Canadian Printer E-Newsletter

Innovation
A key to business success in a highly competitive market is innovation. Being a creative market leader is a constant challenge, because before long copycats catch-up to you. A smart business is always on the search, upping the ante, staying on top by finding new ways to meet and surpass its customers' needs and expectations.
Where do you find innovation? In this industry, people head to the major trade shows to discover the latest, and over the years I've recognized a pattern. The most successful printers I've known can always be spotted on trade show floors or in crowded conference rooms.
Here's something new that crossed my way recently that I think may be worth a look, and it's Canadian too.
The product comes from PAT Technologies based outside of Montreal. PAT is a company that has been flying under the radar, but I think it's going to start making some noise. The company claims to produce "Intelligent Solutions for Printing and Printing Environments". A key here is "Environments," because a primary focus of their technologies is keeping the air clean.

PAT has been around since 1998 making air cleaning/filtration units for industry including vacuum systems for CtP units and the like. Their newest product is called VarStar, a self-contained offline sheetfed (up to 14.4 x 22.5 inch sheets) digital inkjet UV-cured coating system. It uses piezo inkjet heads to spray on coating in greyscale, providing from matte to high gloss UV finish in one pass depending on the amount of fluid dispensed.
And because it's digital it can do variable data coating on printed sheets. All this at up to 8,000 sheets/hr.
I haven't actually seen the product yet, so I hesitate to vouch for it completely, but it sounds promising, and new! Look out for this one at Graph Expo in Chicago (October 15-17).
While you're at Graph Expo I would encourage getting up early on the Monday and heading down to the show for breakfast and some educational opportunities. The show company is hosting the FREE Pan-America Day Conference and Forum featuring a discussion on the print markets in Canada, Latin America and the United States. Bob Elliott, president of CPIA will be presenting. For more information/registration: http://www.npes.org/blasts/panamerica.html
For more events check listings at the bottom of this e-news.

For stock watchers out there, Reuters reported yesterday that Standard and Poor's had cut its corporate credit rating for Quebecor World Inc. to B-plus, from BB-minus, and the rating agency warned it may cut the company further.

Congratulations to Gary Evans, president of Ideal Printing in Calgary, as the new elected Chairman of the Board of the Canadian Printing Industries Association (CPIA). Gary 's election took place during the CPIA's Annual Meeting which took place in Vancouver September 16th.
Other elected members of the CPIA Board include: Sean Murray, Advocate Printing and Publishing, Pictou, NS (Vice Chair); Jamie Barbieri, Integria, St. Laurent, QC (Secretary-Treasurer); Ward Griffin, The Lowe Martin Group, Ottawa (Immediate Past Chair); and Curwin Friesen, Friesens Corp., Altona, MB (Director at Large).

Last time we asked you, our readers, "How did you get involved in the graphic arts business?"

Of the 50 responses we received, the most common response was Dumb Luck, as selected by 36% of you (18). The next most common response, selected by 28%, was Career choice from high school. For 14% of our respondents, they're following the family business. Twelve percent are in this industry because friends hired them. And the final 10% of our respondents are in the graphic arts business because they answered a Help Wanted ad.

In the September 11 issue of "The Daily" a publication issued by Statistics Canada, industry capacity utilization rates (accounting for the second quarter of 2006) were revealed, and among 21 manufacturing categories Printing scored very low at 74.8%, ahead of only Tobacco, Textiles, Furniture and Electrical Equipment. Low capacity utilization is further proof of too much iron on the market for too little work. The good news is that printing's capacity utilization number is up almost a percentage point from last year at the same time.
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060911/d060911a.htm

Recently published on physorg.com is a report of two researchers in Israel that have designed an inkjet print head that could lead to printers capable of 1,000 pages per minute – or more. The print head design allows for multiple segments to be combined, creating a single head unit that can be the size of a sheet of paper, printing a page in an instant. The design, being called JeTrix, has been tested as a laboratory prototype, the researchers expect two more years of testing and engineering before it becomes a commercial reality.
http://www.physorg.com/news78058100.html

Canadian Printer magazine has been publishing since 1892. For those curious about the early years of the printing and publishing industry in Canada, the University of Toronto has established a digital archive of Canadian Printer and Publisher's earliest issues including the first 20 years.
Visit: http://link.library.utoronto.ca/cpp/

