Ricoh Corp.

In Australia last month, dozens of in-plant managers flocked to the coastal city of Cairns, not far from the Great Barrier Reef, for the NIPPACON 2014 conference—the annual meeting of the Network of In-house Print Professionals Australasia (NIPPA). They were joined this year by two U.S. in-plant managers, Cathy Skoglund, manager of Operations and Business Development at Arizona State University, and Lisa Hoover, director of Publications at Bucknell University.

Ricoh Americas and PriscoDigital LLC have signed a national distribution agreement that lets PriscoDigital’s U.S. commercial print customers take advantage of Ricoh’s cutsheet digital production print solutions. PriscoDigital now has a complete digital portfolio. It will begin reselling Ricoh’s full line of cutsheet devices starting on Sept. 28. Ricoh will provide sales overlay support, systems analysis, systems integration and technical support, while PriscoDigital will provide expertise in applications, color management and training, as well as first-level after sale services.

With its acquisition this week of DiMS! organizing print, a developer of MIS/ERP systems for print and packaging companies, EFI continues to extend its reach into the MIS market.

In-plant managers in Boise, Idaho, and Baton Rouge, La., have something in common. Both groups will be meeting next Friday, September 19, in their respective cities for a full day of networking, education and in-plant tours as part of the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association's series of fall regional meetings.

Hot products for the in-plant market.

Across the country, several in-plants have added production inkjet presses. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield installed one about a year ago and is seeing significant cost savings as a result. The State of Colorado is about to add one as well.

After a successful run last year, the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association is hosting another round of fall regional meetings, starting with a gathering next Friday, September 5, in Nashville. Open to all in-plants, not just IPMA members, the meetings will take place in 13 locations around the country to give in-plants the opportunity to meet face to face, network and listen to informative presentations. They can also enjoy lunch and an in-plant tour.

As director of Printing, Mailing and Document Services for the University of Oklahoma—renowned for its storied Sooners football team, this year's Big 12 preseason favorite—John Sarantakos is used to thinking big and going long.

These products for the in-plant market will be on display at Graph Expo.

By increasing production capabilities and maintaining a customer-centric marketing approach, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield Document Services was able to improve its reputation in the company.