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How do others improve the bottom line? Here are 10 tactics, tricks and kick-start tips to stay healthy and gain an edge In asking successful printers how to improve the [...]

How can web offset printers reduce their paper expenses? We asked press manufacturers, industry consultants and plant supervisors to share their ideas. Before we present the 10 best ideas, however, [...]

The Portable Document Format: It's not your father's PostScript, as Frank Romano likes to say. Romano, a professor of graphic arts at the Rochester Institute of Technology, goes so far [...]

In an ever increasing decibel level, print buyers are demanding faster, better and cheaper production of their work. Web offset printers are responding to these demands with a mix of [...]

Ignoring training and compensation issues can cut your company's profits Imagine you have just hired a new customer service representative (CSR). 'Here you are,' you say as you escort the [...]

By streamlining jobs, employing automation and job rotation, shops can reduce costs, raise productivity and quality If someday an employee calls your shop and says 'I can't come in to [...]

Digital printing requires special attention to post-press issues, especially for those new to the bindery The digital age is here! (As if you didn't know). This is the era during [...]

AMERICAN PRINTER is featuring its second annual New Plant Showcase of facilities, additions, expansions and renovations that have occurred over the past year The book manufacturing division of R.R. Donnelley [...]

If there's a trick to smart paper buying, it's getting to know your supplier. Admittedly, this tip is common sense. But a good relationship with your paper supplier can ensure [...]

Printers estimate that they lose one percent to 20 percent of annual sales on costs associated with spoilage and waste. Many printers would obviously like to decrease spoilage and waste, [...]

A discussion about safety in the printing industry is remiss without a look at ergonomic considerations, as the two are inextricably linked. By definition, ergonomics is an applied science concerned [...]

Current trends in servers and RIPs serve as the building blocks to a completely automated prepress workflow With Ipex and Graph Expo looming on the horizon this fall, the graphic [...]

Printer has knack for re-inventing itself, maintaining close client and supplier ties With sales climbing over $7 million in 1997, Countryside Graphics, Inc. has found a clear formula for steady [...]

This quick printer snags blue-chip clients through professional service and a developing world-class image The setting: LaSalle St. in Chicago, the financial hub of the Midwest. A canyon of massive [...]

Quick printers may be divided on whether the Internet is here to stay and or how it will impact the industry. Some chose to be early adopters, pioneers, while others [...]

You have to have fun at your job. There's enough pressure in this business without hating your job every day,' states James Campise. Aren't these sentiments we'd all like our [...]

Training is the best way to reduce costs and boost quality. 'It's time to see instruction for what it is - a cost savings!' exclaim many experts. During the past [...]

No one has to tell printers about the pace of change today. It has become a major portion of a printer's job just to keep on top of technology such [...]

Every printer's dream is to become more profitable by increasing sales and market share while reducing operating costs and inventories. It sounds simple, yet printers are haunted by this challenge. [...]

Watermark Press thrives on electronic information, encourages unique problem-solving approaches Although they sometimes downplay the fact, two principals of San Francisco's Watermark Press, Robert Locke and Timm Crull, are former [...]

A tradition of service combined with innovative management techniques keeps this 115-year-old printer on the go In 1878, it was the only game in town. Staking his claim to the [...]

The article discusses the profitability of printing short runs. Several factors that affect the profitability of printing short runs include the appropriate print technology as well as the computer-based automation that maximizes efficiency and builds volume. Jim Hamilton, director of InfoTrends, suggests that in order to make short runs cost-effective, per-job administration cost should be lowered down by making short runs as little as possible so as not to take much of the operator's time and make the overall work more profitable.

The article discusses the concept of web to print (W2P) and its use in the commercial printing industry. The W2P concept, which is about web-enabled print ordering, presented great promise initially but later become confusing to those who tried to use it. The article suggests that its potential is still promising as printers try to survive in difficult economic conditions. The article also discusses the three main types of W2P related businesses and the new product offerings of web developers and software providers.

