Georgia-Pacific

As printing technology has changed, paper has had to keep pace. We've traced its path through the years. In many ways the history of offset printing is the history of a mad scramble by papermakers to keep up with the developments of the lithographic industry. Between 1900 and 1949, offset lithography was the red-headed stepchild of the printing industry, which left it without many choices of suitable paper. By the early 1930s, the pressure upon the paper manufacturer to produce coated papers for offset printing had reached the explosion point. Even though there had been some use of coated one-side paper in stone

When used properly, multiple-use papers can be an asset to any in-plant. Find out how they can benefit yours. IT SOUNDS like a printer's dream come true—one paper that can be used for offset, ink-jet and digital applications. This paper can do it all. Well, sort of. While it is true that the market for multiple-use papers is growing, there is a definite trade-off for the versatility these products offer. Certainly multiple-use papers can run on different types of print processes, but their quality isn't quite that of job-specific papers. The key is knowing when multiple-use papers can be most effective in cost

The print world certainly has gone digital, and On Demand was the place to see the latest—from digital printing to Internet-based job management. If you haven't left your in-plant in a while, the recent On Demand Digital Printing & Publishing Strategy Conference and Exposition would have made your head spin. Judging by the abundance of digital technology packed into New York's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, it was clear that the printing industry's move into the digital world is accelerating rapidly. "The world is now moving at Internet time, so fast that the landscape is just a blur," noted Charles Pesko, managing

NSPA members were warmly welcomed to the prairies of North Dakota for an enlightening and unforgettable gathering. Though Bismarck, N.D., may have seemed like an unlikely site for a national conference, members of the National State Publishing Association left their recent 23rd annual conference full of praise for the state capital. Forty-two government attendees from 39 states gathered in Bismarck to discuss common in-plant issues and attend educational sessions. The conference got underway after an emotional welcome from Linda Kapp, wife of the late Jim Kapp, director of North Dakota's Central Services Division until he passed away last year. Mr. Kapp, a long-time NSPA

As printing technology continues to change, paper companies are producing products to keep up with the times. In-plants aren't the only ones affected by the onslaught of new digital printing devices. Paper manufacturers have been busy modifying their products to keep up with the evolution. "We understand the importance of harnessing the potential of new and emerging technologies in order to develop products that offer value-added features," says Mary Jo Francis, marketing manager for Mead Carbonless Sheets. "The evolution of Mead Transcopy is an example of our commitment to achieving this goal." Mead Transcopy has been developed to run smooth and jam-free

Advances in technology have brought new products into the paper market, giving you more choices than ever. Today's market is flooded with numerous grades and types of papers. Some work better with digital printing equipment, some with offset presses. Many of these new products are produced using little or no natural fibers. Along with changes in the way synthetic and recycled grades are produced come changes in the way paper has to be handled. This brings new challenges to the in-plant manager. Synthetic Grades One factor to consider is the durability of the paper you select. According to Michael Cafiero, national marketing manager

As in-plants demand more just-in-time delivery, paper companies are upgrading their warehouses and inventory tracking systems to serve them. When your in-plant has a job to do, you need to have the right paper—and the right quantities of it—available. And since many in-plants rely on paper vendors for just-in-time delivery, what goes on behind the scenes at your supplier's facility can directly affect you. To get orders filled and delivered quickly, suppliers rely on strategically placed warehouses, and detailed inventory tracking and order management systems. They often must ship in advance of orders, too, to make sure supplies arrive on time. Georgia-Pacific Communication Papers

Meeting tight deadlines is even tougher when your equipment breaks down. Sometimes selecting the right paper is the key to productivity. When the duplicating department at New York law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson receives a printing request from one of the firm's attorneys, it knows the urgency and quality requirements that come with the request. Whether it's a brief from a bankruptcy case, a subpoena or a client document, the in-plant knows it must produce the material right away—no matter what time of day it is or what day of the week. With constant deadline pressure, the 18-employee in-plant must

Why is paper smoothness so important? How do manufacturers test and control paper curl? Is multi-purpose paper really good for everything? IPG gets to the bottom of it all. Once upon a time, paper was made of fibers from hemp, rags and mulberry bark, and it wasn't until 1850 that using wood fibers for paper became common practice. Now, at the end of the twentieth century, the paper industry has exploded into a supplier of over 725 pounds of paper and paperboard annually for every man, woman and child in the country. What does this little history lesson mean for in-plant managers?

Your demands are being heard. Vendors are altering paper content to keep pace with printing technology changes. As an in-plant manager, do you take your paper for granted? Do you follow the trends, or stay with what has worked in the past? If you're an efficient manager, you're always looking for ways to improve. And today's papers can improve the quality of your printing quite a bit. The advent of print-on-demand technology and the increase in color copying and printing have altered the types of paper printers want. Customers now look for brighter, whiter sheets to ensure sufficient contrast with various colors. Manufacturers are