Supplier News:
X-Rite, Pantone, Flint Group and more... Resources IPA Proofer RoundUP and more
AWARDS
Finding Canada’s Best Young Printer
Events
Get out and learn!
Things I Hear
Big, Bigger, Best?
Consolidation in the printing industry, and every established industry, is an inevitable dynamic as technologies mature and products become commoditized. But there's still plenty of room for the smaller movers and shakers.
Advantages of scale in the printing business include buying power—promising suppliers high-volume sales in exchange for lower prices—and the geographical reach for multi-plant operations attracts national accounts that require broad distribution (especially for time-sensitive printing).
On a more regional level, consolidation eliminates competition while adding customers and possibly new technology and services.
Is industry consolidation affecting your business?
Does Transcontinental's bid for PLM make it even more difficult for a competitor to enter or remain competitive in the direct mail market in Canada?
Any company, regardless of size, can compete with the largest competitors in the land if creativity and innovation are core elements of its business. But creativity alone won't seal the deal. As David Ogilvy, a legend in the world of advertising once said: “ In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative original thinker unless you can also sell what you create. Management cannot be expected to recognize a good idea unless it is presented to them by a good salesman.”
A company's size, and perhaps its cost advantages, can get it in the door, but size alone still can't overcome inventiveness and strong sales.
Learn your customers' business and sell them on ideas that will make their companies stronger, and regardless of size you'll be the best in their eyes.
As the results from our last poll reveal, interest in drupa 2008 is high, and over a quarter of our respondents are going to make the trip. For those sitting on the fence: if printing is where your interest lies, then pull together the resources and plan to get to drupa. It's a show you will never forget.
Quick hits:
Canadian Musicians Shine on Stamps Ottawa-based Lowe-Martin Group has printed stamps for Canada Post using the MetalFX metallic colour system on musically-inspired stamps issued in late June. Designed by Circle Design of Winnipeg, the four stamps honoured Canadian legends, Joni Mitchell, Paul Anka, Anne Murray, and Gordon Lightfoot.
"The result gives a lustrous sheet to the artists' portraits and lends a ‘platinum album' feel to the shiny, disk-shaped stamp booklets and souvenir sheet," said Circle Design president Robert L. Peters, commenting on the MetalFX process.
Paper That Saves Trees Xerox Canada has unveiled paper for digital printing that uses half as many trees as traditional paper, while also being lighter and lowering the cost to mail.
The new High Yield Business Paper uses 90 percent of a tree versus only 45 percent used to create traditional digital printing paper. The pulp is produced by mechanically grinding wood into pulp instead of using a chemical pulping process and is produced in a plant using hydroelectricity to partially power the pulping process.
Online Photos Present Huge Potential A new forecast from InfoTrends, "Online Photo Services Market Forecast: 2006-2011", http://store.infotrendsresearch.com/
ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=81812&Click=1406 suggests that online photo service membership is experiencing steady growth, leading to increased revenue potential for Web-based print providers. The InfoTrends report claims online photo service providers generated just under US$450 million in revenues from prints and photo merchandise in 2006, and that figure is expected to grow to more than US$1 billion by 2011.
Sector Council Training Survey The Canadian Printing Industries Sector Council (CPISC) is seeking industry participation for a research project designed to profile of the type and scope of existing training programs being offered across the country.
Links to two online surveys, one for printing/graphics service providers and one for suppliers to the industry, are provided below.
(the CPISC assures confidentiality and will not share any personal information with other public or private organizations)
If your company provides printing and graphic communication services: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=
03mLbCTTszAGWvZKanXQHA_3d_3d If your organization supplies technology, machinery, or consumables to the printing and graphic communications industry: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=
9U8fbkZH3IEMm3LKQdQFgw_3d_3d
Transcontinental Offers $130 Million For PLM On Aug. 21 Montreal-based Transcontinental announced its all-cash $130 million takeover bid for the PLM Group of Markham, Ontario.
Transcontinental already has the largest commercial printing footprint in Canada, and the addition of PLM's 470 employees and revenues of $126 million (2006) make the company an even greater force.
Founded in 1987, PLM's strength is in the direct marketing industry offering services from web and sheetfed offset printing to digital colour and sophisticated offline bindery solutions. PLM will become part of Transcontinental's direct marketing division.
"We're buying a company with very good technology," said Luc Desjardins, president and CEO of Transcontinental, speaking to analysts following the announcement.
Transcontinental's offer represents a premium of 19% over the closing price of PLM shares on the TSX on August 13, 2007, the day before PLM announced that it was in exclusive talks with a potential buyer, and 25% over the closing price of PLM shares the day before the acquisition announcement.
