Training and Education

Miami Beach, FL—December 5, 2006—Graphics of the Americas-Xplor, the second largest U.S.-based annual international graphic communications exhibition today announced the return of Printers’ Showcase, an exclusive exhibition destination specifically for Florida Printers that caters to over 5000 creative professionals and print buyers/specifiers that are expected to attend Graphics of the Americas-Xplor. In addition, the exhibition organizers are offering Printing Association of Florida printer members a highly discounted rate of 89% off the regular booth price in this pavilion that includes not only the booth space, but carpet, skirted table, chairs and signage. Now in its fourth year, Printers’ Showcase is strategically situated next to

CHOOSING THE right employees is a key decision for printing companies. Facing short deadlines and tight margins, the addition of a below-par performer can prove costly for a graphic arts provider. “There is a lot of data which says that the cost of a bad hire is about two and a half times the person’s annual salary,” says Debra Thompson, president of human resources consulting firm TG & Associates in Tucson, AZ. “That is measured in terms of the wages paid, the cost of rework that was necessary, the cost of customers lost because of bad service, and even the cost of replacing good

MIAMI BEACH, FL—November 21, 2006—Graphics of the Americas-Xplor have added more features to their conference and exhibition, February 28 through March 4, 2007, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. For the first time, Graphics of the Americas will feature a Web-to-Print exhibition pavilion, information area and conference symposium exploring of the industry’s most talked about technologies and market opportunities. The Web-to-Print Pavilion will take the form of a focused exhibition and highly visible area among the 1200 booths in the Graphics of the Americas exhibition hall. The pavilion is dedicated to Web-to-Print solutions including storefront, brand management, portal and online procurement models. In addition,

SEWICKLEY, PA—November 17, 2006—The officers of Printing Industries of America, Inc./Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) for the next year were installed in office November 12, 2006 at PIA/GATF’s Fall Administrative meetings. The ceremony took place following the nomination and election of the officers slate by the Board of Directors. Dave DeLana, President of Heritage Press, Oklahoma City, OK, was elected Chairman of the Board. A PIA/GATF board member since 1996, DeLana has spent six years on the Budget and Finance Committee as well as previously serving as chair of the Presidents Conference Committee. Also active in his affiliate, PIA MidAmerica, he served eight years

RESTON, VA—November 13, 2006—NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies is pleased to present the winners of the 2006 Harold W. Gegenheimer individual and corporate Awards for Industry Service to Gerald Clark of Graphics Microsystems and Baldwin Technology Company. Winners were acknowledged at an awards banquet at the NPES Annual Conference November 6 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The awards, named for a former NPES President and Chairman Emeritus of Baldwin Technology Company, recognize qualities which Harold Gegenheimer stood for – a lifelong commitment to technical innovation, sound management, support for education and research and working for the good of

RESTON, VA—November 9, 2006—NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies announced the election of several new directors at its Annual Conference November 6 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Elected to terms expiring at the 2009 Annual Meeting were four new directors: • Michael Fox, President of Screen USA • Don Harvey, Vice President and General Manager of XpedX Printing Technologies • Marc Olin, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Professional Printing Applications • Thomas Wetjen, Vice President of Worldwide Graphic Communications at Xerox Corporation Nominated for re-election to terms expiring at the 2009 Annual Meeting were: • Timothy Combs, Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Fujifilm

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—Maxcess International, a world leader in the supply of engineered components for the web handling industry, today unveiled plans for Maxcess University Conference Week – five days of lecture and hands-on training using real-world examples, to be held April 16 – 20 in Chicago, IL. Maxcess University Conference Week will provide the expertise of leading manufacturers Fife, MAGPOWR, and Tidland. Session content will focus on a range of topics from general theory to the detailed application of technology to help converters improve existing operations, and includes hands-on experience to increase their comprehension. “This program is developed by experts throughout the industry with the

NEW YORK CITY—November 6, 2006—The Association for Graphic Communications (AGC), the industry organization known for its traditional member services and for sponsorship of the annual Franklin Event, has launched a major renewal project that will create an entirely new industry entity that better serves the current needs and interests of members in today’s advanced, high-tech graphics environment. The announcement was made by the Executive Committee of the association’s Board of Directors. The AGC also announced that Michael Brice, former president of Superior Ink, has accepted an appointment as interim president of the AGC and will oversee the renewal project, coordinating the efforts of participating members.

CHICAGO—More than 21,000 attendees passed through the turnstiles at McCormick Place South during Graph Expo and Converting Expo last month, the Graphic Arts Show Co. (GASC) reported.That total does not include exhibitors, nor does it take into account people who registered but did not attend, the GASC said.The show, held October 15-18, was reportedly the…

THERE MAY have been fewer large sheetfed presses or standalone web press units on the show floor at last month’s Graph Expo and Converting Expo exhibition—especially in comparison to the PRINT show held last year—but don’t infer that this resulted in disappointing sales activity and lead generation for conventional offset press exhibitors. Quite the contrary. Even with less heavy iron dotting the landscape at Chicago’s McCormick Place South Hall, the general consensus among press manufacturers indicated it was the most productive Graph Expo event they’ve experienced since the late ’90s. Visitor traffic was brisk and serious buying activity persisted. Chalk it up to