Printing Industries of America - News and Updates

2010 NEHS Conference Kicks Off Next Week

mschroeder@printing.org — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:34:19 +0000

Industry experts discuss emerging environmental issues

Learn how to grow your imaging business with today’s best sustainability practices next week at the 2010 National Environmental Health and Safety (NEHS) Conference (Indianapolis, March 15–17).

Don’t miss the ten exciting breakout sessions where industry experts will discuss a variety of issues affecting environmental, safety and health, and human resource professionals. Review all of the session topics, including: environmental marketing, the health care debate, greenhouse gas emissions, and more.

The event also offers interactive pre-conference workshops to help you implement projects and programs in your facility. Workshops include:

Sustainability Management Systems
Calculating your Carbon Footprint
Development of EHS Compliance Programs
OSHA Recordkeeping Primer—what you need to know

For more information about the 2010 NEHS Conference and to register, visit www.nehsconference.com. Register a second person from the same company and receive half off the regular rate!

Participate in the 4Q 2009 Print Market Survey

tvinski@printing.org — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:48:40 +0000

The Economic Research Department invites you to participate in the Fourth Quarter 2009 Print Market Survey.

This quarter we focus on current and expected business conditions including: print sales, sales expectations, pricing power, material and labor costs, employment, capital spending, and credit conditions.

Michael Makin promotes sustainable printing on Sky Radio

tvinski@printing.org — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:29:27 +0000

Michael Makin was interviewed on Sky Radio to promote sustainable printing, the SGP Partnership, and the value of print.

Download the Interview (3MB Mp3)

Take our continuous improvement/Lean survey. Participants receive one free webinar recording and more!

tvinski@printing.org — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:24:10 +0000

Take our continuous improvement/Lean survey. Participants receive one free webinar recording and more!

Printing Industries Press Offers a Guide to the Document Production and Distribution Industry

mschroeder@printing.org — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:05:59 +0000

Printing Industries Press is pleased to announce the availability of a new book through its catalog and online store: Take This Job and Stuff It! A Practical Guide for Document Operations Managers by Mike Porter, President and CEO of Print/Mail Consultants, and published by Port Mist Publishing.

If you are just getting into mail for the first time, are producing documents with highly personalized content, or want to squeeze more productivity from your existing equipment, then Take This Job and Stuff It! is the book for you.

Mike Porter takes his decades of document print and mail experience and fills this book with tips and hints that will help you create marketing pieces, bills, statements, letters, or other documents with quality and efficiency. Porter states, “Most of my suggestions can be implemented with little or no capital investment, but they can make a big difference in your ability to attract and retain customers—and keep you from making expensive mistakes!”

The book covers the entire document workflow and is organized into categories such as quality, productivity, and cost control. The first section is set up to guide you in training operations managers and supervisors that may be new to business or to gain a more in-depth understanding of the disciplines of printing and mailing. The second section is to be considered as a strategic call to action for improvements in operations and business objectives. Chapters include:

Print/Mail Operations—Quality
Print/Mail Operations—Productivity
Print/Mail Operations—Cost Control
The High Speed Inserting Environment
Outsourcing Vendors
Operations Management Has a Unique Perspective
The Importance of Including Operations in the Plan
Keeping Up on Industry Trends and Technological Developments
How to Become a Critical Component of the Communication Team

Drawn from his experience in the service bureau business, consulting, and working for companies like Xerox and Bowe Bell + Howell, the ideas Porter presents are workable and proven effective. “Anyone who produces personalized documents should have a copy in their office,” Porter says.

Take This Job and Stuff It! A Practical Guide for Document Operations Managers, 144 pages, (Item No. 1945, ISBN 978-0-9816237-0-2) is available to Printing Industries of America members for $20 and to nonmembers for $25. This and all of Printing Industries Press’s 200-plus publications are available online at www.printing.org/store or by phone (412-259-1770 or toll-free 800-910-4283 x770), fax (412-749-9891), or mail (Printing Industries of America, Attn. Member Central, 200 Deer Run Road, Sewickley, PA 15143).

Communicorp Inc. to Host Automation Solutions Network Meeting in March

tvinski@printing.org — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:53:02 +0000

Pittsburgh, PA, January 19, 2010 - The Automation Solutions Network, an open forum established for users and vendors to discuss their automation issues and experiences with a business solutions-oriented focus (formerly JDF User Group), will be holding its next meeting at Communicorp Inc. in Columbus, GA on March 30–31, 2010.

Some highlights from this upcoming event are the tour of Communicorp’s facility, a look at the integration from the CSR through the entire production process utilizing offset and digital presses, and a ninety-minute discussion led by Dave Zamorski of Associates Graphic Services. Dave will discuss his 2008 CIPPI award winning workflow system, which looks at minimizing and eliminating many steps in both content delivery and finishing. Other topics to be discussed will include automated scheduling and the connection between integration and certification. In addition, each attendee will receive a free copy of a recent white paper written by Printing Industries of America’s Center for Technology and Research on how to select an MIS.

Communicorp Inc. is a premier full-service provider of print and marketing services. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aflac Incorporated. The company provides solutions in creative development, commercial printing, digital printing, merchandise, fulfillment, digital photography, giclée prints, digital asset management, and Web-enabled commerce to numerous Fortune 500 companies and others, both in the United States and abroad. They have embraced automation to increase productivity, quality, and response time. Come and learn how they achieved their improvements based on the continual improvement and implementation of automation.

The Automation Solutions Network meetings allow printers to exchange and share challenges and solutions with their peers and vendor members. This rare opportunity to communicate with vendors in a private setting benefits the entire printing community.

