus everywhere at Graph Expo last month. It was the one common theme that permeated throughout the largest national graphic communications trade show. For the first time, myriad companies expressed that sustain­ability issues are one of their top goals. As just one example, Yoshiharu Komori, president and CEO of Komori Corp., opened the Komori press conference by saying that “it is our responsibility and duty to embark on solutions for the environment.” Komori says one of his company’s main goals is to become a model for the environment in the industry. Companies that have a long history of commitment to environmentally sound