In-plant Events

Canon U.S.A. has acquired San Francisco-based NEWCAL Industries, an independent value-added reseller of document and print solutions. Founded in 1991 by Steve Tarpley and Ken Wilkens, NEWCAL is an independent provider of technology solutions to businesses in the Bay Area. In 2008, the company was honored with the San Francisco Business Times’ “Recognized for Excellence” Award, and was part of the publication’s Top 100 privately held Bay Area Companies. “This acquisition is consistent with our strategy of aggressively expanding our market presence and coverage, and continuing to be an imaging leader for years to come,” said Joe Adachi, president and chief executive officer, Canon

The In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) held its first online chapter meeting on Tuesday, and it was a big success. Though it was organized by the Portland, Ore., chapter, participants spanned the country, joining in from Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Indiana and other places. “This is really a historic first for the IPMA,” proclaimed Dana Bauer, of Fred Meyer’s Portland-based in-plant. The meeting was facilitated by Ricoh’s Production Printing Business Group (PPBG), with Greg Cholmondeley serving as host. Participants phoned in and also logged in to be able to watch PowerPoint presentations. Mike Loyd, a Ricoh program marketing manager, gave a presentation

RESTON, VA—09/23/08—To help attendees make the most of their show experience, GRAPH EXPO® again is offering the free Attendee Assistant online tool for use before and during the show. Available at http://mygraphexpo.com , the Attendee Assistant provides show goers the ability to plan out, well in advance of the show, their GRAPH EXPO schedule-including booth visits, educational seminar sessions and private meetings-as well as an efficient way to locate industry colleagues with whom to network. GRAPH EXPO, the largest graphic communications trade show and conference in the Western Hemisphere, takes place in Chicago’s McCormick Place South from October 26

The Printing Industry of Illinois/Indiana Association (PII) is offering an exciting educational opportunity for industry professionals that will focus on many business- and strategy-related industry issues, including sustainable and green printing practices. PII’s Day of Results will take place September 17 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Westin Chicago Northwest in Itasca. One of the main focuses will be on green, sustainable printing. Gary Jones of the Printing Industries of America (PIA/GATF), will give the keynote luncheon address on the topic “How is the Printing Industry Responding to Sustainability?” In it, he will reveal the purpose, goals and requirements of the

IPMA President Debbie Pavletich and In-Plant Graphics Editor Bob Neubauer will facilitate a special breakfast session at Graph Expo. Titled “Digital Printing through the Eyes of an In-Plant Printer,” it will take place Tuesday, October 28, from 8:30-10 a.m. The topics have now been selected:  • How to Cost Justify a Digital Press: Xerox will show how to calculate ROI and savings versus outsourcing the work, as well as  discuss digital vs. offset break-even points and the volumes best suited to a digital press. • How to Market Digital Printing to Customers: Ricoh will show how to get customers excited about the possibilities so

Everybody’s courting in-plants these days. Recognizing that in-plants are expanding, several vendors have started gearing their marketing efforts directly towards in-house printers. Likewise, the Graphic Arts Show Co., organizer of Graph Expo, is focusing strongly on the in-plant market this year. “Now, more than ever, corporations are looking to their in-plant printer to provide more than just a print job—they need a marketing partner who can offer value-added communications pieces,” declares Ralph Nappi, GASC president. To show its support of in-plants, GASC is hosting a morning session specifically for in-plants, titled “The Future of Digital Through the Eyes of an In-plant Printer.”

Last month’s TransPromo Summit in New York was certainly upbeat in its predictions for this new marketing technique. Keynote Speaker Barb Pellow, of InfoTrends, pointed to data predicting a 68 percent compound annual growth rate for transpromo over the next four years. Most of the speakers backed this up with case studies and research indicating that customers are receptive to reading relevant marketing messages on their statements and bills. The 300 vendors, marketers and printers in attendance were certainly primed to hear this. They received numerous tips on how to initiate and carry out transpromo campaigns. Dozens of vendors were on hand to discuss

If you were on the fence about attending Graph Expo in Chicago this year, anguish no further. A special in-plant event is being planned that will let you meet other in-plant managers and get into the show for free at the same time. The Graphic Arts Show Co., organizers of Graph Expo, is holding a breakfast seminar just for in-plants. Both IPG Editor Bob Neubauer and Debbie Pavletich, president of the In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) will be facilitating the pre-show session, which will feature a panel of in-plant managers discussing their experiences with digital printing. The morning session will take place

The TransPromo Summit was a big hit last year, drawing more than 300 attendees. Next Wednesday and Thursday the event will take place once again at the Hilton New York. The summit seeks to educate attendees on the strategies, techniques and tools for fusing the traditional transaction document with marketing messages. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with leading-edge vendors and service providers, as well as with other printers. Speakers will include Barbara Pellow, group leader at InfoTrends, who will share new and innovative ways that transpromo is being leveraged in the market. John Blossom, president of Shore Communications, will discuss how

Drupa may be over, but it lives on in cyberspace. IPG Editor Bob Neubauer documented his experiences at the German trade show in a video, which he showed at the IPMA conference in June. The video was well received by the in-plants in attendance, who enjoyed seeing what Drupa was really like (the good, the bad and the humorous). Now that video is on the IPG Web site. Not only will you see some of the hottest graphic arts technologies (like ink-jet presses), you can experience some of the hardships (poor air conditioning, miles of walking) and after-hours fun that are all part