The best of the best technology winners were selected at this year's biggest print industry event in North America, PRINT 13. From among the record number of companies and entries to the PRINT 13 Must See 'Ems competition, the judges combed through the submissions and selected 49 entries for the Must See 'Ems honor.
Printware, LLC, has named Tim Murphy president. He was previously Printware’s VP of Sales and Service and has over 19 years of experience with Printware. In addition, Bill Frederick, previously in charge of national accounts, has been promoted to the newly created position of Director of Sales Operations. Sales Manager Jim Niger now has an expanded role as the Eastern Distribution Manager, while Don Lundahl and Tom Schofield were recently hired as Printware’s Midwest and Western Sales Managers, meeting the need for increased representation in Printware’s growing computer-to-plate business.
Xitron, Inc., an independent developer and integrator of Raster Image Processors, RIP management software and workflow solutions, has been acquired by Vanguard Graphics International (VGI). Xitron was previously a part of the Agfa Graphics group of Agfa-Gevaert NV. It was acquired by Agfa as part of the company’s Autologic acquisition at the end of 2001. Vanguard Graphics is a privately held holding company specializing in acquiring and managing graphic arts companies that serve small to medium sized printers. VGI also owns Printware, LLC, a provider of computer-to-plate systems, and HighWater Designs, a company known for its line of RIPs and metal platesetters.
Smaller formats, chemistry-free alternatives and a variety of imaging technologies are motivating in-plants to successfully—and profitably—bring computer-to-plate imaging in-house. By Vincent De Franco Doug Fenske is one of the growing number of in-plant managers who have realized the benefits and profitability of converting to a computer-to-plate (CTP) workflow. "It's just awesome," he enthuses, referring to the productivity gains he's enjoyed since leading the transformation of the Minnesota State University at Mankato Print Center to CTP. According to Fenske, the range of new opportunities and benefits includes perfect registration, faster imaging speeds and significant process improvements. "It's just so cool," he says.
Many in-plant managers are finding that computer-to-plate isn't the wave of the future—they need it right now. By Mike Llewellyn IT ISN'T easy to convince management to invest in large equipment, particularly not when it transforms an in-plant's workflow. But it was just that vigilant attention to the bottom line that led Ken Volz to prepare his in-plant's offset operation for a digital workflow. "We were still doing small-format film and we wanted to get a large-format platesetter," says Volz, director of Printing Services at the University of Cincinnati. So just over a year ago, the Ohio in-plant brought in an Agfa Apogee prepress
CTP can substantially slash the amount of time, labor and money needed to complete an offset job. by Mike Llewellyn Michael George is a very busy man. Whether he's meeting with customers, flying to trade shows or solving any number of daily crises in the in-plant, he's always looking for a way to get a little more time. George is director of Villanova University Graphics, a 13-employee shop tucked away on the second floor of Galberry Hall in a far corner of campus. Operating in what was once a house, the in-plant is its own storm of activity, and it's in a constant race
A name change gave Tom Neckvatal the perfect opportunity to move his shop to an electronic workflow. He jumped at the chance and hasn't looked back. PRINTING WAS not in Tom Neckvatal's plans when he was attending the University of Wisconsin back in 1966. But when he heard of an opening at the university print shop for a part-time press operator, the business administration and economics undergrad grabbed the position. "I needed a job, and that was the only thing available," he explains. Neckvatal was groomed on a Multilith 1250 press, and he hasn't left the in-plant environment since. Today, after working