“The Automation Solutions Network enables us to find the tools and vendors that make process automation work on the plant floor. It also helps me put the information into ‘Dollars and Sense’ numbers to make it work for the accountants,” says member Christy Miners, director of prepress & technology of Democrat Printing. The network welcomes a wide range of users and suppliers of automation systems. All interested parties are welcome to become members.

To become a member and register for the meeting at Communicorp Inc., please visit www.printing.org/automation, call 412-259-1706, or email automation@printing.org.

The next meeting will be held in June at CIPPI award recipient Ampersand Printing’s facility in Toronto. Information on this meeting will be posted on www.printing.org/automation as it becomes available.

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About Printing Industries of America: Printing Industries of America is the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with more than one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. Together with its nationwide affiliate network, Printing Industries delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.

About CIP4: CIP4 brings together vendors, consultants, and end-users in the print communications, graphic arts industry, and associated sectors, covering a variety of equipment, software, peripherals, and processes. Members participate in focused working groups to define the Job Definition Format (JDF), PrintTalk, and other standards relevant to process automation; to study user requirements; to test product interoperability; and to develop a range of JDF software development tools. Information on CIP4, including membership details, is available from the organization’s website: www.cip4.org . “CIP4” and “JDF” are registered trademarks of the CIP4 Organization.

DOL Releases Revised Rule; Small Plans Must Deposit Participant 401(k) Contributions Within Seven Days

tvinski@printing.org — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:47:25 +0000

The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published a final rule to protect employee contributions deposited to small pension and welfare benefit plans (including 401(k) and SIMPLE IRAs) with fewer than 100 participants by providing a safe harbor period of seven business days following receipt or withholding by employers.

Currently, employers of all sizes must transmit employee contributions to pension plans as soon as they can reasonably be segregated from the general assets of the employer, but no later than the 15th business day of the month following the month in which contributions are received or withheld by the employer. The latest date for forwarding participant contributions to health plans is 90 days from the date on which such amounts are received or withheld by the employer.

The final rule amends the participant contribution rules to create a safe harbor period under which participant contributions to a small plan will be deemed to comply with the law if those amounts are deposited with the plan within seven business days of receipt or withholding. The final rule is consistent with the proposed rule. The department did not expand the safe harbor to cover plans with 100 or more participants due to a lack of information and data sufficient to evaluate current practices of such employers and assess the costs, benefits and risks to participants associated with extending the safe harbor to large plans.

The final rule is effective January 14, 2010.

OSHA 300A Posting Due Up February 1

tvinski@printing.org — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:46:41 +0000

Most employers, with few exceptions (e.g., 10 or fewer employees during all of the previous year), must post their OSHA 300A log from February 1 to April 30 “in each establishment in a conspicuous place or places where notices to employees are customarily posted. You must ensure that the posted annual summary is not altered, defaced or covered by other material,” according to OSHA regulations. Injury and illness recordkeeping forms are maintained on a calendar year basis. They are not sent to OSHA or any other agency. They must be maintained for five years at the establishment and must be available for inspection by representatives of OSHA, or the designated state agency. For more information on the OSHA 300A Form and the complete regulations see www.printing.org/page/3598.

To our knowledge, all of the state-OSHA approved plans are using the new federal OSHA 300A form except for California and Michigan.

Editor’s Note: The Bureau of Labor Statistics, in conjunction with several states, each year performs a survey of occupational injuries and illnesses among employers. The data collected is not used in any type of enforcement capacity. Federal OSHA conducts its own survey, and it is used to develop a “target” list for inspections later. Employers who receive either survey must complete and return within 30 days, even if your company is located in a state with its own OSHA-approved state plan. Both surveys are similar to the OSHA 300A Form.

Print Sales Training Goes Virtual

tvinski@printing.org — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:02:12 +0000

Atlanta, Ga. – In conjunction with the Print Sales and Marketing Executives, a special interest group of the Printing Industries of America, Linda Bishop, President of Thought Transformation, Inc., today kicked off the first day of Print Sales Virtual Training. The program, which takes place over three consecutive Mondays for two hours each day, allows program participants to receive sales training from their offices and learn selling techniques on various topics. Today’s sessions focused on “Why Buyers Buy from You” and “Finding Leads.”

The third and fourth training sessions will take place Monday, January 18 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and the fifth and sixth training sessions will take place Monday, January 25 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. In addition to the virtual training, participants will also receive handout materials from the presentations, supplementary training materials, a copy of Bishop’s book “Selling in Tough Times” and offline coaching from Bishop via phone and E-mail.

“The ability to train participants virtually is a cutting edge innovation that I find to be very valuable to those in sales, and especially those in print sales,” said Bishop. “The life of a salesperson is undoubtedly busy, and having the opportunity to receive training specific to print sales without having to travel a great distance is very beneficial to participants.”

Bishop, a top-performer in printing sales for 17 years, founded Thought Transformation to train and consult companies and sales professionals on how to sell more and reach their full potential. She talks to marketers regularly, and draws upon first-hand knowledge when presenting and training executives and salespeople nationwide.

“I believe continuing education is imperative to the success of sales people,” said Mike von Brendel, Print Sales and Marketing Executives Chair. “Selling is one of the highest paid professions, but in order to be successful it is important that sales professionals take the time to further their career through training in order to remain in touch with the evolving industry.”

For more information about Print Sales Virtual Training, please contact Printing Industries of America at 800-910-4283, ext. 770 or membercentral@printing.org.

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About Linda Bishop
Linda Bishop is a long-time veteran of the commercial printing industry, who after working in the business for 17 years, founded Thought Transformation, Inc. to train and consult companies and sales professionals on how to sell more and reach their full potential. In addition to training and consulting, Linda is also a key speaker at conferences nationwide and is a writer. Her articles have been featured in numerous selling publications, and her recently published book, “Selling in Tough Times,” is a practical no-fluff guide for growing sales during a down economy. For more information please visit, www.thoughttransformation.com.

