In-plant Profiles

Don Landwehr begin his printing career by peering into a print shop window. After 40 years, he has opened many windows for many print shops. By Kristen E. Monte THE GRACIOUS nature of Don Landwehr is one good reason he has been able to grow several print shops over his lifelong career. It is also the secret to Landwehr's success as a manager: He surrounds himself with good people and keeps challenging them. "It's important to keep 90 percent of the criticism and to only pass on 10 percent of it; to pass on 90 percent of the recognition and keep only

In-plants produce a diversified range of products. Their collators must be just as versatile. By Kristen E. Monte FLEXIBILITY, VERSATILITY and productivity are three key qualities in-plant managers look for when choosing a collating system, says A.B.Dick's Dennis James. More specifically, he adds, in-plants look for equipment that can handle a variety of paper stocks without taking up a lot of floor space. In-plants today produce a diversified range of products, adds Ron Bowman, vice president of sales for Rosback Co. "Many of the items [in-plants] wish to collate...are varied and come in all sizes, shapes and weights," says Bowman. "They require a heavy-duty,

Retaining customers at a large institution like the University of California-Davis requires a mix of customer service and cutting-edge technology. By Carol Brzozowski One of the most distinctive aspects of the University of California-Davis' Repro Graphics department is that it commands 85 percent of the university's market share—even though there's no mandate that campus departments utilize the operation. "Most in-plant operations in other academic environments require departments go to that in-plant for printing," contends Ed Dunn, design services and business development manager. "We like to believe we are doing something right." Across the country, campus in-plant operations are cognizant that they are competing with

Not everyone uses proofs. According to some, the best way to print a job is by removing proofs from the pressroom and being objective. By Rich Bruce "Add snap" "I want the reds to jump off the page" "Give it more shape" These are proofing buzz words from a list provided by the Research and Engineering Council Roundtable. One word missing from the list is "objectivity." By this I mean looking at the press sheet for what it is by using numbers and not by comparing it to a color proof. Many printers and customers will use proofs as a crutch. Both use

The need for digital proofing is growing, as in-plants move to CTP. Does monitor-based proofing have a place in your shop? By Mark Smith and Bob Neubauer ith film disappearing from many in-plants' workflows due to the rise of computer-to-plate technology, the need for digital proofing has never been greater. Many new CTP users, like Ball State University Printing Services, are sticking with hard copy proofs. Now that it has a new Screen (U.S.A.) PlateRite 4100 platesetter, the Muncie, Ind., in-plant is using ink-jet proofs from Kodak Polychrome Graphics' Matchprint ProofPro 2610 driven by a ProofPro RIP to proof jobs. "The color

Not everyone has gone soft. At the recent IPG Conference, a panel of vendors and users discussed digital hard-copy proofing and how users can choose the right proofing technology for their requirements. Nick Patrissi, Creo's director of market relations and print media, advised attendees to consider the seven basic factors of color proofing and prioritize them before making a decision: • Consistency (repeatability of the device) • Resolution (how high do you need it?) • Color fidelity (can the proofer match the press's color space?) • Tonal fidelity (can it simulate the press's tonal characteristics?) • Halftone fidelity (do you need proofs to

In recent months Kodak has announced acquisitions and restructured in a bid to grab a bigger chunk of the graphic arts business. But how will this benefit in-plants? By Bob Neubauer Eastman Kodak is optimistic. The 124-year-old company is betting that in-plants and printing companies are looking for a single vendor to satisfy all of their graphic arts needs—and it has been investing rather heavily lately to make sure it becomes this vendor. Since 2002, the Rochester, N.Y.-based firm has been acquiring companies and buying out joint venture partners as part of a strategy to dominate the graphic arts business. But is this strategy

Ohio University has moved beyond printing. The additional services it provides have made it a more crucial part of the university. By Bob Neubauer Ohio University Printing and Graphic Services has been doing a lot more than just printing lately. Thanks to several initiatives coordinated by Director David Kasler, the 15-employee in-plant is now handling laser engraving, heat transfer printing, fulfillment of university gift orders and—perhaps most unique of all—a program that creates handmade wooden gifts from fallen university trees. "If all you're providing is printing and copying...I think your days are numbered," notes Kasler. "Because those are things that they feel

By focusing on customer service, Rick Wise helped boost business at his university in-plant. By Bob Neubauer If you ask Rick Wise whether or not he has enjoyed his three decades in the printing business, you'll get an enthusiastic "yes." "I don't have any regrets. It's been a wonderful career," says Wise, director of Printing Services at the University of Missouri-Columbia. But like many in-plant managers, he didn't have printing in mind when he first joined the working world. Wise was born in California—not the state, but a town by that name in his native Missouri (or "Missoura" as it rolls off his

After several in-plant jobs, Tim Steenhoek now heads up document management for ING, a financial services giant. By Kristen E. Monte When Tim Steenhoek began working for his school district's print shop in high school, he never dreamed printing would be his ultimate career choice. Now, however, as head of the Document Management Center for ING, one of the world's largest financial services companies, he wouldn't have it any other way. His Des Moines, Iowa-based operation provides ING with on-demand, variable data printing, as well as mailing and fulfillment. Steenhoek didn't just stumble into ING's in-plant; this self-described "technology freak" had been working to