The article discusses how new technology and better material can solve uncoated paper problems. The entry notes that M&M Printing in Auburndale, Florida uses two Presstek Direct Imaging 4-color waterless offset presses for faster drying of uncoated sheets. Also cited are the features of the Heidelberg Gray Balance Optimizer which enables printer calibration for different substrates in conventional or ultraviolet (UV) offset. The section also reports on the collection of uncoated print work at the 9th annual Mohawk Show in New York.

The article discusses the features, quality and cost of next generation commercial inkjet press solutions as compared to electrophotography (EP) technology. The entry notes that EP presses can produce more superior print quality than inkjet presses, while speed of production is much faster for inkjet systems. The section cites that flash fusing systems can enable EP presses to print at high speeds, while inkjet presses have improved head technology to create better dot placement control.

Dempsey Printing, Inc. (Cleveland) is a $1.5 million family-owned printing business that is, in its own words, 'striving to meet the challenges of a difficult market with both quality and [...]

The article offers information on folders used in printing presses. Joe Niehueser, Stahlfolder product manager, said that folders must be increasingly versatile to justify an investment. A reversing buckle plate, according to Niehueser, can serve as a controller for gate folding and turn and reverse the sheet in a folding unit. Heidelberg introduced a Stahlfolder KH 82 combi folder with a reversing buckle plate in the automated crossfold units. Technifold's Multi-Tool and Fast-Fit Tri-Creaser makes operators to fold and trim cover stocks or multipanel brochures two or three-up on a folder.

The article evaluates several printing machineries including Carded Graphics' UV Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 presses, Register Litho's KBA Rapida 205 press, and LandmarkPrint's Komori Lithrone SX29 press. INSET: Stepping up to large-format presses.

The article highlights the benefits gained by small printing shops from workflow. According to Bill Kaufman, president of Allegra Printing & Imaging, the idea behind workflow is matching proofs to press sets. When Allegra installed its first four-color press, Kaufman claims that the need to reassure customers on the color on their printed job has become apparent. Kaufman used the Navigator Global Positioning System (GPS) from Xitron to drive Allegra's polyester platesetter. The 34DI with Momentum Pro from Presstek helped Tom Ashton, vice president and owner of Ashton Enterprises, operate a press.

The article reports on roll sheeting among printers in the U.S. Some printers in the U.S. do not do roll sheeting but they found that roll sheeting has benefits including paper savings and better print quality. A printer can choose between offline or inline printing. C. Clint Bolte and Associates president C. Clint Bolte stated that inline sheeting will save labor while offline sheeters can deliver short or long grain stock unlike inline sheeters. One of the companies that prefer inline sheeting is book printer McNaughton & Gunn.

The article focuses on an inline ultraviolet (UV) technology as demonstrated by press manufacturers, and discusses their efforts to promote UV. Hellmuth Pleier of MAN Roland, which created a brochure demonstrating the aqueous coating methods that can be produced using UV inks, cites foil effects, high-gloss coating requirements and rub resistance as few of UV's benefits. Corey Gustafon of JohnsByrne Co., which created a book presenting a range of UV printing applications, explains that a UV print has a nice ink holdout because it does not absorb into the sheet. Other press manufacturers include Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses U.S.A. and Ryobi. INSETS: At your service;The best of both worlds: flexo & offset.

The article evaluates various products used in the printing industry including the MagVision Scanner from Formscan, inks for sheetfed and web offset printing applications from Toyo Ink America and the PrintOne Store 6.0 from Printable Technologies.

The article provides information on variable-data printing companies which participated in the American Printer's 2006 Variables Conference. The attendees share their ideas on the dos and don'ts of variable data printing. The companies include Lithexcel. According to Waleed Ashoo, president of Lithexcel, it is best to have strategic marketing plans, educate sales and IT staff and sell the services and results before investing in a digital press. TanaSeybert and Metzgers Printing and Mailing are mentioned.