About Printing Industries of America
Printing Industries of America is the world’s largest graphic arts trade association representing an industry with approximately one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. Printing Industries of America, along with its affiliates, delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.

About the Print Sales & Marketing Executives (S&ME)
The Sales and Marketing Executives (S&ME), a special interest group of the Printing Industries of America, represents sales and marketing executives within the printing industry by providing products and services that enhance the visibility, growth, efficiency, and profitability they need to maintain a competitive advantage and respond to today’s changing selling environment.

Countdown to the 2010 Presidents Conference!

mschroeder@printing.org — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:54:05 +0000

Click here for more information about the program and registration.

Register today for the free-to-members webinar, Wage and Hour Liability: A Ticking Time Bomb

tvinski@printing.org — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:15:26 +0000

This webinar provides attendees with actionable information to reduce their organization’s exposure to wage and hour claims and provides them with a material from the ELLA Wage and Hour HR Audit Worksheet™.

COBRA Subsidy Extended

tvinski@printing.org — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:56:43 +0000

On December 21, 2009, President Barack Obama today signed into law (as part of the 2010 appropriations bill for the Defense Department), an extension to the subsidy for COBRA created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The legislation extended the period during which involuntary terminations would trigger subsidy eligibility, as well as expanding the duration of the subsidy. Employers and plan administrators also will face new notice and administrative requirements to implement the subsidy extension on a retroactive basis. Below are a few of the highlights.

First, the Act expands the maximum subsidy period from nine months to 15 months, including individuals currently receiving subsidized COBRA coverage.

Next, the Act extends the period during which a COBRA-qualifying event resulting from an involuntary termination of employment can trigger eligibility for the subsidy, extending the end of that period from December 31, 2009 to February 28, 2010.

The Act resolves a thorny issue created by the language of the ARRA regarding eligibility for the subsidy. Originally, the ARRA required that both the qualifying event and the beginning of the COBRA coverage period occur on or before December 31, 2009, for an individual to be eligible for the subsidy. This meant that individuals whose employment terminated in December and coverage expired on December 31, but whose COBRA coverage commenced on January 1, would not have been eligible. The Act changes this by conditioning subsidy eligibility solely on the timing of the qualifying event, which is the event causing the loss of coverage. Assistance-eligible individuals who experience an involuntary termination (a qualifying event) on or before February 28, 2010 would be eligible for the subsidy (even if their COBRA coverage would not start until March).

The Act also protects individuals who, before the Act, exhausted their nine months of subsidized COBRA coverage and then did not continue coverage by paying full COBRA premiums. Under a transition period, those individuals would be able to pay those premiums retroactively if they do so by a certain date – the later of February 19, 2010, or 30 days from receipt of a new required notice.

For those assistance-eligible individuals who exhausted their nine-month subsidy but continued to pay the full COBRA premium in order to keep coverage in place, the amendment allows employers to apply the same refund or crediting rules that were in the ARRA.

Plan administrators will be required to issue a notice describing the new subsidy rules to all individuals who were or are assistance-eligible individuals on or after October 31, 2009, or who are terminated from employment on or after October 31, 2009. In addition, the Act requires special notice to those assistance-eligible individuals who either dropped COBRA or paid the full premium for it when their nine-month subsidy ended, explaining that they are now eligible either to reinstate their coverage retroactively at the subsidized rate or to receive a credit or refund if they paid more than the Act would have required.

PRINTING INDUSTRIES OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES PETITION TO CPSC

tvinski@printing.org — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:04:13 +0000

Pittsburgh, PA, December 14, 2009—Printing Industries of America announces its petition to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requesting an extension of the current stay of enforcement for certain Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) testing and certification requirements for ordinary children’s books and other printed materials.

Congress passed the CPSIA—which seeks to limit the presence of lead and other toxic chemicals in products intended for children under the age of 12—in 2008, but the CPSC delayed full implementation of the act for one year due to a lack of regulatory and enforcement guidance and resources necessary to fully comply with the Act.

Over the past year, Printing Industries, its member companies, and stakeholders in the children’s printing and publishing industry have worked to provide scientific data, technical guidance, and manufacturing processes information to the CPSC in order to demonstrate that ordinary children’s books and other printed paper-based materials do not contain lead near the limits established by the CPSIA.

In August, CPSC determined certain component materials used in books and other printed material, such as paper and CMYK process inks, are not required to be tested for lead content under the Act. However, testing of other critical components to the manufacturing process, such as spot inks and polyester and polypropylene clear films, would require testing.

The petition acknowledged CPSC’s efforts to achieve a workable solution that balances product safety with industry requirements, but noted that the practical result of exempting only some of the components used in the printing manufacturing process will not provide the needed relief from costly and burdensome testing requirements. The cost for testing is averaging between $350 and $500, and a test requires destruction of multiple copies of the product. Additionally, the petition addressed concerns regarding the limited list of approved third-party laboratories that could perform required tests.

In concluding its call for an extension of the current stay,Printing Industries stated that problems associated with implementation of the CPSIA present “real technical, practical, and economic challenges that need to be carefully considered and addressed by the Commission.”

Printing Industries’ petition was jointly filed with the Association of American Publishers and the Book Manufacturing Institute.

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About Printing Industries of America: Printing Industries of America is the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with more than one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. Together with its nationwide affiliate network, Printing Industries delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.

The Web Offset Association (WOA) and FlintGroup Announce Call for Nominations for the 2010 H. Howard Flint II Pressroom Manager of the Year

tvinski@printing.org — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:40:33 +0000

(PITTSBURGH, PA – November 5, 2010)—The Web Offset Association and FlintGroup are pleased to announce the call for nominations for the H. Howard Flint II Pressroom Manager of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes a pressroom manager or supervisor who has excelled in their profession and contributed above and beyond to their company, customers, and the printing industry.

