While Canadians held their breath every time the men's Olympic hockey team took the ice (and finally exhaled once it was all over) as a nation we've been able to take solace in the 24 medals our athletes claimed—the most ever for Canada at the Winter Games. Meanwhile, well before the Games in Torino began, the Dutch Post Office (TPG Post) created a winner for their nation with stamps celebrating a couple past Olympic speed skating champions created with full-action lenticular printing.
A stamp series called 'Going for gold' features moving images of Dutch skating stars Ard Schenk and Yvonne van Gennip, gold medal winners at the 1972 Olympic Winter Games in Sapporo and the 1988 Games in Calgary respectively.
The unique stamps show the athletes striding to the finish, with their winning times flashing across the bottom (mimicking the television coverage at the time). [Check out this video.]
Printed on plastic, the stamps incorporate a sequence of 12 film stills taken from the winning races, laced together and printed on fine lenticular plastic. The printing was done in Australia in a run of 700,000 sheets, the finished pieces are 2 x 1.2 inches.
Speciality printing processes like lenticular have come a long way in the past few years with sophisticated photography and imaging software made much easier and accessible. New plastic lenses and printing technologies are also making the process easier to put on press.
If your firm is struggling with new ideas to differentiate your offerings, maybe adding motion to your print could get you on the podium.
According to a new report from analyst firm Parks Associates, digital media will grab 10% of overall ad spending, or US$23.5 billion, by 2010. Last year, digital media captured just 5% of ad spending, or US$9.45 billion. [source: Digital Ads Expected to Hit $23B by 2010, Enid Burns, ClickZ News, 02/21/06] http://www.clickz.com/news/article.php/3586216
Quebecor World Seeing Red
Quebecor World lost US$205-million in the fourth quarter of 2005 on revenues of US$1.7 billion compared with a profit of US$46.3-million from the same period a year prior. For the full year, on revenues of US$6.3 billion (basically the same as 2004), the company recorded a net loss of US$149 million compared to net income of US$140 million in 2004.
In Canada, the company reports that revenues decreased 3% in the fourth quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2004 and that its volume decreased 1% for the year.
Quebecor World is in the middle of a three-year retooling plan, installing new technology and decommissioning old equipment (investments of US$330 million in North America and US$250 million in Europe).
"In the short-term we are taking additional measures to reduce our costs by being more efficient in our energy consumption and through additional restructuring initiatives," said Pierre Karl Péladeau, president and CEO, Quebecor World Inc. The company attributed its low profits to excess capacity and pricing pressure in the market and the loss of volume after the departure of three major customers in the U.S. and Europe.
Meanwhile major competitor Chicago-based R.R. Donnelley, following a string of new magazine and directory contract extension announcements, has reported a fourth-quarter net loss of US$236 million on sales of US$2.4 billion compared to earnings of US$148.8 million on sales of US$2.1 billion Q4 2004. For the full year Donnelley reported earnings of US$95.6 million on sales of US$8.4 billion compared to earnings of US$264.9 million on sales of US$7.2 billion for the full year of 2004. Pierre Karl Péladeau, president and CEO, Quebecor World Inc
Printer Among Canada's Best Managed
Metro Label, Canada's largest manufacturer of pressure-sensitive labels, has been named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies, an award sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, National Post and Queen's School of Business.
A family-owned business, Metro Label was founded in 1974 and today employs over 250 people with facilities in Toronto; Langley, B.C.; Montreal; and Napa Valley, California.
"Winning this award is a formal recognition that our strategy of embodying the highest standards of excellence in everything we do and developing mutually beneficial partnerships works," said Sandeep Lal, president of Metro Label.
In May 2005 Metro Label acquired the Jonergin division of Invesprint adding the Montreal location, and in August 2005 the company relocated its Toronto office to a new 132,000 square foot leading-edge eco-friendly building.
Metro Label's sales for all plants are expected to approach $60 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006. Sandeep Lal, president of Metro Label
Cenveo to Establish Canadian Income Trust Fund
Cenveo, Inc., the Colorado-based print conglomerate with over 80 facilities throughout North America including holdings in Canada, has taken steps to set up a Canadian income trust fund with its Canadian envelope division Supremex, forming the Supremex Income Fund.
