Heidelberg

CLEVELAND—St. Ives/ Perlmuter Printing, having completed its name change to St. Ives, has broken ground on a $12 million expansion project. The expansion provides for 20 percent more space and will house a new web press and a state-of-the-art stitcher. Purchased three years ago by London-based St. Ives plc, Perlmuter officials say they were sensitive to changing their name in the local market. Established in 1917, the Perlmuter family provided a long legacy of printing services to customers in the Cleveland area, and nationally as well. "We are pleased to introduce the St. Ives organization to the Cleveland market," says Wayne R. Angstrom, president and CEO

Acquisitions, technology investments and the development of new market niches. Take a look at how Cunningham Graphics Int'l and Nationwide Graphics are employing these and other aggressive measures to grow their companies rapidly. BY MARIE RANOIA ALONSO Printing is an industry of giants. Multi-million-dollar organizations, operating billions of dollars worth of collective technologies, employing hundreds of thousands, serving the varied needs of millions of consumers. This is your world. A world of entrepreneurs who realize the importance of customer service, employee recognition and technology investments, as well as the ability to satisfy Wall Street financial analysts. This is also the world of Michael Cunningham,

BY ERIK CAGLE In an age when the Internet may seem to be slowly eroding the print-on-paper medium, evidence suggests that a complementary relationship is being forged between the pair. This definitely appears to be the case with the catalog industry. According to a study conducted by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), catalog retailers were expected to generate 5 percent of their sales from the Internet this year, more than double the figure for 1998. This was among the findings made by "The DMA State of the Catalog Industry Report: 1999." "This report contains significant information about how catalogers are turning their direct marketing

FORT WORTH, TX—Branch-Smith Inc. recently completed a expansion, adding more than $2 million in equipment. The move is expected to double sales in its Printing Division by the end of the year 2000. During the first half of 1999, Branch-Smith has reconfigured its printing plant and created what officials say are more efficient work processes. Newly installed equipment includes an eight-color Heidelberg press and new CTP prepress equipment. David Branch, Branch-Smith's chairman and CEO, notes, "We are excited that our Printing Division's market focus on bound products has created such success and demand. These enhancements will enable us to improve our response to current

As the new millennium approaches, e-commerce, PDF workflows, thermal CTP, digital proofing, computerized business management, and digitally equipped, automated printing and finishing technologies played starring roles at GRAPH EXPO 99. The rise of competitive e-commerce networks, PDF workflows, thermal computer-to-plate output devices, digital proofing systems, fully automated printing presses, new press control systems and quick-makeready finishing systems were on display by more than 600 exhibitors at GRAPH EXPO 99 in Chicago. What were the show stoppers? * E-commerce solutions—Internet-based, business-to-business solutions such as Noosh, Impresse, Collabria, 58k.com, PrintNation.com, Printable.com, PaperExchange.com and GraphicsResourceCenter.com, targeting the print procurement, supply purchasing and overall industry education needs of commercial printing,

TOKYO—Smaller than two years ago and with fewer visitors, IGAS 1999 nevertheless managed to attract genuine foreign printer-visitors this year. In previous years, foreign interest was shown primarily by dealers and distributors for Japanese equipment and materials, as well as area managers for overseas suppliers. Now, after many years of persistent efforts, the organizers of IGAS have at long last agreed to fit into the four-year cycle of the major international graphic arts shows: Drupa, Ipex and Print. Business in Japan is only beginning to come out of a severe recession. The buying and investment effects of a renewing confidence, though, will probably

BURBANK, CA—Print brokerage A&L GraphiCo and its sister company, prepress house L.A. Filmco, have joined forces to create a new company, LAgraphico.com. Officials say the combined operation fills an entire range of design, digital imaging, prepress and printing needs. The company has purchased a new six-color Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 CD printing press with in-line coating, and a new Creo Trendsetter 3244 Spectrum for digital proofing and platesetting. Al and Elizabeth Shapiro formed the A&L GraphiCo printing brokerage 23 years ago in downtown Los Angeles. A few years later, they added a second company, L.A. Filmco, to handle the prepress and large-format film output requirements

Richmond, VA—After 62 years, Spencer Printing, based here, is changing its name to Colormark. According to officials at the company, the change is intended to reflect the company's new phase of growth. In February, Spencer Printing was acquired by The Supply Room Companies, owner of Proximus Printing. Spencer and Proximus were merged and all operations moved to Spencer's 40,000-square-foot facility. Ron Lanio, former president of Spencer Printing, was tapped to take the title of president at the combined operations. "After the merger we conducted an opinion survey of current and prospective customers to find out what changes and improvements they would like to see in our

Broadview, IL—Lehigh Press has made what it calls a major equipment addition at its Lehigh Cadillac Direct direct marketing division here. The installation is a custom-built, full-size, six-unit Heidelberg M-1000 web press. Raymond A. Frick, CEO and president, points out that under the leadership of Lehigh Cadillac Direct President Paul Palmer, the division's revenues grew more than 20 percent in 1998. To drive the division's continued growth, Lehigh Press has launched a $14 million, corporation-wide, capital investment program concentrating on the installation of cutting-edge technology including presses, digital prepress and finishing systems. "The added press capacity is just the start," Frick reveals. "It immediately expands our

CLIFTON, NJ—A $20 million expansion is under way at Sandy Alexander, based here. The core of the expansion is the installation of two new eight-color Heidelberg Speedmaster CD sheetfed presses with interdeck drying and a double coater capable of combining UV and aqueous coating, running at 15,000 iph. In addition, the company is installing a new off-line double coating/finishing unit, also manufactured by Heidelberg, and similarly rated at 15,000 iph. (Heidelberg plans to debut this coater at Drupa next May, however, Sandy Alexander will be up and running with it before the end of the year.) This new coater offers several competitive advantages, including: Ability