“Howard Flint was a strong advocate of WOA and the printing industry as a whole. Mr. Flint played a significant part in the history of the association, and I cannot think of a more fitting way in which to honor his memory than by designating this prestigious award in his name,” said Mary Garnett, Executive Vice President, Printing Industries of America/WOA. “This award honors those who dedicate their lives to innovation and discovery, and I look forward to nominations of the highest caliber.”

Past recipients of the award include Philip E. Archer, Von Hoffmann Corporation; Steve Richardson, Courier Corporation; and Steve Buechel, The Segerdahl Group.

The nomination period for the award opened November 5, 2009. The nomination criteria are now available to view on the WOA website at www.printing.org/weboffsetassociation. The deadline for nomination submission is Friday, January 8, 2010.

The recipient of the award will be recognized at the Offset & Beyond Conference, May 17–19, 2010 at the Baltimore Hilton in Baltimore, Maryland. The recipient will receive a conference package, including a complimentary registration to the conference and hotel accommodations. In addition, the recipient will have the opportunity to recognize the graphic arts school of their choice with a $2,000 check courtesy of FlintGroup.

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About WOA: The Web Offset Association (WOA) is a special interest group of Printing Industries of America. WOA delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.

The Web Offset Association (WOA) Announces Call for Nominations for the 2010 Harry V. Quadracci VISION Award

tvinski@printing.org — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:39:22 +0000

(PITTSBURGH, PA – November 5, 2010)—The Web Offset Association is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the Harry V. Quadracci VISION Award. The VISION award is conferred to that web offset printing industry executive (printer or supplier) who has reached an unsurpassed level of excellence and achievement in the industry—a leader who has gone far beyond the standard obligations to become a dominant force in shaping the business of web offset printing. This award is dedicated to the spirit of those industry pioneers whose hard work and determination have created a vibrant, growing, and changing industry.

A true pioneer, Harry V. Quadracci co-founded Quad/Graphics, Inc. in 1971. The company consisted of a 20,000-sq.-ft. building, 11 employees, a rented press, and a borrowed binder. Quad/Graphics is the quintessential American business success story. By doing things differently and better over the past 35-plus years, Quad/Graphics has grown from those humble beginnings into the largest privately held printer in the world today. Despite the company’s size and success, Quad/Graphics remains the breakaway company of those early days, asking “what if?” and “why not?” at every turn to uncover the next revolutionary idea that would push print’s potential and make it more cost-effective and profitable for our clients. With 11,000 employees and $2 billion in annual sales, Quad/Graphics uses their industry-leading data-through-distribution capabilities to make print more immediate, more targeted, and more relevant to the recipient than ever before.

Past recipients of this prestigious honor include Edward Barr, Sun Chemical Corporation; Thomas Brinkman, Sr., Metroweb Corporation; Ken Field, Sr., Continental Web Press; John Frautschi, Webcrafters, Inc.; Michael Keene, The John Roberts Co.; Remi Marcoux, Transcontinental Direct USA, Inc.; Roger Perry, Perry Judds; Thomas Quadracci, Quad/Graphics, Inc.; F. Edward Treis, Arandell Corporation; and Jerry Williamson, Williamson Printing Corporation.

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Printing Industries Press Holiday Book Sale

tvinski@printing.org — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:15:14 +0000

It is that time of year again! Printing Industries Press is having our annual holiday book sale, offering you year-end savings on our newest titles.

Starting December 14, you can receive a 20% discount off the price of all new titles we published in 2009.* Discounted titles included in the sale are listed below. To learn more about each publication, click on the following links.

Managing by the Numbers, 2009 Edition

Downloadable PDF

Color Essentials, Volume 3

Printing Sales Contracts: Samples from the Industry

Downloadable PDF

Customer Satisfaction Surveys: Samples from the Industry

Downloadable PDF

Playbook for Selling Success in the Graphic Arts

Digital Photography for Print

Hot Topics: Human Capital—Your Most Important Asset

Hot Topics: Green and Sustainable Printing—Part 2

2009–2010 Ratios Volumes

PrintScape: A Crash Course in Graphic Communications

Prepress Skills Training Program

* To get your discount, enter the discount code YEAREND at checkout. Hurry—sale ends January 15, 2010.

For more information on the above discounted titles or to place your order, visit the Printing Industries Press online bookstore at www.printing.org/store or contact Member Central at membercentral@printing.org, 800-910-4283 ext. 770, or 412-259-1770.

Top Industry Suppliers to Sponsor Web Offset Association (WOA) Print Contest

mschroeder@printing.org — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:12:54 +0000

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—December 10, 2009—The Web Offset Association (WOA), a special interest group of Printing Industries of America, and the preeminent organization of the web offset industry, is proud to announce its 2010 WOA Annual Print Awards Competition sponsors.

Central Ink Corporation, Flint Group, Goss International Corporation, and US Ink A Sun Chemical Corporation have generously agreed to support the most anticipated printing competition of the year.

“These companies are sending a message that they care very deeply about our industry” said Craig Faust, President, HGI Company, LLC. “We are honored to have them stand behind this competition and I applaud them for their commitment to excellence in supporting web offset printing.”

Recipients will be honored and winning entries will be prominently displayed during the Printer-to-Printer Business and Technology Conference, Offset and Beyond, May 17-19, 2009 at the Baltimore Hilton, Baltimore, Maryland. This signature event features world renowned speakers, one-of-a- kind peer-to-peer networking, and the most practical information for printers, regardless of process. Program topics will cover leadership, operations, and production.