The proposed fund will acquire and hold all of the common shares of Supremex, Inc., the leading Canadian manufacturer of envelopes.
"We believe that the successful completion of this offering will be consistent with our previously announced strategy to de-leverage our balance sheet and will provide an opportunity to redeploy capital to allow us to grow domestically," stated Robert Burton, Sr., chairman and CEO of Cenveo.
The Supremex Fund would join a number of other print industry related income trusts including: Custom Direct Income Fund (first listed May 2003) Davis+Henderson Income Fund (first listed Dec. 2001) Data Group Income Fund (first listed Dec. 2004)
FP Newspapers Income Fund (first listed May 2002) Osprey Media Income Fund (first listed April 2004) Pollard Banknote Income Fund (listed August 2005)
*Cenveo, Inc. will announce its 2005 year-end earnings Wednesday, March 1.
Clean Thinking
Print Green was the theme of the Ryerson Colloquium 2006, an annual event organized and hosted by third-year students in the four-year Graphic Communications Management program at Ryerson University.
Speakers representing the paper, printing, environmental equipment manufacturing and education sectors shared perspectives on print and the environment.
Stephen Lewis from M-Real Canada suggested printers, and especially print buyers, look beyond recycled content alone when considering environmental paper choices. He defended the paper making industry from being tarred with the same anti-environment brush often used against forest product companies, and he praised the efforts of the paper industry to reduce pollutants and maintain sustainable forests.
From the pressroom, Andy Barron of Metroland Printing in Toronto outlined the steps taken at his plant to meet and exceed compliance issues. All inputs and outputs are accounted for at the shop.
Maratek, a Canadian-manufacturer of environmental equipment for the pressroom, was represented by Jarret Ure. He acknowledged that his products are a tough sell in this market, "Printers aren't recyclers, they're printers first!" he noted, adding "I think there's a conflict of philosophy in the printing industry. Companies are more prepared to buy equipment that can make money, rather than buy equipment that can save money."
Finally, the audience was made aware of the variety of voluntary programs available to printers to monitor and clean up their shops by faculty member and past environmental consultant in B.C., Art Seto. Panelists and moderators (l-r): Jarret Ure, Maratek Environmental; Anthony Saldutto, 3rd-year Ryerson; Andy Barron, Metroland Printing; Cecily Lo, 3rd-year Ryerson; Art Seto, faculty at Ryerson; and Stephen Lewis of M-Real Canada (GCM alumni)
FSC List Growing
Montreal-based Pazazz Printing has been awarded Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certification, adding it to a list of over 40 Canadian graphic arts companies now qualified to handle FSC-certified papers and include the FSC logo on printed goods. "We are seeing a clear direction within major industry towards working with environmentally responsible suppliers," explains Warren Werbitt, President and CEO of Pazazz Printing.
"It is not merely about being less wasteful; it is about being more efficient, modern and thoughtful. This creates added value for our clients and partners," explains Werbitt.
Warren Werbitt, President and CEO of Pazazz Printing
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Fuji Graphic Systems Canada Inc. and Fuji Photo Film Canada Inc. are joining their operations into one company, to be called Fuji Photo Film Canada Inc. According to the company, most staff from the Fuji Graphics building near the Toronto airport will be moving to the Fuji Photo building in Mississauga. The amalgamation is to be complete by April 1, and a new president is to be named by then.
Agfa has announced global price increases for its printing plates and films, varying by markets and regions. The increases, double-digits in most regions, are attributed to soaring prices of silver and aluminum along with energy and transportation cost increases.
At IPEX Agfa will introduce three new thermal plates (:Energy, :Energy Marathon and :Energy Elite) and new CtP devices ( the :Avalon LF-Violet, violet technology in an external-drum platesetter, and the :Acento II and :Palladio II)
Presstek will introduce a new direct imaging (DI) press, the Presstek 52DI, at IPEX 2006 (April 4-11). The 20-inch landscape-format press prints at speeds up to 10,000 sheets per hour and will be available in Europe as of IPEX and in North America later this year.