RR Donnelley Grows Canadian Presence

R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co. of Chicago has signed an agreement to acquire Ottawa-based Canadian Bank Note Co.'s financial printing assets and operations including facilities in Toronto and Montreal. (An all-cash deal, value not released).
The two companies have maintained a strategic partnership for a number of years in this financial printing sector. "Our Canadian and global clients will be delighted by this important expansion of our presence in Canada," said Tom Juhase, president of RR Donnelley's Financial Services business.
"We believe that this transaction will be very beneficial to the domestic and cross-border capital markets communities in Canada as they gain direct access to RR Donnelley's complete global capabilities," said Dan McNeil, vice president of sales for Canadian Bank Note (he'll be joining RR Donnelley at the closing).
RR Donnelley's Financial Services business comprises a network that serves financial centers across 42 countries on six continents. RR Donnelley has a significant manufacturing presence in Canada due to its merger with Moore Wallace in 2004.

Canadian Printer Shines

Montreal's Imprimerie L'Empreinte has been awarded first prize in the International MetalFX Printer of the Year Awards for 2006.
Imprimerie L'Empreinte, the first printer in Quebec to become MetalFX certified, is a full service offset and digital printing shop with sales of $12.5 million and employing 80 people.
MetalFX is the U.K.-developed printing process that allows a wide variety of spot metallic colours to be printed using only a metallic base coat and four process colours. The technology has been licensed by 40 different locations across Canada.
"For both quality and quantity of MetalFX work, Imprimerie L'Empreinte shone out amongst the entries," noted MetalFX managing director, Andrew Ainge.
As part of the prize, a selection of Imprimerie L'Empreinte's winning pieces will be featured in the new MetalFX brochure, to be launched later this year.
Pigeon Branding and Design, with offices in Montreal and Oakville, Ontario , was also recognized among the MetalFX award winners.

Toronto Craftsmen Celebrate

Over 55 people were on hand for the Toronto Club of Printing House Craftsmen's local Gallery of Superb Printing Awards dinner Wednesday, September 27. Organized this year by Gord Wight of Grenville Printing, in total 19 companies were recognized with awards (Gold, Silver, Bronze and Honourable Mentions) the top prize, Best of Show, going to Colour Innovations.
Before the award presentations Wight noted how among all the talk of price wars and unrealistic turnaround times in the industry today, "The concept of craftsmanship and pride in a job well done is often lost." He went on to praise the value of print awards for creating an improved client connection, "a bridge to future work," and their ability to instill pride among employees. "I do believe in the validity of the awards," said Wight.
Other Best of category awards went to: C.J. Graphics for Best use of Paper; Grenville Printing for Best use of Ink and Best use of Press; J&P Steel Rule Dies for Best use of Finishing; and Metro Label for Best use of Flexographic Process.
The other award winning companies included: Avant Imaging & Information Mgmt. Inc.; Beach Communication & Design Services; Bowne of Toronto; Kingsweb Inc.; Lithotel Software Design; Parker Pad & Printing Ltd.; Polytainers Inc.; PPP Corporation; Quebecor World Aurora; Quebecor World Richmond Hill; Queenstone Services Inc.; St. Joseph Printing; Transcontinental O'Keefe Toronto; and University of Toronto Press Inc.

Toronto Club of Printing House Craftsmen local awards Best of Show went to Colour Innovations (l-r): Rael Fisher, RR Donnelley (Toronto Club President); Matthew Alexander and Steve Kendrick, Colour Innovations; and Gord Wight, Grenville Printing (Awards Organizer).

Scholarship Trust Fund Doles Out $65,000
In late August the Board of Trustees representing the Canadian Printing Industries Scholarship Trust Fund (CPISTF) announced a total of $65,000 in scholarship funding awarded to 46 students for the current school year, including 25 first time award winners.
The value of each annual scholarship is $1,250, and this year students exhibiting a high level of talent were eligible for a Prestige Scholarship with a value of $5,000 each. Two of these scholarships were awarded.
"There was an exceptional group of applicants this year and we are very pleased to be able to support 46 dedicated students in their pursuit of a career in the printing industry," said Don Gain, Chairman of the Fund.
The Board of Trustees includes: Don Gain (Chair), Harmony Printing Ltd, Toronto; Warren Wilkins (Past Chair), Webcom Ltd, Toronto; Wayne Burroughs (Treasurer); Richard Armstrong, Heidelberg Canada; Dick Kouwenhoven, Hemlock Printers Ltd., Burnaby, BC; Michael Hill, Alcan Packaging, Mississauga, ON; Violet Storto, Algonquin College, Ottawa; Frank McGuire, Burlington ON; Dan Flanagan, Saint John, NB; Loretta Puckrin, Fine Colour Canada, St. Albert, AB; and Tom Blockberger, Broadway Printers Ltd., Vancouver.
Contributions to the CPISTF are always welcome and are tax deductible. For more information call 1-800-267-7280