Komunik of Montreal, the relationship marketing/communications company turned printer that acquired the publicly-owned Datamark Systems Group this past spring, is adding to its national network in the West with the pending acquisition of Globel Direct of Calgary.
Globel, with 72 employees, has plants in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, adds complementary services to Komunik's existing platform, specifically in direct mail and transactional print segments.
"Our first priority will be to enable Globel to integrate its digital print expertise with interactive marketing, e-mail marketing, and multi-channel marketing automation," says Alain Paquin, president and CEO of Komunik. "In bringing this established expertise to Globel, we thereby provide a more comprehensive offering of services to Globel's clientele – and we anticipate significant growth in western Canada as a result."
Komunik has a distribution centre and plant in Calgary and sales offices in Edmonton and Vancouver, so consolidation of facilities is expected.
Since acquiring Datamark, Komunik announced consolidation in Ontario including the closure of a Markham facility(effective September 28) resulting in a reduction of 21 full-time positions.
Ownership of Montreal-area prepress and book printing facilities, Infoscan Collette and Marquis Book Printing Inc., has changed hands following a management buyout of the businesses.
Three colleagues, led by Serge Loubier, acquired the company from Pierre Goulet. The printing operations were under the umbrella of the Scabrini Group, which reported sales of $18 million in 2006 (#36 on Canadian Printer TOP Printers listing). The company operates coldest web and 40-inch sheetfed offset presses.
According to Loubier, the new president of Marquis, the Scabrini Group will no longer operate in the printing industry. The new company will continue under the name Marquis, with Infoscan Collette as a subsidiary.
X-Rite has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Pantone, Inc. for US$180 million.
Esko and Artwork Systems have completed their merger. The new business is named EskoArtwork.
Flint Group has announced price increases from 5% to 12% on inks in North America, effective October 1, due to the continuing rise in raw material, transportation and energy costs.
Concept Paper (http://www.conceptpaper.ca), launched just over a year ago as a Canadian-owned alternative for national fine paper distribution, has became an employee-owned company.
German press manufacturer KBA posted a 9.4% jump in group sales for the first six months of the year versus the same period last year. Sheetfed sales were up 12.4%.
Domtar is permanently closing its mill in Gatineau, Quebec and its converting center in Ottawa—as well as two paper machines, one in Baileyville, Maine and another in Wisconsin. The closures affect about 430 positions.
Videojet Technologies Inc. has agreed to acquire PRISM Inc., a developer of variable data control products for the printing, newspaper and mailing industries.
HubCast, http://www.hubcastinc.com a new distribute-and-print service has officially launched, connecting print marketers with a global network of digital and offset printers.
Agfa Graphics Canada has appointed Jonathan Browne as account manager, inkjet. Browne was most recently with Thieme Corp., introducing large-format screen and digital presses to the Canadian market.
Ultimate Technographics Inc , http://www.imposition.com/ the Montreal-based imposition software developer, announces Impostrip 8.4 allowing the imposition of native PDF files from Acrobat 8 without interpreting or changing the PDF in any way, and IMPOSTRIP On-Demand 5.3, a solution for digital presses and small CtP .
Sensor Products http://www.sensorprod.com have introduced the P-Nip, a handheld device that captures instant nip width readings between rollers, ensuring proper roll alignment and monitoring wear characteristics.
The Ghent Workgroup (GWG) is celebrating its fifth anniversary. The 45-member organization, consisting of experts who contribute their time voluntarily, have developed specifications, best practice guidelines, and educational materials on digital file exchange, and all materials are available free of charge at http://www.gwg.org
The Graph Expo show company has signed up some 640 exhibitors this year including over 120 new vendors, in total the show will cover a larger area of the McCormick Center than last year, promising "everything print". Following are some of the pre-show announcements:
All Canadian visitors and exhibitors are extended a free invitation to attend the PAN-AMERICA DAY BREAKFAST CONFERENCE AND BUSINESS FORUM: "Developing and Emerging Printing Technologies and Markets in the Americas"
The continental breakfast begins at 7:30 am with the conference starting at 8 and running until 9:30 am on Monday, September 10, in Room S-103bc at McCormick Place.
The program will include a session on the North American and Worldwide Market for Print, presented by Chris Payne of the Eastman Kodak Co., followed by a report on the Canadian print market by Evan Cambray, director of marketing, Spicers Canada. Other presentations will include a look at the Brazilian and Latin American industry and the Mexican print market.
The cost is FREE for this learning and networking event, but registration is required, with a deadline of September 7.
To confirm your spot, e-mail Leslie Murphy, associate director, International Trade, NPES, LMurphy@npes.org.