The article features several printing products exhibited at the 2006 GraphExpo, including a color proofing solution using Diamond Jet proofing papers from Mitsubishi Imaging, a line of offset printing inks from Van Son and the Precision Edge punch bender for offset web newspapers and commercial printers from Glunz & Jensen K&F.

The article presents facts and figures concerning the print and media buying sector in the U.S. from 2004 to 2006. Sixty percent of the revenue of the printing industry comes from complex and very complex jobs. Companies have a centralized in-house reproduction functin for producing short-run, quick turnaround materials or confidential work. The primary format for the files submitted to printers are still application files. More print buyers are required by larger companies with large print buys.

The article features printing companies that are winners of the 2005 Management Plus awards of the National Association for Printing Leadership. Patented Printing is a full-service printing company that offers conventional and digital printing, mailing services, fulfillment and design and creative services. Z3 Graphix is a printing company committed to delivering very customized pieces tailored to the specific needs of the client and developing customized delivery methods. Daily Printing is a full-service commercial printer that offer a range of prepress and postpress services.

The article reports on the winners of the Gold Leaf Awards competition of the Foil Stamping and Embossing Association which was awarded at a banquet on March 4, 2006 in San Antonio, Texas. They include Gryphon Graphics Inc. for the Best Foil Stamped/Embossed Book Jacket/Cover award, Hallmark Cards for the Best Foil Stamped/Embossed Greeting Card award, Strine Printing for the Best Foil Stamped/Embossed Self-Promotion award and Letterhead Press Inc. for Best Use of Foil Stamping/Embossing With Die Cutting/Best of Show award.

The article deals with the printing company Preferred Marketing Solutions founded by John Schnatter. The printing factory of the company has 113 employees working three shifts, 24 hours a day, six or seven days a week. The factory is equipped with an Ecocool dryer, in-line finishing capabilities and a sheeter to produce high-quality direct mail products and freestanding inserts. The printing operation of the company can perfect and standardize certain print jobs for pizza chain Papa John's and can be applied to similar work for external customers. INSET: Have press, will travel.

The article evaluates several printing products including the Ultra Digital films from GPA, Strathmore Digital Papers from Mohawk Fine Papers and MonacoQCcolor version 1.5 software from X-Rite.

The article deals with the importance efficient business strategy to efficient press selection in the U.S. Printing technology manufacturers have achieved advancements that raise print quality to high levels across all press formats. According to Citi-print co-owner Shabbir Sumar, the only way to beat a low price and still achieve some decent returns is technology. On the other hand, Postcardmania recently started producing brochures, adding a folder to its equipment lineup and expanding its mailing services to envelope insertion. The shop also sells mailing lists. INSET: All in the family.

The article deals with the applications used in printing Portable Document Format. Ideally, the application used to create the original layout should be true design software, such as InDesign or QuarkXPress. All too often, content creators use a product like Microsoft Word as a layout application. Hence, the author argues that Word is not a graphic design application. It is a word processor. As anyone who has submitted a Word document for print output knows, the text in the document has a good chance of reflowing once the document is opened.

The article presents information on various printing machinery released in 2006. Sun Chemical has announced a licensing agreement to make and sell MetalFX inks, a technology that can be used to print up to 104 million metallic colors. Power Forward has released PowerStick Plus which allows direct mail and business form suppliers to attach self-adhesive items to fast-moving webs for letters, forms or inserts. No-Mark Products has expanded its PressBoss anti-track jacket line to include the Heidelberg Quickmaster press.

The article focuses on the OASymbio Desktop from Objective Advantage (OA) used by RT Associates. In 2001, RT Associates added Web-to-print capabilities via Saepio's Agilis Marketing Suite. In 2004, the company began searching for an affordable solution to automate its workflow. At Print 05, the company saw a demonstration featuring OASymbio Desktop driving Duplo's DC-645 slitter/cutter/creaser. The OASymbio Desktop lets users lay out, print, cut and crease jobs with a few mouse clicks, even if the output and finishing devices are from multiple vendors. At RT Associates, OASymbio transmits JDF and preview images of the sheet to Duplo's DC-645 JDF Connector running on a PC next to the machine. INSETS: A better way;The JDF acorn that becomes the mighty oak.