Nazdar, manufacturer of screen inks, digital inks, and chemicals, has acquired UK-based Lyson, Ltd., a manufacturer of inkjet inks for digital printers.
Sun Chemical is launching a line of inkjet inks, both solvent and water-based, to be sold in the after-market for wide-format digital printing under the Streamline brand.
Printellect, LLC, a newly formed print management company, has acquired the assets of EFI's print spend management software business, which includes it's Impresse product and Printellect product (formerly EnterpriseSite).
Global Graphics has released version 7.1 of its Harlequin RIP, featuring native PDF 1.6 compatibility, support for simple four-up in-RIP imposition and support for Mac OS X 10.4, among other enhancements.
EFI has made an agreement with XMPie Inc. whereby EFI's direct sales force will sell XMPie's variable data desktop applications and server solutions.
The Ghent PDF Workgroup (GWG) has made the Ghent Output Suite available, designed to help determine whether PDF files are behaving as expected in graphic arts workflows. To download the free Ghent Output Suite visit http://www.gwg.org/.
Mountain Equipment Co-op, Canada 's largest retail co-operative selling gear for the outdoors, has announced it is sourcing its key commercial printing papers from Domtar's EarthChoice line of environmentally-friendly papers.
Weyerhaeuser Company announced that all of its pulp and paper mills and fine paper converting plants in the U.S. now meet the procurement provisions of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Standard.
The Latest State of the Industry According to the new 2006 State of the Industry Report published by the National Association of Printing Leadership (NAPL), rising wages and benefits, increasing energy costs and an uncertain economy are among the top concerns of printing and graphic communications companies in all size categories.
"Printers are concerned about a profit squeeze, as costs continue to rise in markets that are not receptive to price increases. At the same time, the economy is sending signals of a pending moderation. Recession isn't likely, but, particularly after midyear, we're likely to see the economy slow from the robust 3.5% to 4.0% growth of the last two years to a 2.5% to 3% or even a 2.0% to 2.5% pace," says Andrew Paparozzi, NAPL vice president and chief economist, who adds "every one percentage-point reduction in GDP growth cuts printing industry revenues by more than $1 billion."
The NAPL 2006 State of the Industry Report is distributed free to NAPL members. Non-member printers may purchase the report for US$399; price to other non-member companies is US$999. To purchase the Report, call 800.642.6275, Option 4, or visit www.napl.org/store
Update to Graphic Arts U.S. Profile TrendWatch Graphic Arts has published its 2006 Graphic Arts Market Demographic Profiles report, providing demographic data, industry trends, market outlook for 2006 and beyond, and guidance for industry firms. The new report draws on a variety of sources, including the TWGA Demographic Atlases, Census Bureau data, the Graphic Arts Blue Book, and TWGA's own historical database of trends and changes in the industry. The price for the 162-page report is US$995 and is available online at www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com or by phone at 866-873-6310.
Events
NAPL's TOP MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE is being held March 1-5 at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes, Orlando, Florida. This annual meeting is designed for CEO's, company owners and executives to focus on strategic leadership issues. http://www.napl.org
The next PIA/GATF Executive Leadership Conference will be March 12-16 in Oahu, Hawaii at the J.W. Marriott. www.gain.net
The 2006 TAGA Conference is being held March 19 – 21 in Vancouver at the Four Seasons Vancouver. For more information visit http://www.gain.net
NEXPO 06, largest annual newspaper exhibition and conference, is being held April 1- 4 at McCormick Place in Chicago. http://www.nexpo.com
IPEX 2006 is taking place from April 4-11th at the NEC in Birmingham, UK. It will mark the largest international print show for 2006. Pre-register online for free, otherwise admission on the door is €30 ($53). http://www.ipex.org
The annual Vue/Point Conference is being held this year from April 10 to 12, once again at the Hilton in the Walt Disney Resort, Orlando. This conference is a great opportunity to learn from other real-world experiences. http://www.gasc.org
The Specialty Graphics Imaging Association has set the dates for its 2006 SGIA Imaging Symposiums, with the topic, "Maximizing Profitability in Wide-Format Digital Imaging." The two Canadian stops include Vancouver, April 24–25 and Toronto April 26–27. For more details visit http://www.SGIA.org/sis06.