Product News:
Heidelberg will display its Anicolor technology (the zoneless short inking unit with dampening system) on a four-colour Speedmaster SM 52 with an inline coating unit. Also on display will be a full-integrated Printect workflow, a Speedmaster XL 105 six-colour with coater, a Speedmaster SM 102 eight-colour perfector with coater and Preset Plus technology; the new Prinect Inpress Control in-line colour measuring and control system, and a Foil Star unit for cold application of foil. The new Varimatrix 105 CS die cutter and the ECO 105 folder gluer will also be featured.
MAN Roland will announce the North American launch of its new full-size Roland 700 HiPrint sheetfed presses.
Kodak will be promoting innovative print applications to attendees along with new technologies including digital colour printing on the NexPress S3000 (the new 100 ppm version available in October) and the new entry level NexPress M700.
Domino Printing Sciences will launch its L-Series inkjet solution for the mailing market, featuring the L400, a high resolution (600 x 300dpi) system printing at 375 feet per minute.
The "XPS Land Showcase" will be an area dedicated to the new Microsoft XML Paper Specification (XPS) designed to educate the industry about what XPS is and demonstrate how it will fit into workflows.
Goss International will showcase its gapless Sunday press range, and feature its high-speed Pacesetter 2200 and 2500 saddlestitchers.
Gandinnovations is premiering its Jeti 3148 UV flatbed printer featuring 5- x 10-foot print area, and using 48 print heads to achieve printing speeds of 500 sq.ft./hr. in production mode.
Xeikon will be running sample variable applications on a set-up consisting of a Xeikon 6000 digital colour press with an inline-finishing unit with two-sided UV-coating, die cutting, stacking and batching.
Sun Chemical will host attendees at its "Club Oasis," featuring its enviro-friendly message and products including: its Synergy series, combining new UV ink, coating, press conditioner, wash and fountain solution chemistries; its Rycoline Green Pressroom Specialty Chemicals; and its Streamline S-Tech Digital Bulk Ink Feed System.
Van Son Holland Ink Corporation is introducing its new SonaCure UV-Curable ink line available in three series: paper, hybrid, and foil/plastic.
Prisco will introduce the next generation of its fountain solution filtration and recycling system, the FloClear G2, part of its GO GREEN WITH PRISCO initiative.
BÖWE BELL + HOWELL's booth will feature the Connectivity Showcase, a multi-vendor display highlighting Web-based tracking of equipment in production. BÖWE BELL + HOWELL's enterprise management software will be connected to finishing, printing, sorting and converting vendors including: BCC Software, Duplo, Kodak, Lasermax, Nipson, RISO, Rollem and Xerox.
Kompac is introducing a new UV/aqueous coating and curing system called the Kompac Kwik Finish, an offline solution for flood or spot coating on offset or digital printing.
Pageflex will feature its Storefront 5.5 Web-to-print solution offering new features supporting photo books, stationery and calendars.
Resources:
IPA Proofing RoundUP Report This year's IPA Technical Conference (June 5–7, 2007, Chicago) included the 5th Annual Proofing RoundUP. In total 14 proofing systems manufacturers submitted 34 systems for evaluation. For details on the results visit: http://www.ipa.org/pdf/07_IPA_roundup_intro.pdf
Understanding the European Print Industry A new report is available for download from the International Confederation for printing and allied industries (InterGraf) called "Competitiveness of the European Graphic Industry - Prospects for the EU printing sector to respond to its structural and technological challenges", produced by the research institute Ernst & Young. Find the report on the Intergraf website: www.intergraf.eu
Improve Your Hiring A new book from TG & Associates, No More Rotten Eggs: 13 Steps to Hiring Grade AA Talent, serves as a guide for helping organizations in their talent evaluation process. Included are hiring steps used by successful companies that can apply to organizations of all sizes. The book can be purchased online at www.tgassociates.com for only US$69.95 plus shipping (includes CD-ROM).
Recognizing Rising Stars The call for nominations continues for the Young Printer Award, a new honour recognizing those in the Canadian graphic communications industry who are 35 years of age or younger and who demonstrate the potential for a promising career in the industry through dedication, positive attitude and outstanding job performance.
The nominee must currently own or be employed in a firm that prints on its premises.
Nominations must be forwarded to the Canadian Printing Industries Association on an official nomination form (available at www.strategy07.ca). Membership in the CPIA is not required to participate. The deadline for submission of entries is September 15, 2007.
The Award will be presented at the closing gala banquet of Strategy 07 held Wednesday, November 7, at the Westin Bristol Place Hotel in Toronto, the night before the opening of Graphics Canada.
For further information contact Bob Elliott, president CPIA 613-236-7208 ext 22 or belliott@cpia-aci.ca
The 12th edition of EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK, the day-long conference held the day before Graph Expo, will take place on Saturday, September 8 at McCormick Place in Chicago. This year's theme is "The Printers' Success Quartet: Economics, Markets, Technology, People". Visit http://www.graphexpo.com
Graph Expo will be
held
at McCormick Place in Chicago from September 9-12. Visit www.gasc.org for more info.