Detailed information on eligibility, categories, rules, and judging criteria can be found at www.printing.org/printawards . Deadline for entries is January 29, 2010. For more information, please contact Justin Goldstein, contest manager at 412-259-1806 or jgoldstein@printing.org.

Bindery of the Week: The Riverside Group

mschroeder@printing.org — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:29:15 +0000

The Riverside Group is a world class bindery specializing in book binding and post press services. Not only does Riverside offer its customers a wide variety of services at a competitive price, it is also known for its quality and customer service.

Read the complete interview here.

Printing Industries of America Announces the Release of the Newest 19×25-in Sheetfed Test Form

mschroeder@printing.org — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:32:19 +0000

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 4, 2009—Printing Industries of America’s Center for Technology and Research is happy to announce the release of the newest version of its 19×25-in. Sheetfed Test Forms (version 6.0) in 4-, 6-, and 8-color versions. These test forms are the first truly comprehensive examination tools for analyzing press conditions, mechanical attributes, and color management areas of an offset press using a single form.

The 19×25-in. test forms released today are the first of a number of sheetfed offset test forms in development. Printing Industries of America’s Process Controls Group has been working on a series of new forms, starting with large-format forms in sizes of 42×62-in. and 35×50-in. and, coming soon, Sheetfed Press Test Forms in sizes of 25×38-in.

These 19×25-in. Sheetfed Test Forms incorporate many targets to help printers diagnose problems on press, including targets that focus on resolution, mottle, registration, image fit, and gray balance. The forms also include tone scales, vignettes, ladder targets, color bars, digital register analysis targets, and quality control photographs. Each test form is accompanied by an extensive user’s guide which outlines each of the targets and describes how to use the form to produce quality print.

A new unique feature of this product is the color management designation area within the form. There is an 8.5×12.5-in. area left intentionally blank on these test forms where the user is able to drop in any color management target they might require, many of which are included on the CD with the form. Included are the ANSI IT8.7/4-2005 target and the ECI 2002 target as well as the Printing Industries of America’s brand new Photo Montage page that can be used for visual evaluation of the press’s conditions. This enables printers to test the press both mechanically and visually when needs arise. It also allows printers a space to incorporate their own test targets as well as artwork, cartons and labels for specific clients.

Printing Industries of America’s 19×25-in. Sheetfed Test Forms can be purchased along with other quality control products online at http://www.printing.org/store/sheetfedtestforms.

Announcing New Edition of PrintScape: A Crash Course in Graphic Communication

mschroeder@printing.org — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:43:53 +0000

Printing Industries Press is pleased to announce the much-anticipated release of the newly revised Printscape: A Crash Course in Graphic Communications, 2nd Edition.

This “orientation-in-a-box” program, which provides a comprehensive overview of today’s print and graphic communications industry, includes a DVD and companion workbook that can easily be utilized in the classroom or as a training resource for professionals in the industry. New hires and current employees alike will be able to utilize this program as it contains valuable knowledge for those involved with sales, marketing, production, or administration.

The DVD contains information, graphics, animation, and video and audio clips that provide a fast-paced way to obtain all of the essential, basic knowledge. The companion workbook provides additional information and statistics as well as chapters on the following topics:

The industry and print markets
Career paths
The complete printing process
Health and safety in printing plants
Training and professional development

“As many as 40,000 people may enter the printing industry this year. For them, and many others, PrintScape is an ideal way to learn terminology, production processes and workflow, industry structure, and, importantly, trends. We are proud of the contribution this new edition will make to the industry,” said Jim Workman, assistant vice president, Printing Industries of America.

Focusing on everything from history to current practices, this expanded and updated program includes review questions at the end of each section so that students and trainees can fully develop their knowledge of the dynamic landscape of print.

The program materials include a workbook and DVD set (Item No. 91502) for instructors or self-study use, which is $99 for members or $200 for nonmembers, and a workbook only (Item No. 91512) for student use in a traditional classroom setting, which is $30 for members or $45 for nonmembers. For more information about PrintScape: A Crash Course in Graphic Communications, 2nd Edition, visit www.printing.org/store or contact Member Central at 412-259-1770 or membercentral@printing.org.

Call for Entries: 2010 Product of Excellence (POE) Awards

mschroeder@printing.org — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Sewickley, PA— November 2, 2009—The Binding Industries Association (BIA), the preeminent organization for the binding and custom loose-leaf manufacturing industry, announced today its 2010 Product of Excellence Awards (POE) Call for Entries. From around the world, companies submit their best work to see if they can achieve excellence in execution.

Companies will soon start saving their work to reach the highest pinnacle in the industry—the Product of Excellence Award (POE). Winning this prestigious award assures that the industry recognizes your achievement. Reinforce why your customers chose you, let new customer discover you for the first time, and measure yourself against the competition!

“Not only does the competition do a great job in promoting the industry and its capabilities, it also gives companies the opportunity to see how they stack up against their competitors, and how they can improve their own operations, says Mike Roswell, President, Roswell Bookbinding.” For Roswell Bookbinding, winning three awards validates our 50 years of commitment to excellence and dedication to innovation and ingenuity. It also provides us more motivation to continue producing the highest quality work in the United States.

As the nation’s only binding and custom loose-leaf competition, the 2010 Product of Excellence Awards provides a platform for companies to demonstrate the value you deliver to the graphic arts community.

Companies will have an opportunity to have the high quality of their work validated by one of the most respected competitions in the world. Judges are distinguished professionals who are chosen because of their extensive knowledge and years of experience in graphic finishing and custom loose-leaf manufacturing.

