Quad/Graphics

SUSSEX, WI—It's safe to say that Newsweek is consistently satisfied with the performance of one particular printing vendor. That printer, Quad/Graphics, garnered "Printer of the Year" honors from Newsweek for the 19th consecutive year. Quad's plant in Hartford, WI, held off four other printing plants for the award. "We have nothing but kudos to say about Quad/Graphics' Hartford plant," states John Nallen, Newsweek director of manufacturing. "Quad/Graphics delivers consistent, on-time performance every week of the year. We make tough demands on our printers, and Quad continues to produce at the highest level of consistency and quality." Newsweek judges its printers on seven criteria: quality, paper waste on

by chris bauer Managing Editor Finally, the rumor mill can go silent concerning the status of industry giant Heidelberg Web Systems. Just days before closing this issue, Heidelberg and Goss International reached an agreement on major issues for the intended transfer of the Heidelberg Web Offset division to Goss International. An outline deal has been agreed upon in principle, but some issues remain to be resolved before definitive documents are expected to be executed over the coming weeks. Heidelberg will still display web presses at the upcoming Drupa trade show in Germany, reports Greg Norris, manager of marketing communications. Its newest

Tanagraphics, Seybert Merge NEW YORK CITY—Tanagraphics Inc. and Seybert Nicholas Printing Group have signed a definitive merger agreement to form what they claim to be the largest privately held company providing print management solutions in the Big Apple. The new company will be called TanaSeybert and will offer commercial and digital printing, advertising prepress services, bindery and mailing services. TanaSeybert will also offer a full range of integrated Web- and browser-based services. Harris DeWese, chairman of Compass Capital Partners, served as financial advisor for the transaction. Baldwin, technotrans Deal Nixed SHELTON, CT—Baldwin Technology has notified technotrans AG that it will no longer pursue the transaction announced in

WESTAMPTON, NJ—MBO America President and CEO Hans Max and Vice President Hartmut Sohn welcomed 11 Chinese visitors for finishing equipment demonstrations and dialog at the MBO America headquarters here recently. Arranged by US-China Enterprises' New York branch, the guests represented five different printing companies and associations from China. COLUMBUS, GA—Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) has dedicated its printing plate manufacturing facility here as the Edward E. Barr Building. Barr was KPG's first chairman and served on the board of the company until 2003. He retired in 2002 as chairman of Sun Chemical Group, following a 40-year career with the company. Quad/Tech has added two sales

PEWAUKEE, WI—A pressman working the overnight shift at a Quad/Graphics plant in Hartford, WI, died Feb. 3 of injuries he sustained while making repairs on a stacking machine. Phillip Siehr, 40, died three days after the upper table on a stacker retracted and came down, pinning his head, the Waukesha Freeman (WI) newspaper reported Feb. 4. He was liberated by Quad/Graphics employees and transported to Aurora Medical Center in Hartford before being transferred to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa. Mr. Siehr's condition was upgraded to satisfactory on Feb. 2 before succumbing to the injuries the following day, according to the newspaper. According to the report filed

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA—Atlanta Web Printers has opened its second facility, located in Tucker, GA. Along with the physical expansion of its facilities, the publication printer has also restructured the management team. Jerry Williamson, CEO of Williamson Printing, Dallas, has been named the Graphic Arts Leaders of the Americas (GALA) North American award recipient for 2004 by the Printing Association of Florida. He received his award before hundreds of industry leaders and guests at the 21st annual GALA awards banquet during Graphics of the America 2004 in Miami Beach. F.E. Treis, Arandell Corp. chairman, was recently honored for 60 years of leadership at the

california BURBANK—California Coast Color has added a four-color, 40˝ Mitsubishi Diamond 3000S sheetfed press. It is the second Mitsubishi for the 12,500-square-foot shop with 20 employees. COSTA MESA—Hoover Printing & Lithography is now operating its newly installed, six-color HP Indigo digital press. SAN LUIS OBISPO—Herschel "Hank" Apfelberg, longtime professor of graphic communication at Cal Poly, died January 13 at Stanford University Hospital at the age of 67. Mr. Apfelberg started his career as a linotype operator/compositor. Before coming to Cal Poly, where he taught from 1971 to 2001, he worked as a process engineer and rotogravure administrator for American Can and as printing superintendent

Phototype Updates Facility CINCINNATI—Queen City printer Phototype has taken the wraps off its newly renovated, 40,000-square-foot facility that will house its headquarters and creative imaging center. The existing facility, a historic building, received a multimillion dollar facelift that included a two-story addition. Phototype also operates an imaging center in Columbus, OH, and a high-end creative art studio in Chicago. Quad Names Quadracci Sr. VP SUSSEX, WI—Joel Quadracci has been promoted to senior vice president of sales and administration by Quad/Graphics, and has been named a member of the board of directors. Quadracci served as the company's vice president of print sales for the previous four years. Quad/Graphics

Tom Quadracci, president and CEO of Quad/Graphics, preferred to address the publication and catalog markets together. He provided a combined outlook for the industry segments in a brief Q&A exchange. PI: What is your outlook for the publishing and catalog industries in 2004? Quadracci: I am confident that the economy will gain momentum in 2004, which will strengthen sales of magazine ad pages, as well as the size (i.e., page counts) and frequency of catalog and retail insert events. In fact, I am so confident in an economic rebound that I am having Quad/Graphics prepare for an increase in business now. We are rapidly expanding

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor Looking back, 2003 has shaped up much the same as 2002 for magazine publishers and publication printers. Both are still holding out hope for a rebound in advertising spending but, at the same time, are wary of to what extent the competitive standing of magazines has permanently changed. Consider one measure of industry activity: the Publishers Information Bureau (PIB) index of consumer magazine ad pages. Through October, advertising revenue was up 8.7 percent, but ad pages were down 0.2 percent compared to the same period in 2002. The comprehensive numbers only tell part of the story, since the