manroland Inc.

By Erik Cagle Here's a look at the latest manufacturer offerings for small- and medium-size sheetfed offset presses in up to 23 x 29˝ formats: The A.B.Dick 4995A-ICS with ink control system offers the benefits of a four-tower portrait press for printers looking to step up to four-color process work. Digitally compatible with CTP systems (such as A.B.Dick's DPM line), this automated press with a maximum sheet size of 13.4 x 17.75˝ increases short- and long-run productivity, provides consistent and repeatable quality and accommodates polyester or metal plates. Features include the ink control system, which delivers consistent ink balance while reducing labor setup

NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies elected three new directors at its annual meeting in October. The new directors, elected to three-year terms expiring at the 2005 annual meeting, are: H.A. Brandtjen III, president, Brandtjen & Kluge, St. Croix Falls, WI; John Hamm, vice president of marketing, Xerox Corp., Worldwide Graphic Arts Business, McLean, VA; and Juergen Stolt, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Pantone Inc., Carlstadt, NJ. In addition, Edward McLoughlin, president of Oxy-Dry Corp., and Prime UV Systems received the 2002 Harold W. Gegenheimer Awards for Industry Service at the NPES conference. Enovation Graphic Systems has named Paul

Americans Trek to H+H Open House BIELEFELD, GERMANY—For any printer, trade binder or mailing house interested in specialized finishing equipment, ranging from sophisticated in-line mailing machinery and miniature folders on up to 62x75˝ map folders, this quaint German town located 60 miles southwest of Hannover was the center of the graphic arts universe recently. More than 1,000 visitors from around the world, including a U.S group organized by MBO America, attended a four-day open house at the headquarters of Herzog + Heymann (H+H), arguably the world leader in mailing and specialized folding equipment. Four separate halls were set up for demonstrations featuring 21 H+H

WESTMONT, IL—After successfully demonstrating the productivity of an open architecture, JDF-based workflow at Graph Expo, Printcafe Software and MAN Roland are planning to take it into the field. The first beta testing with printers is scheduled for the beginning of this year. The interface shown at Graph Expo was a bi-directional link, providing a two-way conduit for data flow. JDF files from the Printcafe system were transferred to a Roland 500 press, supplying job parameters and presetting color. At the same time, the press' PECOM system reported on its progress to Printcafe, via JMF (Job Messaging Format) files. (www.manroland.com/www.printcafe.com) BEDFORD, MA—Creo

By Erik Cagle Say what you want about 2002, but very shortly you'll be able to say these two magic words: it's over. By nature, printers are optimists. So are trade magazine journalists. Thus, coming off a dreadful 2001, horribly punctuated by a reeling economy and the September 11 attacks, most industry people were forecasting a much-improved 2002. No one was ready to pop the champagne cork, but a marked improvement was in the offering, with a strong economic rebound catapulting revenues heading into 2003. Better days, like Godot, never arrived. To say 2003 cannot be any worse than 2002 is tantamount to whistling

PEWAUKEE, WI—Quad/Graphics, based here, has begun construction on a new printing facility in Oklahoma City. Initially, Quad/Graphics will install two web offset presses—an eight-unit Heidelberg and an eight-unit MAN Roland—as well as saddle stitching equipment. When gravure operations begin in 2005, Quad's Oklahoma City plant will feature Italian-made Cerutti gravure presses. The presses will be equipped with full automation, from cylinder loading through signature delivery, including computerized process-control systems by QTI, Quad/Graphics' R&D subsidiary. "Quad/Oklahoma will feature a manufacturing platform engineered for nimbleness," reports Thomas Quadracci, president and CEO. "We're constructing and equipping the plant to rapidly adapt to changing client needs in terms of geo-demographics, targeted

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL—Creo, Printcafe and MAN Roland have joined forces for a continent-wide seminar series that explores the productivity benefits provided by computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM). Titled "CIM in Print: It Is Here. It Is Working. It Is Ready for You," the free seminars are designed to provide practical recommendations on how printers can utilize computer-integrated manufacturing to streamline their workflows and maximize their use of automation. Printers who attend this half-day event will discover how CIM can put a competitive edge on their workflows and help them win new business, according to the organizers. "The advantage of our CIM seminar is that it covers all print production,

Printcafe Closes Acquisition PITTSBURGH—Printcafe Software has completed its acquisition of printChannel. Printcafe did not assume any printChannel obligations or liabilities other than in connection with certain customer contracts.Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Donnelley Exec to Head Oce CHICAGO—Ronald E. Daly has resigned as president of R.R. Donnelley Print Solutions, the company's business responsible for magazine, book, telephone directory and catalog/retail insert printing, as well as premedia services, to become the CEO of Océ-USA Holding, the North American business of Océ N.V., based in the Netherlands. Michael B. Allen, executive vice president for R.R. Donnelley Print Solutions, and Robert S. Pyzdrowski, president of operations for

Printer Has 700 Reasons to Celebrate BEAVERTON, OR—Paramount Graphics' new MAN Roland six-color 700 sheetfed press with an in-line double coating unit was the centerpiece of an open house the printer conducted in September. The event attracted more than 275 print buyers and graphic arts executives. The company demonstrated the new press' capabilities by running a project for telecommunications leader T-Mobile. california IRVINE—Main Graphics has added a Creo Trendsetter 400 Spectrum and an EPSON Stylus Pro 7600. Both items complement a Ryobi 525 press with coater that was added earlier in the year. LOS ANGELES—A new four-color, 181⁄8x22˝ Sakurai 458EII automated press

By Mark Michelson SEWICKLEY, PA—The weather was warm and the leaves still green on trees blanketing the hills surrounding the headquarters of the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF), located just outside of Pittsburgh. But Christmas still came early with the official dedication of its recently donated four-color, 38˝ MAN Roland Rotoman heatset commercial web press equipped with auxiliaries gifted from several manufacturers. Held September 19th, the "Webtoberfest" celebration—complete with German fare, oompah music, and an assortment of German Octoberfest beers and wine—was attended by about 350 industry dignitaries, including GATF board members and staff, industry suppliers, association execs, as well as a special delegation from