Any pieces produced between March 2009 through March 2010 are eligible. The deadline for submission is March 26, 2010. For complete details, please visit www.bindingawards.com. The Binding Industries Association wishes to acknowledge and thank the following sponsors for their generous support: Colter and Peterson, CP Bourg, Durapro, Biloematik Jagermark, BCI, Bensons, Fix your own bindery, Gane Brothers, Heidelberg, IFS, Pilgrim Wire, Jorson and Carlson, Kolbus, Nordson, Standard Finishing Systems, Technifold, and US Ring.

For more information regarding our 2010 competition or to receive a promotional piece, please contact awards manager Justin Goldstein at 412-259-1806 or email jgoldstein@printing.org.

Ben Franklin Honor Society of Printing Industries of America Inducts Ten Industry Notables

mschroeder@printing.org — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:54:14 +0000

Pittsburgh, PA, November 30, 2009—Ten industry leaders were formally inducted into the Ben Franklin Honor Society of the Printing Industries of America at a black-tie induction and awards ceremony held Friday, November 13, at the Francis Marion Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina.

Jimmy Doar is the retired president of Wentworth Printing and was inducted for his many contributions to the print community and his community-at-large. A member of the Printing Industry of the Carolinas Board of Directors for nine years, Jimmy served as PICA Chairman in 1992. Jimmy has remained active in PICA as a lifetime trustee of the PICA Educational Foundation and served as vice president of the Foundation. He is presently president of the PICA Foundation, which provides scholarships to the best and brightest young people studying graphic communications at colleges, universities, and technical schools within the Carolinas.

Gary H. Dolgins is the director, Sales and Marketing, Blanchard Systems, Inc., where he is responsible for sales and marketing for this systems integration and software company. Gary is a member of the NPES Board of Directors. He serves on the Board of New York University Center for Graphic Communications Technology and Management and The Graphic Arts Advisory Commission of the New York City Board of Education. He has served on the Franklin Event Committee of the Printing Industries Alliance of New York for more than eight years. An alumnus of Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Virginia, Gary holds a B.A. degree in marketing.

William A. Gindlesperger is founder and chairman of e-LYNXX Corporation. He is an entrepreneur, inventor, author, and consultant. His firm helps printers build profit on government work. His patents allow buyers to reduce costs while increasing profit for printers. His articles appear in more than 100 business periodicals. His firm handles more than 200 ongoing consulting assignments at any given time. He was a founder and chair of PrintPAC, has testified before the U.S. Senate, and is a major political fund-raiser.

Janet Green is the immediate past chairman of the board of Printing Industries of
America. She served on the board of directors for over ten years and was involved in countless committees, including government affairs, GAIN, finance, and business practices. At the local level, she chaired the finance, government affairs, and public
relations committees of Printing Industries Association of Southern California
(PIASC), and in 1999 she became one of the youngest people in PIASC’s history to serve as chairman of the board. In 2004, she was recognized as PIASC’s Executive of the Year.

Elizabeth “Betty” Maul is president of FrontEnd Graphics of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and the 2006 Naomi Berber Memorial Award recipient. Betty has participated in industry development programs throughout her career. She is a member of Women in Production and served as president in Philadelphia and in New York City as a member of its board and chair of its membership committee. Betty also chaired its 1991–1992 Luminaire awards dinner and in 2000 was a Luminaire Recipient. Betty received the Graphic Communication Association (now IDEAlliance) Spectrum Leadership Award in 2001.

Bill McLauchlan retired in March 2009 as senior technical consultant for Printing Industries of America after a forty-five-year career in the graphic arts community. Internationally renowned for his training at printing companies, he could also always be called on to technically review and comment on textbooks and workbooks prior to publication and was known for his Internet column “Hey Bill, Got a Minute?” His contributions to the industry are numerous, but he is known for being instrumental in developing “Digital Register Analysis,” which received the PIA/GATF (now Prinitng Industries of America) InterTech award for the year 2000.

Paul V. Reilly is a partner in New Direction Partners and is the former president and CEO and chairman of the board of Cenveo, Inc., which grew from $17 million to over $2 billion in sales during his tenure. Paul is the founding chairman of the Print Council, a business development alliance founded by leaders in the graphic arts industry to influence and promote the greater use of print media. An educator at heart, he is sought after as a speaker at many industry conferences and programs. Paul has served on the Envelope Manufacturers Association Foundation Board of Trustees and currently serves on the Investment Committee of Printing Industries of America.

Karl G. Schnellinger was born in Germany but has spent his adult life in the printing industry here after serving our country in the Topographic Map Unit of the United States Army. He served on the Printing Industries of the Carolinas Board of Directors for over a decade and became chairman in 1999. After completing his chairmanship, he became active in the PICA Foundation and has led the charge to fund scholarships for future generations of printers. Karl is currently secretary/treasurer of the Foundation and has spent countless hours managing the books and the portfolio. Karl’s contributions are not limited to PICA. He also worked on the Clemson University Treadaway Leadership Forum.

Art Stowe joined Printing Industries of Maryland in 1970 as vice president and was promoted to president in 1972. He served the industry in that role until his retirement in June 2009 after thirty-nine years of service. He guided the merger of the Maryland affiliate and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan affiliate during this time to form Printing & Graphics Association MidAtlantic and served as its president. Art has been the chairman of the Affiliate Managers Committee of the Printing Industries of America and helped its presidents—Rod Borum, Ray Roper, and the presiding president, Michael Makin—through many transitional phases. He also was a guiding hand for the Printing Industries of America’s Presidents Conference Advisory Committee on which he served for fifteen years.

Cal Sutphin Sr. has had a long tenure in the ink industry, where he has garnered a number of distinguished honors as a result of that service. To name a few, he has received the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (PIM) 1992 Pioneer Award, the 2002 NAPIM Ault Award, the 2002 Distinguished Service Printing & Graphic Communications Association (PGCA) Award, and he was the Metro New York Printing
Industry Association Man of the Year in 2007. He served on the PGCA Board from
1992 until 2005, and when PGCA and PIM merged, served through 2008. He was the first non-printer elected board chairman in the eighty-five-year history of PGCA in 2000.