Pink Ink Takes to the Streets
This was the second year for Team Pink Ink, a printing and graphic arts team that took part in the Princess Margaret Hospital Weekend to End Breast Cancer, a two-day, 60 kilometre walk to raise funds for breast cancer research in Toronto (September 8-10) .
The Pink Ink team had 17 members who walked the 60 km route, the culmination of a year's worth of training and fundraising that included raffles, poker nights, a fashion show and other events through the year. "As always the walk was an extraordinary event. We would like to thank our sponsors in the industry for making our fundraising totals possible! $56,000 is a great donation to Princess Margaret Hospital," said Claire Paterson, who along with Rachael Dean, is a captain of the team.
In total, 5,382 walkers raised $17.2 million in the fourth annual Weekend to End Breast Cancer walk in Toronto. The event has raised $60 million to date.
Team Pink Ink will be back walking in 2007 (September 7-9) and is looking for more men and women to join. Call Claire Paterson at 416-879-6278 or email teampinkink@yahoo.ca for more information.

CAPTION: Team Pink Ink 2006 (in random order): Claire Paterson (St. Joseph Print Thorn), Rachael Dean (Webcom), Melissa Catalano, Carole Davies (Heidelberg), Heather Davies (Annick Press), Noemi Fasullo (Webcom), Sarah Fasullo, Julie Kaye (York Bookbinders), Michael Keenan (Webcom), Marlene Kershaw (Heidelberg), Kelly Lamb (Quebecor World), Kellie Lefaive (Transcontinental), Kelly-Ann Macknight, Tanya Mossa Howse (Topline Printing & Graphics), Victor Ortins, Lisa Rutty (NewlineNoosh), Flora Scarangella (St. Joseph Print Concord), Tonia Scarangella (St. Joseph Print Concord), and Heather Zigelstein (Webcom).

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SGIA SPECIAL OFFER

FREE 2006 Guide to Digital Imaging

ACT FAST!

Our friends at the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) are presenting a one-time offer to readers of the Canadian Printer E-newsletter.
Click the link below and type in your delivery details to receive a FREE 2006 Guide to Digital Imaging (retail value of US$24.95).
SGIA's 2006 Guide to Digital Imaging provides advice and information for those investigating the world of large-format digital imaging or anyone already taking part in this growing market space.
This offer is limited to the first 250 readers who respond, so reply now!

http://www.sgia.org/advertorial/commercial.cfm

Resources:

Digital Colour POD to Grow 23% per Year
InfoTrends latest forecast, U.S. Print On Demand Market Forecast: 2005-2010, discusses placements, installed base, impressions per machine per month, annual impressions, revenue (equipment, supplies, and service), average retail value per image, retail value of print, and per-impression cost calculations for equipment, supplies, and service.
According to the latest forecast from InfoTrends, the production copying and digital printing market in the U.S. will account for 921 billion impressions in 2010 with the retail value of print approaching US$73 billion. InfoTrends expects the retail value of print in U.S. production colour (24+ ppm) print-on-demand environments to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 23% over the forecast period, clearing $50 billion by 2010.
Black & white print on demand is forecast to grow at a much slower rate than colour, reaching its peak in 2009.