The inaugural Conference of the Digital Solutions Cooperative, a group of HP Indigo users, is being held April 27-30 at the Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa, in Ft. Myers, Florida. Registration information is available at www.Dscoop.org.
Connect 2006, the 7th annual EFI users' conference takes place April 30th through May 3rd at the Venetian Resort, Las Vegas. The conference theme is "Expand Your Opportunities," offering sessions on topics ranging from MIS tools to growing a business with super-wide format digital inkjet printing. www.efi.com/connect06
The 48th Annual Binding, Finishing and Distribution Seminar, hosted by the NAPL, will be held May 2-4 at the Marriott O'Hare Hotel, Chicago. This event is developed for bindery managers, manufacturing/operations executives and warehouse supervisors. http://www.napl.org
ON DEMAND Expo 2006 will be held May 16-18 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia. The trade show and conference about all things related to digital printing, is co-hosted with AIIM, an IT focused show about content management. For more information http://www.ondemandexpo.com
Web Offset Association Conference, labeled Decision Points 2006 , is being held at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Florida from May 22 to 24. Earlybird registration before April 17 is US$725 for PIA/GATF members (US$975 for non-members) $825 and $1,075 repectively after April 17. For more information visit http://www.gain.net.
Package Printing for the Commercial Printer is the name of a three-day workshop being held at PIA/GATF headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from May 22 – 24. Registration cost is US $895 for members and US $1095 for non members. For more info visit http://www.gain.net
IPA, The Association of Graphic Solutions Providers, announces its 2006 IPA Technical Conference program will take place June 6 – 8 at the Westin O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois. Conference co-chairs are Tony Myrie, general manager, premedia technologies, RR Donnelley and Thad McIlroy, president, Arcadia House. Conference details can be found at http://www.ipa.org/tech2006
Don't miss the NAPL & PIA/GATF Sheetfed Pressroom Conference running from June 11-13 at the Marriott O'Hare Hotel, Chicago. These sessions cover numerous technical and managerial issues through seminars and general sessions. http://www.gain.net, http://www.napl.org
The All In Print China 2006 is scheduled for June 14-16 in Shanghai . Exhibit categories include printing equipment, pre-media equipment and software, electronic and database publishing equipment, computer to plate technology, book binding and print finishing equipment as well as paper converting equipment and package production technology. www.mdna.com
The five-day intensive NAPL & PIA/GATF Management and Leadership Institute is scheduled to run from June 19 to 23 at the Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. This program is designed for developing skills in financial management, production management, sales management, and graphic communications management. http://www.napl.org
VDP Boot Camp is a three-day workshop held July 19 – 21 at the PIA/GATF headquarters is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This intensive session has limited seating. Registration is US$895 for PIA/GATF members and US$1,095 for non-members. For more information visit http://www.gain.net
VARIABLES, a variable-data/digital printing conference will run July 24 – 25 at The Drake in Chicago, Illinois. This year features a pre-conference workshop on Monday, July 24 on "How to Sell Variable Data Printing" presented by Kate Dunn, of Digital Innovations Group (DIG). For information contact http://www.variables.americanprinter.com/
The 2006 Canadian Printing Industries Association (CPIA) Convention will be held in Vancouver, BC, September 14-16. For more information contact www.cpia-aci.com
The 87th annual IAPHC Convention (International Association of Printing House Craftsmen) will be held August 18-23 at the Melia Turquesa all-inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico. For more information visit www.iaphc.org
CMM International is launching a new business conference, the Converting Summit 2006, to the held September 12 – 14 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. Registration is US$695 for "early bird'' registration and US$795 thereafter. For more information contact Andrea Flaherty andreaf@pennwell.com.
SGIA '06 will be held in Las Vegas (Las Vegas Convention Center) from September 26 to 29. www.sgia.org
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.
The annual Graph Expo and Converting Expo, held at McCormick Place in Chicago will run from October 15 to 18. For more details visit http://www.gasc.org
Print World, formerly called Print Ontario, will happen November 18 to 20 at the National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place in Toronto. For information on the Web visit: http://www.printontario.com
2007
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
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
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