Ben Franklin Honor Society of Printing Industries of America also honored Marcia Bonsell, vice president, Communicorp, a subsidiary of Aflac, in Columbus, Georgia, as the 2009 Naomi Berber Award Recipient. The Frederick D. Kagy Education Award of Excellence was awarded to the Graphic Imaging Technology program at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center in Brecksville, Ohio. Bill Delgado, program instructor at Cuyahoga for thirteen years, accepted the award. Previous news releases on these awards can be found at www.printing.org.

The purpose of the Ben Franklin Honor Society of Printing Industries of America is to recognize and honor industry leaders who have made lasting contributions to the printing and graphic communications industries. This includes, but is not limited to, Printing Industries of America, its Center for Technology and Research, its affiliates, and the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF). The honor society was founded on November 12, 2005, at San Francisco, California, by the consolidation of two established honor societies: The Ash Khan Society of PIA and The Society of Fellows of GATF, established in 1950 and 1969 respectively.

For more information on the Ben Franklin Honor Society or the new members, please contact Diane Koch at 1-800-910-4283, ext. 803, or email her at dkoch@printing.org.

Matching Color Across Different Print Processes

mschroeder@printing.org — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:37:50 +0000

Secrets Revealed at 11th Annual Color Management Conference

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 20, 2009 -- This year's Printing Industries of America Color Management Conference will be particularly valuable to companies struggling to match colors printed on different substrates, using different processes. The Conference, now in its 11th year, takes place December 6-8 in Phoenix, Arizona.

The pre-Conference seminar, "Printing Across Different Printing Processes," will address best practices in applying color management to get the closest match possible with different presses and processes. Attendees will learn about how to handle situations and colors that pose specific problems, and how close of a match can be achieved when comparing pieces printed by sheetfed offset, flexography, electrophotography, and images appearing on websites.

To demonstrate the challenges and possibilities, a fake product and marketing campaign based on Cowboy Wine ("the only wine man enough for cowboys") was produced in advance. Campaign components include a wine label, magazine ad, promotional poster, tri-fold table advertisement, and website. All will be displayed at the Conference and used during the presentations.

This year's Color Management Conference features over 60 sessions, six distinct tracks, a state-of-the-art computer lab, and a resource area with over 30 leading vendors of color management software and hardware. Content is available for those relatively new to color management, as well as to advanced practitioners.

For years, the Color Management Conference has provided attendees with advice and knowledge to better manage color. The event is presented in partnership with the Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association. Visit www.printing.org/color to review the complete program.

Bindery of the Week: Rickard Bindery

mschroeder@printing.org — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:41:31 +0000

At Rickard Bindery, we help customers from across the nation tackle their post press needs. Founded in 1900, we’re well-known throughout the country for our extensive small- and large-format folding and saddle stitching capabilities. Whether a project involves high volume production, complicated layouts or ultra-fast turnaround times, our customers can expect us to provide accurate advice and dependable service, every time.

Read the complete interview.

Print Council Distributes Why Print is Green Brochure for Printers Use

tvinski@printing.org — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:06:15 +0000

The Print Council released Why Print is Green, a new report that describes ten specific ways in which print is green—from the responsible products used, renewable energy sourced, increased recycling rates, and improved design and delivery methods. The report is intended for use by printers and designers to demonstrate to their customers why print media is the environmentally sound choice for communicating with audiences they want to reach.

Printing Industries of America statement on House Passage of “Affordable Health Care for America” Act

mschroeder@printing.org — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:53:35 +0000

Pittsburgh, PA, November 9, 2009—The following is a statement by Michael Makin, President & CEO of Printing Industries of America, the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, regarding this weekend’s passage of H.R. 3962, the “Affordable Health Care for America” Act, by a vote of 220–215.

“This weekend the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would threaten the future of employer-sponsored health insurance. Considering 97 percent of printing companies offer some form of health coverage to their workers, Printing Industries of America is deeply disappointed that H.R. 3962 was approved.

“Passage of this bill is especially concerning due to its treatment of the unique problem small printing companies currently face in attempting to access affordable coverage. Not only does H.R. 3962 seek to impose overly prescriptive and costly employer mandates, it would slap a tax on these companies in order to fund comprehensive health care reform. Given the grim unemployment figures—which include over 73,000 lost printing and graphic communications jobs since mid-2008—it is unthinkable that Congress would move to raise mandates and taxes on small firms that are critical to the nation’s economic recovery.

“As debate now shifts to the U.S. Senate, Printing Industries of America is urging the upper chamber to focus less on punitive measures and more so on reforms such as allowing printing companies to purchase health insurance across state lines, expansion of flexible tools like Health Savings Accounts, and meaningful medical liability reform—all of which would truly reduce costs and increase the number of insured Americans. Printing Industries of America and its members will continue to advocate for these and other reforms and urge the Senate to reject Speaker Pelosi’s version of comprehensive health care reform,” said Michael Makin, President and CEO.

Print Sales & Marketing Executives (S&ME) Conference Tackles the New Realities of Business Survival in Challenging Times

mschroeder@printing.org — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:56:05 +0000

(Pittsburgh, PA, November 7, 2009)—Creating positive strategies that address the new realities of a challenging business climate via people, process, culture, and technology will be center stage at the S&ME annual conference, May 17–19, 2010 at the Baltimore Hilton in Baltimore, Maryland.

It’s Your Ship…according to D. Michael Abrashoff, opening keynote speaker, “Organizations perform at their best when people feel safe and confident about their ability to navigate in troubled times. In Navy terms, combat readiness is a matter of life and death—every crewmember’s contribution matters.”