For more information about the report visit: http://store.infotrendsresearch.com/ProductDetails.asp?
ProductCode=74903&Click=822

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AWARDS/CONTESTS

The Web Offset Association has announced its Call for Entries for the 2007 WOA Annual Print Awards Competition. First place winners receive a complimentary registration to the WOA annual conference, one night's accommodations at the host hotel, a showcase trophy, a plaque for their customer and more. Recipients will be honoured and all winning entries will be displayed during the annual conference, April 29–May 1, 2007 in Toronto.
The entry fee is US$25 per entry. There are no limitations on entry submissions from a company, however a company can win only one award per category.
Detailed information on eligibility, categories, rules, and judging can be found at www.gain.net. For more information contact Teresa Rees, trees@piagatf.org

http://stores.skipjack.com/PointBalancePubs/StoreFront.bok

Events

FSC Canada is hosting a series of conferences in Western Canada entitled, The Moral Fibre Workshop Series. Antony Marcil, President and CEO, the Forest Stewardship Council Canada hosts the event promoting the adoption of FSC certified paper and process as a visible way to show environmental leadership. The sessions run in Calgary - October 3, Executive Royal Inn; Saskatoon - October 4, Sheraton Cavalier; Regina - October 5, Delta Regina; and Edmonton - October 6, Day Inn & Suites West Edmonton . Visit http://www.fsccanada.org/moralfibre.htm

Kodak's Unified Workflow Roadshow hits Toronto next Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Renaissance Toronto Airport Hotel (noon – 7:30 pm). Learn about integrated workflow, colour management and proofing and more. For information visit http://www.graphics.kodak.com and click on Unified Workflow Roadshow under Latest News.

The International Card Manufacturers Association (ICMA), is holding its annual ICMA EXPO October 8-11 at the Athenaeum Intercontinental Hote in Athens, Greece. For full details visit www.icma.com.

The National Association for Quick Printers (NAQP) Owners Conference is being held October 12-15 at the InterContinental Hotel in Chicago . This three-day event will cover business strategies, financial management, sales management and more, with a focus on small print shop owners. For more information visit: http://www.napl.org/events/NAQP_Final_Owners_Conf_brochure.pdf

The annual Graph Expo and Converting Expo, held at McCormick Place in Chicago will run from October 15 to 18. And don't forget Executive Outlook, a top-level conference held at McCormick Place on October 14, the day before Graph Expo opens. For more details visit http://www.gasc.org

Monday morning, Oct. 16, at Graph Expo don't miss the FREE Pan American Breakfast featuring presentations on the state of the industry in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The event will run from 7:30 am - 9:45 am located in Room S-103. Bob Elliott, president of CPIA will be presenting. For more information: http://www.npes.org/blasts/panamerica.html

While you're in Chicago don't miss the R&E Council's Critical Trends Breakfast, October 16 at McCormick Place, Chicago, highlighting technology and trends from the floor of Graph Expo.
http://www.napl.org/events/CTB_2006/Crit_Trends_WebBro_000.pdf

The Ghent PDF Workgroup (GWG), an international organization building best practices for publishing workflows, is hosting a special FREE seminar at Graph Expo Tuesday October 17 from 10:30 am - Noon in room S105A.

X-Rite, Inc. is hosting a training seminar on the Fundamentals of Colour and Appearance in Toronto on Tuesday, Oct 17 at the Holiday Inn Select Toronto Airport. Attendees of the all-day event will learn how to evaluate, measure and communicate colour. The US$499 fee includes lunch and seminar materials including the Fundamentals of Color and Appearance book and the Munsell Interactive Learning Kit. More details can be found at http://www.graphintel.com/foca

The Toronto Chapter of the Printing House Craftsmen will be arranging a Tour of Gandinnovations super wide format inkjet printer manufacturing facility in Mississauga. The tour will be October 18 from 6 to 8 pm. For more information contact the hotline to receive more information 905 804-0924.

The Digital Imaging Association in Toronto is holding a meeting Wednesday October 25 on the topic of Colour Chaos . For more information contact marg@digitalimagingassoc.ca

The 5th annual PIA/GATF Variable Data and Personalization Conference will be held November 5-7, in Phoenix, Arizona. This is a don't miss event if your company is in the VDP business. Visit http://www.gain.net for more details.

A symposium entitled Package Printing: An engineered approach to repeatable AND predictable colour, is being held Tuesday, November 14, at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY. The day-long conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with a dinner reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Conference fee is US$80. http://print.rit.edu/events/symp06_pkg/index.php

Print World, formerly called Print Ontario, will happen November 18 to 20 at the National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place in Toronto. For information visit http://www.printworldshow.com

The Toronto Chapter of the Printing House Craftsmen will be hosting a breakfast seminar during Print World, Sunday, Nov. 19, 7:30 - 10 am on the topic of wide and grand format printing called: Eyes Wide Open.
To get more information leave a message at 905 804-0924.

