Training and Education

Results of the 2007 NAPL Fulfillment Practices Survey provided a valuable reflection of today’s Mailing and Fulfillment (M&F) market. Survey results suggest there are two views to the M&F story—one that reflects the efforts and actions of larger, more successful firms and another that provides a snapshot of the fulfillment industry as a whole. The practices and expectations of larger firms are a valuable reflection of this dynamic and evolving value-added service, both from the view of printers wanting to get into and improve their fulfillment offering, as well as the fulfillment buyers who want to compare their own service provider. Thumbnail summaries like

RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ—May 23, 2007—Agfa Graphics announced today that as part of its commitment to education and research in the graphic communications industry, it has donated an ApogeeX 3.5 workflow management system and :Azura chemistry-free thermal plates to the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) for the group to use in many of its popular and innovative programs. Agfa, an advocate of advanced research & development, continuous education, and creative growth, and a long-time supporter of PIA/GATF, has made many donations to the organization in the past. PIA/GATF is headquartered in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. “PIA/GATF is devoted to helping its members,

DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—It’s official: drupa 2008 will break all previous records. With some 170,000 square metres of net exhibition space (roughly equivalent to 40 soccer fields) and exhibitor numbers topping 1,800, the print media fair to be staged from 29 May to 11 June 2008 will be the biggest ever in its more than 50-year history. This will entail the use of the Düsseldorf Trade Fair Center’s full capacity, including all new additions. There were already indications of this trend last year, shortly before the official close of registrations on 31 October. Increases to leading international technology suppliers’ space requirements, plus larger-scale joint presentations from

A GENERATION ago, production in the printing and related industries was dominated by unionized work groups defined by craft and trade. Highly skilled typesetters physically laid out text; quality printing was dependent on a blend of competent machine operation and artistry; and post-production finishing was labor-intensive and time consuming. Trade unions flourished along these and other craft lines, and largely defined the work environment across the industry. In the midst of technological and economic change over the past 25 years or so, union membership within the industry, and in general, has steadily declined. In 1983, for example, 20 percent of all private sector workers

CHICAGO—The first NPES Industry Summit provided an optimistic view of print’s current and future prospects. A series of speakers concurred that sustained economic growth and smart adoption of technologies to create new value-added services have helped put the U.S. printing industry in its strongest position in years. Ronnie Davis, chief economist at PIA/GATF, noted that U.S. printers’ sales reached $171 billion in 2006, a gain of 3.3 percent over the previous year and a major rebound from a low point of about $156 billion in 2002. He forecasts increases of about 1.5 percent in 2007 and 2.5 percent in 2008. Significant growth is coming from

RESTON, VA—April 23, 2007— The Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF®) is pleased to announce that it will offer nearly $25,000 in scholarships to the top graphic communications students in the country who participate in the SkillsUSA Championships, to be held June 20-22 in Kansas City, MO. GAERF will award $250 to each of the two graphic communications SkillsUSA state winners who go on to compete in the national championships. “GAERF is committed to supporting programs that prepare the workforce of the future,” said Ralph J. Nappi, GAERF President. “In this spirit, we are delighted to recognize our industry’s most talented students, and

CHANDLER, AZ—The highest attendee turnout of the decade marked the PIA/GATF Presidents Conference at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass & Resort here March 4-8. More than 300 people attended the five-day affair, which featured the theme, “Printing Industry at the Crossroads,” and it marked the conference’s largest number of newcomers. Among the highlights of the event was a silent auction, titled “Road Rally,” that helped raise $17,000 for the association’s political action committee, PrintPAC. Another topical subject was a look at private equity partners in the printing industry. The NAPL’s Top Management Conference got underway March 8 in Santa Barbara, CA, with NAPL Vice President and

THE CLIMATE of the printing industry changes with print media competition growing, weekly news reports of consolidations, and daily challenges from a myriad of resources and technology innovations. Companies make over their names, add processes, rework their customer bases, add new mixes to their repertoire of services, and leverage the Internet and other new technologies. The industry is vibrant, exciting and changing—and we recognize this. What does not change is the need for individuals to keep abreast of the management trends, operations and production issues related to the printing and graphics community. With that as the backdrop, the board of directors of the Web Offset

EVERY SUCCESSFUL company can trace its roots to a visionary leader, an individual who embodies a strong work ethic, respect for others and keen decision-making abilities. Rémi Marcoux has surely portrayed those qualities over his lengthy career and, in recognition of his accomplishments, will be awarded the 2007 Harry V. Quadracci VISION Award by the Web Offset Association duing its annual conference. Marcoux founded Transcontinental in 1976 and guided its daily progress until March 2004, when Luc Desjardins became president and CEO. As executive chairman of the board, Marcoux continues to participate in major decisions related to the corporation’s strategic evolution and keeps close

Once a year, one outstanding pressman is selected for the H. Howard Flint II Pressroom Manager of the Year Award. This year, the award went to Steve Richardson, pressroom manager at Courier Kendallville, in Indiana. The award, named after Flint following his death in 2005, honors a web offset pressroom manager or supervisor who has excelled in his profession. A 35-year veteran in the printing industry, Richardson is a cut above the rest. He began his printing career in 1971 and has progressed through the ranks from entry level, to journeyman operator, to shift supervisor. In 1996, Richardson joined Courier Kendallville as a press operator.