When Abrashoff took command of the USS Benfold, the ship’s performance ranked at rock-bottom. Worse—the crew didn’t feel safe should they be called into action. Determined to improve performance, but without the power to hire, fire, or promote personnel, Abrashoff focused on what he could change: the ship’s culture. He broke from the traditional command-and-control leadership style and sought to see the ship from the eyes of his crew—creating a guiding set of principles he calls Grassroots Leadership. When crew members asked Abrashoff to solve a problem, his response became, “It’s your ship—what would you do?” The result was an empowered and engaged team that turned the ship into the Navy’s top performer.

People at every level in business can relate to Abrashoff’s dilemma: being held accountable for results without having the ability to make the rules. His results-oriented approach bestows a sense of ownership and creates accountable teams that adapt, innovate, and accomplish more with less.

The S&ME annual conference is the premier printer-to-printer sales and marketing event offered within the printing industry. The program is tailored to meet the needs of the sales and marketing professionals, regardless of company size or process. The S&ME annual conference focuses on you, your business, and your employees at all levels.

For more information on the conference, please contact Laurie Reynolds at 412-259-1802 or lreynolds@printing.org.

Kolbus America Inc. and BIA Announce partnership for 2010

mschroeder@printing.org — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:41:45 +0000

Pittsburgh, PA, November 2, 2009—The Binding Industries Association (BIA), the preeminent organization for the binding industry, announced today that Kolbus America is the premier sponsor for 2010 BIA Mid Management Conference. This annual meeting brings together mid-managers from trade binderies, graphic finishing, information packaging and the suppliers to those industries. It is the place where those in the binding industry can come together to learn about new products, hear outstanding educational presentations, and participate in networking opportunities with BIA members and the binding industry at large.

Kolbus America, Inc. is the North American subsidiary of Kolbus GmbH located in Rahden, Germany. A privately held company, Kolbus is one of the worldwide market leaders in the design and manufacturing of equipment for both hardcover and softcover book manufacturing.

“Kolbus America is proud to sponsor the BIA 2010 Mid-Management conference and to partner with the BIA to enhance and promote the bindery industry” says Robert Shafer, President of Kolbus America. “The BIA has established itself as an industry advocate for our industry and provides invaluable services for our membership.”

Kolbus will join a list of other industry notables at the 2010 BIA Mid Management Conference, May 17-19, 2010, at the Baltimore Hilton, Baltimore, Maryland.

Please contact Justin Goldstein at 412-259-1806 or email jgoldstein@printing.org.

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About BIA: The Binding Industries Association (BIA), a special interest group of the Printing Industries of America, represents trade binderies, loose-leaf manufacturers, and suppliers to those industries. The BIA is the definitive organization for the binding industry and helps its members maintain a competitive advantage and respond to today’s changing environment. Whether you’re a veteran or new to the industry, the most cost-effective way to gain knowledge, visibility, and access is by becoming a BIA member. For more information visit us at www.bindingindustries.com or call us at 412-259-1806.

The Robert F. Reed Technology Medal nomination deadline has been extended an extra week

mschroeder@printing.org — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:58:42 +0000

The Robert F. Reed Technology Medal nomination deadline has been extended an extra week. The deadline for nominations is now November 13, 2009. The recipient of the Reed Medal will receive a remarkable engraved and die-struck bronze medal. Nominate a scientist, inventor, researcher, or engineer today!

*Nominations are free.

Industry Powerhouse Speakers Announced for Offset & Beyond 2010

mschroeder@printing.org — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:06:36 +0000

(Pittsburgh, PA, November 5, 2009)—The Web Offset Association (WOA) and Printing Industries of America are pleased to announce additional keynote speakers for the printer-to-printer business and technology conference, Offset & Beyond, May 17–19, 2010 at the Baltimore Hilton in Baltimore, Maryland.

James Mikol, executive vice president, global director of The Print Management Exchange, for Leo Burnett, an advertising agency headquartered in Chicago, is responsible for effectively linking client needs with production realities. Mikol is very involved in creating efficient digital production processes and innovative solutions to clients’ problems. He recently hosted symposiums in Singapore and Beijing on digital solutions for the print and publishing worlds and is currently working on global production solutions for Leo Burnett Worldwide.

Michael Murphy, president of Japs-Olson Company in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Murphy led the company's conversion to digital technology in prepress and founded the digital print group in 1998. He has held numerous production management positions at Japs-Olson, including vice president of technology, and chief operating officer.

As president and CEO of NewPage Corporation, Richard D. Willett, Jr. heads one of the largest
coated paper manufacturers in North America based on production. Previously, he was president and chief operating officer for NewPage. Prior to NewPage, Willett served as a consultant to Cerberus Capital Management L.P. in the acquisition of the core business of Teleglobe Inc.

The author of Printing Industries of America’s “Green Guide for Graphic Communications," PrintLeadership’s founder, Peter Nowack, is a powerful strategist, writer, and presenter with more than 25 years of experience in marketing communications, advertising, and public relations. For more than 15 years, Nowack has focused on the business-to-business marketing and environmental marketing needs of resource-dependent companies and organizations, including those in the graphic communications, forest products, and energy sectors.

Jeffrey Hayzlett serves as the chief marketing officer and vice president of Eastman Kodak Company. Hayzlett is responsible for the company’s worldwide marketing operations, including the design and implementation of all marketing strategies, investments, policies, and processes. Hayzlett leads the company’s efforts for strategy and planning, marketing programs, marketing network operations, brand development and management, business development, and corporate sponsorships.

For more information on the conference, please Laurie Reynolds at 412-259-1802 or the website at www.printing.org/offsetandbeyond.