Pan America Day at Graph Expo. Learn about the state of the industry in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. This FREE breakfast session will be held Monday, September 10, breakfast starting at 7:30 am, the conference runs from 8 until 9:30 am.
IGAS (International Graphic Arts Show) is being held at the Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, Japan from September 21 to 27. Held every four years, last time this week-long expo attracted over 120,000 visitors. For information www.igas-tokyo.jp
The 2007 PIA/GATF Workflow Conference is being held October 7–9 in Atlanta, Georgia. This year's event includes a plant tour of Aflac's print division.
For more information visit http://www.gain.net
The Specialty Printing and Imaging Association Technology Expo will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from October 24–27. This show will feature the latest in digital wide format printing, screen printing and more.
Visit http://www.sgia.org
PIA/GATF is holding its Variable Data and Personalization Conference, November 4–6, in Phoenix, Arizona, helping printers plan strategy and learn new approaches, applications, and technologies. The conference has three seminar tracks: fundamentals, cross-media, and business. A hands-on Web-to-Print Boot Camp has been added on November 2–3. Visit www.gain.net (under "Events and Training")
Strategy 07 - Expanding Print Opportunities, Canada's conference for the printing industry, will be held November 6-8 at the newly converted Westin Bristol Place Hotel near Pearson International in Toronto. The conference will feature two seminar streams, an owner/CEO track and a technical/operations track. The conference will wrap up with a final session the morning of November 8th, ending just prior to the opening of Graphics Canada. The conference is open to all in the graphic communications world. For more information contact CPIA at belliott@cpia-aci.ca
Margie Dana's 2nd Annual Print Buyers Conference on November 7-8th will be held at the Westford Regency Inn & Conference Center in Westford, Massachusetts. Featured speakers include Frank Romano and Dr. Joe Webb. For registration details visit: www.bostonprintbuyers.com/pbiconference/conferenceregistration.html
Graphics Canada will be held at the International Centre in Toronto from November 8-10. For details visit http://www.graphicscanada.com
2008
Print Oasis 2008 Print Buyers Conference will be held February 9-12 at the Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, Florida (near Jacksonville). For details visit http://www.printbuyersonline.com
PIA/GATF's Presidents Conference will be held March 2–6 in Cancun, Mexico. http://www.gain.net
Xplor International Conference and Expo is co-locating with the ON DEMAND Expo in 2008, taking place March 3-6 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. For more information visit http://www.xplor.org and http://www.ondemandexpo.com
Offset & Beyond 2008 will be held April 27-30 at the Renaissance Hotel just outside of Chicago in Schaumburg, Illinois. A co-production of the Web Offset Association and the Printing Industries of America/GATF. For more information contact http://www.gain.net
Drupa 2008 will be held from May 29 to June 11, 2008 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf Germany. There will be over 2.4 million square feet of exhibition space with an expected attendance of over 300,000. www.drupa.com
For information on travel packages to DRUPA offered exclusively through Canadian Printer call 1-888-DRUPA-08 (1-888-378-7208).
EFI will host its Ninth Annual Connect user conference July 29 to August 1 at the Wynn Las Vegas.
More information is available at http://www.efi.com/connect08/
For more events in your area, here are links to regional associations:
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 Susan Ritcey (phone: (416) 764-1509, email: susan.ritcey@printer.rogers.com).
Big, Bigger, Best?
Graph Expo will be
held
at McCormick Place in Chicago from September 9-12. Visit 
IGAS (International Graphic Arts Show) is being held at the Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, Japan from September 21 to 27. Held every four years, last time this week-long expo attracted over 120,000 visitors. For information 
The Specialty Printing and Imaging Association Technology Expo will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from October 24–27. This show will feature the latest in digital wide format printing, screen printing and more. 
Strategy 07 - Expanding Print Opportunities, Canada's conference for the printing industry, will be held November 6-8 at the newly converted Westin Bristol Place Hotel near Pearson International in Toronto. The conference will feature two seminar streams, an owner/CEO track and a technical/operations track. The conference will wrap up with a final session the morning of November 8th, ending just prior to the opening of Graphics Canada. The conference is open to all in the graphic communications world. For more information contact CPIA at 
Graphics Canada will be held at the International Centre in Toronto from November 8-10. For details visit 
PIA/GATF's Presidents Conference will be held March 2–6 in Cancun, Mexico. 
Drupa 2008 will be held from May 29 to June 11, 2008 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf Germany. There will be over 2.4 million square feet of exhibition space with an expected attendance of over 300,000.