Print Solutions Magazine, March 2005 -- Industry News

MeadWestvaco Sells Papers Business

MeadWestvaco Corp. has agreed to sell its papers business, including several mills and forest land, for $2.3 billion to a private buyout group so it can focus on its packaging business, the company said. The buyer is a new company to be based in Dayton, Ohio and controlled by Cerberus Capital Management LP, a private, New York-based investment firm. The new company will be led by MeadWestvaco’s current paper division managers. About 6,300 employees of MeadWestvaco’s paper business are expected to join the new company, including the corporate staff.

Mohawk to Buy IP Fine Papers

Mohawk Paper Mills Inc., Cohoes, N.Y., signed a letter of intent to purchase Fine Papers Business from International Paper, Stamford, Conn. The Fine Papers Business offers writing, text and covers papers and artist products segments.

The transaction is subject to approval by Mohawk’s board of directors as well as completion of due diligence and financing. The companies expect to complete the transaction, terms of which weren’t disclosed, during the first quarter of 2005. The Hamilton, Ohio, paper mill; the Saybrook, Ohio, converting facility; and the Westfield, Mass., Artist Products converting operations will be included in the transaction, along with the staff.

Consolidated Graphics to Buy Kelmscott Communications

Consolidated Graphics Inc., Houston, said it agreed to buy Kelmscott Communications LLC, a privately held commercial printer serving five Midwest and West Coast states. Kelmscott has annual sales of $100 million. Consolidated Graphics will use its revolving credit facility to pay for the transaction, which is expected to close this month. Kelmscott’s services include web, sheetfed and digital printing, binding and warehousing, fulfillment, and online print procurement tools. Their businesses include Anderson Printing, Hollywood, Calif.; CDS Publications, Medford, Ore.; Maximum Graphics, Minneapolis; Orange County Printing, Irvine, Calif.; Printing Control Graphics, Seattle; Spangler Graphics, Kansas City; and Watermark Graphics, San Francisco.

Print Management Partners Gets CBI’s Clients

Cliff Bregstone, president of CBI Corporation in Chicago, announced the merger of his clients into Chicago-based Print Management Partners, one of the larger distributors in the Midwest. Print Management Partners has retained Bregstone for consulting in marketing and continuous business improvement. Bregstone will continue as chairman of CBI Fulfillment, a separate company which provides fulfillment services for Fortune 1000 companies.

Plastag, Lucas Color Card Launch Unit

Plastag LLC, Elk Grove Village, Ill., and Lucas Color Card, Oklahoma City, announced the creation of a new business unit, Plastag I.D., to assist the secure document market by developing innovative products and processes. Plastag I.D. will focus on finding materials, technology and systems to meet challenges inherent with secure document programs. The company aims to be a source of high-tech printing, converting, personalization and packaging services to systems integrators and document program managers.

Neenah Paper, Pomco Graphic Arts Provide Inaugural Invitations

Neenah Paper, a supplier of premium uncoated writing, text and cover papers, and manufacturer Pomco Graphic Arts of Philadelphia, created the invitation package for the 2005 Presidential Inauguration. The package included invitations, program books, photos and maps to viewing sites for the ceremonies. The invitations were designed using 80 lb. cover weight CLASSIC Linen Papers. They were engraved with black and gold ink, then burnished embossed over the gold ink to enhance the detail and shine. The stitched program books, designed using the same paper in 80 lb. text weight, included photos and sketches of scenes such as Abraham Lincoln’s second Inauguration in 1865 and Ronald Reagan’s first in 1981.