The article presents an interview with Tom McCoy, a service technician at MBO America and folding veteran who instructs students at the March 2006 Fold School session of MBO at Tompkins printing equipment dealer in Schiller Park, Illinois. McCoy enumerated the elements that change paper daily. McCoy explained the use of the dummy plug as a tool for diagnosing problems electronically on the B21 folder of MBO. Practical operation and safety tips are given. INSETS: Training for globetrotters, homebodies alike;A, O, way to go, Ohio;End-over practice in Andover.

The article offers a number of tips for dealing with a customer who wants to do a matched mailing. The challenge: Print a letter and ticket--both personalized--and then match them together in a non-window envelope without a single mix-up. Whether the printing company is inserting pieces manually or mechanically, accountability between departments is essential. The printer must be aware of speedy folders that are more prone to jamming than slower copiers or laser printers. In addition, a manual system will suffice for the occasional match mailing. Intelligent equipment, however, is essential for producing higher quantities at faster rates. INSETS: What can a vision system do for you?;Workflow integrity for perfect binding and beyond;How does camera-based verification work?.

This article discusses the emergence of Web-to-print in the U.S. The phrase Web-to-print appears to have been co-opted as a generic term that can describe any sort of print-related commerce that can happen via the Internet. Web-to-print is defined as an interaction between those who buy print products and those who sell print products, using the Internet as a medium for the exchange. Web-to-print systems can be difficult to categorize because there is so much crossover in functionality between them.

The article offers ideas on soft proofing. Soft proofing is used primarily for content or contract approval. Content-only soft proof shows the position of elements on a page in full color while contract-color soft proofing systems use a computer monitor to accurately display color. Soft proofing saves courier costs and time because it can reduce and eliminate hard-copy proofs in a production cycle. To succeed in contract-color soft proofing, courier must provide careful attention to hardware, software, profiles and the viewing area. INSET: Soft proofing FAQs.

The article compares half-web and long perfector presses. Half-web presses occupy a middle zone between narrow-web label presses and the 16-page configuration of full web, while long perfectors are multiunit machines that can lay down four or more colors on both sides in a single pass. Advancements in long perfectors have overshadowed parallel developments in half webs. The equilibrium stems from the fact that advances in both printing methods have proceeded apace. Sales of half-webs are believed to bridge a gap between long perfectors and full web. INSETS: Minneapolis printer adds next-generation long perfector;Most offer both;Boyd Brothers is on a roll;It all stacks up

The article features several printing companies and the software applications they use for labels for corrugated boxes and folding cartons. Moquin Press based in Belmont, California is a trade printer with 85-employee printer. The company uses the Heidelberg XL 105, two 40 inch Speedmaster CDs for its printing presses. Indianapolis, Indiana-based Litho Press is a $7 million operation founded in 1953. It uses ultraviolet (UV)-equipped 40- and 56-inch presses, both from MAN Roland, as well as a 64-inch Planeta. Strine Printing based in York, Pennsylvania is an $80 million printing business that uses MAN Roland's 73-inch 900 XXL press.

This article discusses strategies for ensuring color consistency during a printing process. Two basic steps are involved in maintaining consistent image color during a press run. The first step is evaluating the color separation process. Undercolor removal helps eliminate potential printing problems associated with heavy ink coverage such as set off or blocking. In contrast, gray component replacement (GCR) affects the neutral and color areas throughout the entire image. An advantage of GCR over UCR is that the separation will print more consistently throughout a press run. Another step toward achieving consistent color is conforming to print specifications. There are input and output variables in the print characterization chart. INSET: For further reading.