Eastman Kodak Co.

Finding in-plant managers who were born in the '70s was harder than I thought it would be. For one thing, some people get very cagey when it comes to revealing their age.

After a thorough review of its document output devices, Fox Valley Technical College replaced all of its Xerox equipment with Ricoh and Kodak devices, including a new NexPress SE2500.

Any in-plant manager lucky enough to be in Chicago last month for Graph Expo got to witness some significant developments in the world of graphic arts. Dubbed “The Inkjet Graph Expo” by some, the show featured more inkjet technology than most in-plant managers had ever seen in one place.

In-plant managers returned last week from Auburn, Ala., with new ideas and renewed enthusiasm after another successful Southeastern University Printing and Digital Managers Conference (SUPDMC). With a focus on surviving in this uncertain economy, the 35th annual SUPDMC drew 29 in-plant attendees to Auburn University.

The crowds returned to Graph Expo this year. Here's a look at what they saw, including the latest inkjet presses.

A year after the disappointing attendance levels of PRINT 09, Graph Expo 2010 seemed like a real trade show again. The aisles were full of people, who massed around new products and kept vendors busy with demos. 

Numerous in-plants were spotted walking the aisles of Graph Expo. Dozens of them packed a conference room for a lunchtime session on Tuesday, to hear vendors and fellow in-plant managers talk about how to incorporate integrated marketing into their operations.

A year after the disappointing attendance levels of PRINT 09, this week's Graph Expo 2010 seemed like a real trade show again. The aisles were full of people, who massed around new products, and kept vendors busy with demos.

All major plate suppliers have made great strides in reducing the amount of chemistry and waste required to process offset lithographic printing plates. Tat said, a number of claims are being made, and there is a great deal of confusing information. This report is an attempt to bring some clarity to the issue.

One technology that may be finding a home on your shop floor is inkjet printing. If the hopes and dreams of equipment providers play out, full-color inkjet presses may soon coexist alongside offset and electrophotographic systems.

The IPMA 2010 conference featured excellent speakers and lots of camaraderie between in-plant managers.