Home | Subscribe | Contact Us | Advertise

Study: China Offers Major Digital Printing Opportunities
The Chinese market is rapidly adopting digital print technology, according to an InfoTrends study, “The Chinese Printing Market: The Next Big Opportunity for Digital Printing & Workflow?” In 2005, the market for digital printing in China was estimated at nearly $376 million in terms of retail value of print, and it is forecast to grow to nearly $5 billion by 2010, the study said. Other highlights include:
• High growth will occur in all segments; however, full color digital impressions will experience the most growth, rising to 12 billion in 2010.
• Most of the activity is in the major cities of China. While some of the future growth will occur in secondary markets, the major metropolitan markets will continue to generate most of the demand.
• Growth in the Chinese printing industry will be driven predominantly by domestic demand, but exports will continue to grow.

Vendors Introduce Equipment to Handle USPS Changes
On the heels of the U.S. Postal Service’s recent notification of revamped postage pricing, several companies have introduced equipment to handle the changes. The USPS notified vendors and users of CASS-Certified address correction software last year that mailings will receive CASS-related discounts only if the DPV (delivery point validation) process confirms the specific delivery address. Melissa Data Corp., Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., introduced MAILERS+4 Automation Suite for efficient First-Class and standard postal processing and delivery at the lowest rates for letters, cards and flats.
Böwe Bell + Howell, Wheeling, Ill., enhanced its Flexisort flats sorter to better facilitate presorting discounts and mail-handling capabilities. The upgrade includes the addition of a high-speed linerless labeler inline as part of the sorting process, and the improved ability to handle mixed mail as well as flats, enabling mailers to process a wider spectrum of mail. Mailers of 1- or 2-oz. flats are likely to shift their volumes to a letter format, if feasible, in order to save on postage, the company said. For mailers who prefer to stay in a flats format, the cost increase can be mitigated particularly for heavier flats by applying a delivery point barcode and presorting, it said.

Standard Register Signs Deal With Health Care Network
Standard Register, Dayton, Ohio, signed a 3-year agreement with Premier Purchasing Partners, San Diego, a large health care purchasing network of more than 1,500 hospitals and 45,000 health care sites. Standard Register will offer its portfolio of enterprise document solutions and services, digital and offset printing, fulfillment services, e-procurement and print-management applications.

Avery Dennison to Acquire ID Solutions Firm
Avery Dennison Corp., Pasadena, Calif., and Paxar Corp., White Plains, N.Y., announced an agreement for Avery Dennison to acquire all outstanding shares of Paxar for $30.50 per share in a cash transaction valued at approximately $1.34 billion. The move allows Avery Dennison to compete and grow in the $15 billion-plus global retail information and brand identification market. Avery Dennison’s Retail Information Services offers brand identification and supply chain management solutions for manufacturers and retailers, including tag and label design and printing, inventory and shipment tracking, and data management systems. Paxar offers identification solutions to the retail and apparel industry.

HP to Acquire Web Printing Technology Company
HP, Palo Alto, Calif., announced it will acquire Tabblo Inc., a web-based software developer in Cambridge, Mass. HP plans to leverage Tabblo’s technologies to make printing from the web easier and more convenient. Tabblo’s custom template engine allows users to simply and efficiently arrange and print text, graphics and photos from the web.

PrintXcel’s Girard Plant Closing
PrintXcel’s Girard, Kansas, plant will close in June. Two plant employees confirmed the news, but declined to give details. According to a story by radio station KOAM, employees received word March 21 that they’ll lose their jobs and the plant will close in mid to late June. About 80 employees work at the plant. It was formed in 1998 when Cenveo Inc., then known as Mail-Well Inc., acquired Perfection Forms and Apico Corp., in Girard. PrintXcel, and its sister companies Discount Labels, Lancer Label, DealerLabel and Wisco Envelope, are part of Cenveo, which was taken over by Robert G. Burton in September 2005.

InnerWorkings Acquires Spectrum Printing Systems
InnerWorkings Inc., Chicago, acquired Spectrum Printing Systems, a provider of print management services in Irvine, Calif. This allows InnerWorkings to establish strategic presence in the Southern California print market, the company said. In addition to its core traditional print business, Spectrum also provides promotional products, apparel and complete warehousing and fulfillment services. In 2006, Spectrum had five sales representatives and generated revenue of $12.9 million.
InnerWorkings also announced that it will fulfill Lansing, Mich.-based, FAITH Publishing Service’s print procurement needs for four publications in 2007. These include Neustra Familia Catolica, and FAITH Grand Rapids, The Parable and FAITH Saginaw, which will be launched this year.

IBSA is Supplier to Health Care Alliance
The International Business Solutions Alliance (IBSA), Indianapolis, announced that it has been selected as a supplier of document management solutions for health care alliance Premier Inc. Under the multi-year agreement, IBSA’s affiliate members will provide products to Premier’s 1,700 hospitals and 45,000 health care sites countrywide.

ASB Holds Sales Conference
American Solutions for Business held its National Sales Conference, Feb. 28-Mar. 4, at the Hilton Hotel in Minneapolis. The conference theme was “Extreme American” and it focused on 1-to-1 personalization, print-on-demand, and viral and video marketing. Although a severe winter storm cancelled 400 flights at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport and dumped more than 15 inches of snow in the area, 400 sales associates attended the daily seminars and workshops led by industry leaders, vendor partners and ASB personnel. About 200 vendors attended the trade show. David Fellman, president of David Fellman & Associates, a sales and marketing consulting firm in Cary, N.C., was the guest speaker. Events included a live performance by professional aerialists who executed stunts on ropes suspended from the ceiling of the ballroom. Craig McLain, COO, updated employee owners about the company’s growth.

Highland Computer Forms Cutting Back Operations
Highland Computer Forms no longer prints custom business forms at its plant in Jackson, Tenn., according to a story in the Jackson Sun. The company will now use its Jackson office as a distribution warehouse. The company eliminated 11 jobs at the local plant, reducing its workforce from 14 to three. Changes in the trucking industry contributed to the company’s decision to abandon its Jackson printing business, the story said.

Quebecor Outlines Strategy
Quebecor World Inc. CEO Wes Lucas outlined the commercial printer’s plan to bounce back from a $38 million first-quarter loss at the company’s annual meeting. According to a report in The Chronicle Herald, Montreal-based Quebecor is undergoing a retooling effort to be completed by the end of the third quarter. The company has recently closed or sold six facilities and installed or relocated eight new presses. More than 1,100 jobs in North America and more than 200 in Europe have been affected. The company plans to add or shift 20 presses as part of its retooling effort.