Heidelberg

Layoffs, Closings for Domtar MONTREAL—Paper manufacturer Domtar is reducing its workforce by 1,800 and will sell or close several facilities in an effort to return the company to profitability. The company will close down its Cornwall, ON, mill and shut down two paper machines at its Ottawa mill. Domtar also announced that two sawmills in Quebec will be closed and its Vancouver mill will be sold. At Cornwall, where 390 positions were eliminated last December, there are 910 workers tending to three paper machines. F.C.L. Nets Graphics Group HARWOOD HEIGHTS, IL—Direct marketing printing specialist F.C.L. Graphics has acquired certain assets of The Graphics Group, a regional sheetfed

Heidelberg Puts Accent on Education KENNESAW, GA—The calendar said December, but the menu at Heidelberg's recent "Brats & Dots" customer event gave it the feel of an Oktoberfest, minus the beer. This open house at the company's Print Media Demonstration Center (PMDC) was followed by two days of classes for printers in its Print Media Academy and a briefing for industry editors. On the first day, printers were able to witness live demonstrations of Heidelberg's prepress, press, direct imaging and postpress solution in the 33,000-square-foot PMDC facility. The clear stars of the show were its new 40˝ Speedmaster XL 105 sheetfed press platform and

Honor Societies Merge, Induct New Members The Ash Khan Society of PIA and the Society of Fellows of GATF have merged to form The Ben Franklin Society of PIA/GATF. The officers for the new Ben Franklin Society are Robert Murphy, chairman; Kent Martin, vice chairman; William Evans, secretary; and Ted Ringman, treasurer. The Ash Khan Society and the Society of Fellows have inducted 15 new members including: Robert Brown, CEO, Goss International; Wendell Burns, president and CEO, Jones Printing; John Green, president, Automated Graphic Systems; David Langhans; Herbert Hall Provence III, former president of Provence Printing; Charles Vaughan, president, Vaughan Printing; Alfred McCulloch, retired

arizona SCOTTSDALE—Armed with a new Kodak Nexpress 2100 digital press and Kodak Nexglosser glossing unit, Sir Speedy Printing Scottsdale now can meet growing demand for short turnaround color printing and glossing. Since the installation a few months ago, the company reports it has gained new business from customers it previously could not service. illinois HARVEY—Andrews Printing has installed a four-color Printmaster PM 52 from Heidelberg. It replaces the shop's Printmaster GTO 52-2, which previously handled the shop's four-color jobs in two runs. Schiller ParK—The Business Press, now in its 26th year in business, has replaced its four-color Heidelberg GTO with a new five-color Printmaster

The sheetfed offset printing market continues to feel pressure—be it from rival markets or outside forces such as pricing battles and shrinking run lengths. As more economical digital print runs extend, and affordable web press runs shorten, manufacturers involved in the small- and medium-format (29˝ and smaller) sheetfed space are equipping their wares with the capabilities needed to compete—and win. “The competition from the web market is becoming more noticeable, but when it comes to the short-run color market, web presses have a number of things going against them,” contends Michael Iburg, product manager, KBA North America. “On a sheetfed press, makeready time is much

Nothing 'Static' About PIA/GATF VDP Conference PHOENIX—Somewhat akin to the early days of the California Gold Rush, there are endless growth opportunities in today's digital frontier. And the riches will go to those printers that can master variable data printing (VDP), database management and cross-media applications. There's no secret map to the gold, but shops that can provide these services—coupled with the ability to market, sell and then track the benefits of one-to-one marketing—will be the ones most likely to strike it rich. That seems to be the general consensus of the more than 300 participants who attended the 2005 PIA/GATF Variable Data and

By Erik Cagle Senior Editor It is virtually impossible to ignore the impact Robert (Bob) Burton had on the printing industry in 2005. Given his relentless pursuit of two companies this past year, it was almost a given that Burton would enter 2006 at the helm of some printing business. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. In the final analysis, 2005 will be viewed as a year marked by triumph, tragedy and transactions, not to mention some unexpected twists and turns. Which fits us to a T. While the news wasn't always positive, a silver lining—a moral or a lesson could usually

Postal Commission OKs Hike WASHINGTON, DC—A 5.4 percent increase in United States Postal Service (USPS) rates virtually across the board has been approved by the Postal Rate Commission. The rate increases were expected to take effect by the middle of January. The increase will help the USPS meet its $3.1 billion escrow payment due in 2006. Nonprofit mailings will go up by 3 percent, while the book rate will balloon 12.7 percent, in accordance with the requirement that all classes of mail cover their direct cost of service. A First Class stamp will rise by 2 cents. Quad Signs Billion Dollar Deal SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics and

GREENWICH, CT--The executive committee of The Print Council has appointed Ben Cooper to be executive director of the industry initiative, effective January 9, 2006. Martin Maloney, who has completed his special one-year commitment as the council's executive director, is appointed to the executive committee of the board of directors. Roy Grossman, president of Sandy Alexander, and co-chairman of the executive committee, stated, "We are delighted that Ben Cooper will be joining us as executive director on a dedicated basis. He will be succeeding Martin Maloney and his company who have done an outstanding job of bringing The Print Council to top-of-mind awareness throughout the

arizona PHOENIX—O'Neil Printing has added a new six-color Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52 perfector with coating system. The new press is an upgrade from a five-color Heidelberg GTO 52. Founded in 1908, O'Neil Printing has been an employee-owned company since 1996. TUCSON—Southern Arizona Graphic Associates has installed a new six-color Komori Lithrone S40 press with coater. california ONTARIO—Rey Nelson Printing purchased a five-color, 20˝ KBA Genius 52 waterless UV press while attending PRINT 05 in Chicago. According to company president George Alderson, the 28-year-old trade shop sees a major market opportunity to produce short-run synthetic printing. FLORIDA MOUNT DORA—DMMI Promotions has installed two DocuSheeter