Eastman Kodak

BY MARK SMITH For more than two decades, the conversion of printing to digital processes has seemed to keep the industry in a constant state of change. At the same time, though, the diversity in print processes, providers and customers means technologies get adopted at different rates across the spectrum of users. This staggered adoption cycle keeps the industry revisiting the same issues for a time, as each wave of new buyers comes along. Earlier adopters, meanwhile, can be left with a feeling of been there, done that—having bought a now-obsolete piece of equipment, in some cases. Digital color proofing is a

"It was either an act of insanity or an act of complete bravery," admits Pat Flynn, vice president of sales for Blanks Color Imaging in Dallas. "But, the first job we ran on our new computer-to-plate system was an absolutely magnificent catalog of Renaissance paintings. We should get the medal of honor, because we did it. It turned out so beautifully." That's the kind of faith that owner Leron Blanks and his production staff had in a newly installed, but virtually untested, CTP system they installed at the beginning of 2001. The system—including a Creo Lotem 800B platesetter, a Kodak Approval XP4 digital proofing

Creo Products has appointed Mark Dance to the position of CFO. Dance retains his position as COO and will continue to serve as a director of the company. Dance replaces Michael Graydon who will continue with the company in an advisory role. Graydon is scaling back his responsibilities in order to pursue a greater balance in his family and work life. Also, Creo has appointed Judi Hess to fill the position of president, graphic arts. Hess has held the position of corporate vice president, printing workflow solutions, since April 2000. Goss Graphic Systems has reached an agreement in principle for the sale of substantially

Gämmerler Corp. announced record orders for the second quarter of fiscal year 2001, reporting a 34 percent increase in orders over the same period the previous year. The high order volume was attributed to a number of new orders placed at PRINT 01, including sales to R.R. Donnelley & Sons for four of its plants, as well as to Shuttle Printing and Suttle-Straus. CM Acquisitions, a Chicago-based private equity firm, has agreed to acquire American Roller of Bannockburn, IL. The sale was effective as of December 28. Other terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) is acquiring the business assets of

CALIFORNIA CITY OF INDUSTRY—Modem Graphics has christened its new headquarters with a new six-color, 40˝ Mitsubishi Model 3F-16 sheetfed press. OXNARD—Family owned Custom Printing has acquired a five-color Komori waterless press featuring automatic plate hangers and custom spot aqueous coating. Custom Printing has been in business since 1974 and specializes in full-color printing. SAN DIEGO—Commercial Press has installed a six-color, 40˝ Komori Lithrone press equipped with a ColorCommand temperature control/cooling system from TriService. FLORIDA BOCA RATON—JKG Group has launched LojX, a new e-solutions provider. Using a proprietary Internet program called e-Stationery Pro, users looking to update and control brand images or logos can

Blue Ridge Paper Products has relocated its corporate headquarters. The new address is 41 Main St., P.O. Box 1429, Canton, NC 28716. The new phone number is (828) 454-0676. QTI became the first web auxiliary equipment provider to sell a closed-loop color control system in the Latin American market. At PRINT 01, Rotomagno SA de CV, of Guadalajara, Mexico, purchased QTI's Color Control System with Instrument Flight for its new four-unit Mitsubishi Diamond 16 web press. Newly formed distributor Enovation Graphic Systems has named Steve Gryder regional vice president, Central. Jim Purcell has accepted the position of regional vice president, Midwest. John Solwold was appointed regional

BY MARK SMITH A first-time buyer recently posted a message on the CTP Production forum seeking recommendations for "CTP systems" to investigate. The quote marks are important because the term itself sparked a divergent thread in which the question of what CTP means was explored. This discussion started with a response suggesting the buyer consider the Rampage solution, since it produces plate-ready files. A rebuff quickly followed, asserting that Rampage was not a "system," meaning a piece of hardware capable of writing an image to a digital plate. That, in turn, led to a series of exchanges about whether CTP refers to any

BY MARK SMITH Adopting a computer-to-plate (CTP) workflow is as much about buying into a technology and process as it is purchasing products. Visible laser systems can lay claim to having created the product segment. However, it really took the introduction of thermal technology for CTP to gain mainstream acceptance, at least in the North American market. Now violet systems are causing a stir and generating a bit of controversy. More on that later. While product offerings continue to grow, key decisions made by CTP buyers early on still can dictate their subsequent product options. Typically this process begins with the selection of

BY MARK SMITH Deadline rule the realm in the publication market segment. Even the legendary power wielded by advertisers at some point must give way to the march of the calendar, if the next edition is to get out. At the same time, gaining an extra day to sell or a little more time to get late ads in can make a world of difference in profitability. The pressure to make every moment count has provided strong motivation for publication printers to implement computer-to-plate workflows. However, having that weekly or monthly publication date on the cover decreases the margin for error. It's also been

SUSSEX, WI—Sheetfed printer Color Ink announced that a new digital imaging department highlights a $1.6 million investment by the company that includes prepress, bindery and mailing/fulfillment enhancements. The digital imaging department will offer customers immediate access to on-site approvals, color corrections, proofs and complete image files on CD. Color Ink's John Zamorski has been named to head the department. Among the prepress additions and enhancements are Macintosh computer upgrades, a CreoScitex Trendsetter 3244AL platesetting system and a Kodak Polychrome Graphics thermal plate processor. Color Ink has added a mechanical binding department that features new equipment such as Wire-O, plastic coil and comb binding systems. The bindery has