"Expansion Through Acquisition" an International Symposium, is being held Wednesday, November 29, at the Doubletree International Plaza, located close to the Toronto airport. This event will explore how to develop a corporate acquisition strategy, cross border transactions, due diligence and successfully integrating a new acquisition. The event will be hosted by the law firm of Cassels, Brock & Blackwell; international m&a consortium, the International Corporate Finance Group; and intermediary firm, Robbinex Inc.
For more information call 888-762-2463

The PostPress: Finish with a Profit conference is being held Thursday November 30 at the Toronto Board of Trade. Learn about lean manufacturing and hear customer testimonials. Early-bird registration is $69.00. For more information call 416.665.7333 x31.

The Canadian Flexography Training Committee (CFTC) is producing the World Class Flexography Conference to be held at the Toronto Board of Trade, Friday, December 1. The early-bird registration fee is $69. For more information contact Ron Schroder, rons@williamson.ca

The VariComm conference covering all angles of digital colour variable printing will take place at the Toronto Board of Trade, December 1. Early registration is $175. For more info call 416.665.7333 x31

2007

The Toronto Chapter of the International Assoc. of Printing House Craftsmen is holding its annual Gallery Awards Gala dinner and dance on Saturday, February 17 at the Park Plaza Hotel. This year's theme is intergalactic, The Star Awards. For more info contact Tisha Slater at tishaslater@queenstone.org

The 2007 PIA/GATF Executive Leadership Conference will be held at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa in Chandler, Arizona, March 4-8. For more information, call 412-259-1803.

The NAPL Top Management Conference is being held at the Four Seasons in Santa Barbara, California from March 7-11 . Visit http://www.napl.org/events/TMC/TMC%2007/TMC_07.htm

PRINT OUTLOOK 2007, hosted by the NPES, will be held March 27-28 in Chicago. This annual marketing and economic conference features top-level presentations specific to the future of the printing industry in North America . For information visit http://www.npes.org

ON DEMAND 2007 moves to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center for the dates of April 16-19. This annual expo and conference features the latest in digital printing technology and software solutions. http://www.ondemandexpo.com

The Web Offset Association annual conference will be held in conjunction with the annual Sheetfed Conference in Toronto April 29–May 1 . Contact http://www.gain.net for more information.

The International Association of Diecutting and Diemaking (IADD) and the Foil Stamping and Embossing Association (FSEA) will host 2007 IADD/FSEA Odyssey - May 2-4, 2007, at the Midwest Airlines Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For more information visit www.iadd.org/odyssey.

CMM International 2007, a showcase and educational forum for the converting and package printing industries, will take place June 4th - 7th, 2007 in Rosemont, Illinois. For more information contact Andrea Flaherty at (603) 891-9477 or andreaf@pennwell.com.

FESPA, the European-based show for screen and digital sign printers, is being held June 5-9 in Berlin, Germany. The theme for FESPA 2007 is The Power Of Imaging. www.fespa2007.com

Graph Expo and PackPrint, 2007 will be co-located at McCormick Place in Chicago from September 9-12. Visit www.gasc.org for more info.

The IGAS (International Graphic Arts Show) is being held at the Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, Japan from September 21 to 27, 2007. Held every four years, last time this week-long expo attracted over 120,000 visitors. For information www.igas-tokyo.jp

2008

Drupa 2008 will be held from May 29 to June 11, 2008 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf Germany. There will be over 2,400,000 square feet of exhibition space with an expected attendance of over 300,000. www.drupa.com

For more events in your area, here are links to regional associations:

B.C. http://www.bcpia.org; http://www.vcphc.org/
Southern Alberta http://www.pgia.ca
Saskatchewan http://www.sgaia.org
Ontario http://www.opia.on.ca, www.digital-imaging-assoc.org
Quebec http://www.aagq.qc.ca
New Brunswick http://www.nbpia.org

Keep up to date on the big picture of the printing industry in Canada with a voice you can trust in Canadian Printer magazine. The national business publication for printers since 1892, Canadian Printer is recognized for leadership on business issues and editorial integrity.
For more information get in touch with editor Doug Picklyk (phone: (416) 764-1530, email: doug.picklyk@printer.rogers.com).
For advertising and marketing opportunities, contact Michael Falbo (phone: (416) 764-1544, email: michael.falbo@printer.rogers.com).