Komori America

HBP Inc. — Bundling Communications Solutions
October 1, 2006

“SELLING STRICTLY commercial printing has become a commodity sale,” acknowledges John Snyder, president of HBP Inc. Looking over the low rolling hills of Hagerstown, MD, Snyder leans back in the chair and adds, “Value-added services need to be offered so our salespeople can provide more solutions for solving our customers’ marketing problems.” From the look in his eyes, it is apparent that this man means business, and his business is thriving. A positive customer relationship is critical for survival in today’s economy. Rising costs, technological advances and cost-conscious customers have made it necessary for many printing operations to diversify into non-traditional revenue arenas to

GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO 2006 — Pre-show Preview
September 1, 2006

Gämmerler will launch the BL 408 bindery stacker for use behind saddlestitchers, perfect binders, folders and inserters. Features wide format range, two-stage stacking system and a low copy drop height. The infeed is equipped with four top belts and eight bottom belts. Visit www.piworld.com/infocenter and enter number 381 Goss International will unveil its Pacesetter 2200 and 2500 saddlestitchers. The systems feature servo-driven hoppers and excel at quick makereadies. The Pacesetter 2200 system completes up to 22,000 books per hour. The Pacesetter 2500 model features a dual stitcher and a 25,000 books per hour capacity. Visit www.piworld.com/infocenter and enter number

JOHNSBYRNE CO. — CREATING CUSTOMER PARTNERSHIPS
August 1, 2006

A TRADITION of providing quality services and a bloodline in the graphic arts industry have allowed Niles, IL-based JohnsByrne Co. to continually expand and move into new business areas. Founded in 1959 by John B. Gustafson, along with his parents John E. and Marie Byrne Gustafson, the company got its start as a shop on Printer’s Row in Chicago. The printer’s moniker was created by taking two Johns—the first name of both father and son—combined with Marie’s maiden name, Byrne. So the company known as JohnsByrne was born, along with a mission to provide superior printing solutions and outstanding customer service. That focus is carried

SUPPLIER news
August 1, 2006

Komori Demos LS29 Press at Open House ROLLING MEADOWS, IL—Komori America held an open house and press demonstration recently to showcase the production capabilities of its new 29˝ Lithrone LS29 sheetfed press, which debuted in April at the IPEX exhibition. Six different forms were run on a six-color model with tower coater to demonstrate its six-minute job changeover capabilities (50 percent faster than the Lithrone 28). The new 16,000 sph, console-driven press comes equipped standard with fully automatic plate changers and blanket washers, and Komori’s KHS pre-inking system, to speed makeready times. Ryobi Opens Press Manufacturing Center HIROSHIMA, JAPAN—Ryobi Limited of Japan has more than doubled the

SUPPLIER news
June 1, 2006

Robert Prah, formerly national accounts manager for Screen (USA), has been appointed vice president of sales. Prah oversees the Screen sales force in the United States and Canada. Boise Paper’s board of directors has approved a $72 million capital project to expand Boise’s production of pressure-sensitive paper. The project involves adding new capacity to the existing #3 paper machine at Boise’s mill in Wallula, WA, with state-of-the-art equipment that will increase the company’s pressure-sensitive capacity by 200,000 tons. Eastman Kodak has named Jeffrey Hayzlett chief marketing officer and vice president for its Graphic Communications Group (GCG). Hayzlett has nearly 25 years of international marketing, sales and

Service Plan Options — Are You Being Served?
June 1, 2006

TO STAND out from the rest of the herd, offset press manufacturers, both web and sheetfed, have ramped up their service offerings. This trend toward extended service plans, preventive maintenance programs and beefed up parts and labor options is allowing press manufacturers to expand what is offered to their customers while also becoming more of a partner with the printer. Here is a look at some service plans that are available, in no particular order. At PRINT 05, Heidelberg unveiled an extended service package to the U.S. market called systemservice 36plus. Heidelberg’s systemservice 36plus service package extends service coverage for a period of 36

UPFRONT
April 1, 2006

Brown Opts for Sundays WASECA, MN—Magazine and catalog specialist Brown Printing has ordered two new gapless web presses and three finishing systems from Goss International. A pair of 2x8 Sunday 3000/32 presses will be joined here by two Universal adhesive binders. A third Universal binder is slated for installation at Brown’s East Greenville, PA, facility. Quadracci Honored by WOA SEWICKLEY, PA—Thomas Quadracci, chairman and CEO of Quad/Graphics, has been named the recipient of the Web Offset Association’s (WOA) eighth annual VISION Award, named in honor of his late brother, Harry, who founded the Sussex, WI-based printer. He will be presented with the award during the WOA’s 54th

WILLIAMS PRINTING — WORLD’S LARGEST SMALL PRINTER
March 1, 2006

It’s a rarity to hear about a new printing facility being built from the ground up in today’s graphic arts world. But that is just what Williams Printing, an RR Donnelley company, celebrated when it opened a new 130,000-square-foot facility located near Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in 2005. But, then again, Williams Printing does not consider itself your Average Joe Printer. During the past 80 years, Williams Printing has built a reputation for outstanding quality, service and innovation. And although RR Donnelley is now the world’s largest provider of print and print-related services—and Williams is among the largest commercial printers in the Atlanta area—both pursue a

TSUKUBA MANUFACTURING PLANT — STILL PRESSING AHEAD
March 1, 2006

AUTO DEVICES to speed makereadies. Ever-increasing press unit requirements. Convertible and dedicated perfecting configurations. Unique coating capabilities. As U.S. sheetfed commercial printers strive to differentiate themselves from their competitors, they increasingly opt for more customized press solutions. And, once they decide to buy a new offset machine, the ability of their chosen press supplier to deliver the order within a short time frame is crucial to sealing the deal. That market trend, in part, is what drove the Komori Corporation to build its new Tsukuba sheetfed press manufacturing facility near Tokyo, which went into full operation in December with the second phase completion of an

Leo Roars in China — Michelson
March 1, 2006

EDITOR’S notebook A MASSIVE complex of buildings encompassing 3.3 million square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space. Some 15,000 workers, with nearly 12,000 of them housed in dormitories built right on the 160-acre campus. Meals prepared daily for the entire workforce, with future plans for an organic farm. Two on-site medical clinics with four doctors on duty. Its own fire brigade complete with three fire engines and an ambulance. Five power and three wastewater treatment plants. A company library with 27,000 books, a post office, recreational areas and even a discotheque. Plus, ongoing construction projects for more housing, larger dining facilities and floorspace for increased