Ricoh Corp.

The Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast recently installed a Ricoh Pro C900 in its Milwaukee print shop. Though the shop already had a Ricoh black-and-white production copier and a small Ricoh color printer, it had been outsourcing nearly all color printing.

But as outsourcing costs increased, the organization decided to bring all printing in-house, which required an equipment upgrade. The Girl Scouts looked at several brands, but the organization’s long-standing relationship with Ricoh, combined with the advanced capabilities of the Ricoh Pro C900 helped seal the deal.

Last week government and university in-plant managers from all over the country converged on New Orleans for the 33rd annual National Government Publishing Association conference. Inspired by the New Orleans location, several speakers spiced up their presentations with Louisiana food and drink, and most attendees were spotting wearing Mardi Gras beads at one point or another.

NEW ORLEANS' devastation at the hands of Hurricane Katrina was witnessed on TV screens worldwide. But seeing the aftermath first hand, as attendees of the recent National Government Publishing Association conference did, left a far more poignant impression.

LAST MONTH, in-plant managers from Texas colleges and universities met in Austin for the Texas Association of College and University Printers' (TACUP) conference. While billed as a regional conference, TACUP was actually the largest gathering of university in-plant managers this year, with 40 managers in attendance from as far away as Arizona, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Virginia. And judging by their responses, it was also one of the best events of its kind.

Ricoh’s Production Printing Business Group has donated a Pro C900S digital color production printing system to California Polytechnic State University’s Graphic Communication Department. The announcement was made on the first day of the PRINT 09 trade show in Chicago. At the press conference, Dr. Harvey Levenson, head of Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department, noted that Ricoh’s short-run color technology is part of what students are already learning at the San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based school.

In-plant managers had two opportunities to mingle at the recent PRINT 09 trade show in Chicago. IPG and the In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association each held a separate session for in-plants. Both attracted more than 50 attendees, many from university and insurance in-plants.

TO BE FAIR, the sorry state of the economy made it almost impossible for PRINT 09 to be a rousing success. Show floor traffic was so slow on the opening day (Friday), it was speculated that someone forgot to flip the sign in the front window at McCormick Place from "closed" to "open for business." And one had to question the logic of conducting a long, weekend-wraparound show on the first week of pro football season, when no one (it was presumed) would be coming to Chicago, let alone spending.

More than 50 in-plant managers met for breakfast at PRINT 09 in Chicago last week. They attended a round table discussion, hosted by In-Plant Graphics and sponsored by Ricoh. For those who couldn't make it, IPG captured the event on video, and has just posted it on our Web site.

Though attendance was noticeably down on the first three days of Print 09, by Monday morning it was starting to look like a trade show again. Booths were packed with attendees, and vendors were busy giving demos, trying to capitalize of the sudden resurgence of interest after a lackluster weekend. IPG spent four days at the show, and the first three...let's just say we never had any problem finding someone to talk with at vendors' booths. Perhaps the beautiful Chicago weekend weather lured many to delay their arrival. (Or maybe it was the questionable wisdom of starting a trade show on a Friday.) Whatever the reason, though, by Monday morning, attendees arrived with a vengeance, including scores of in-plants managers.

In-plant managers are already on their way to Chicago for Print 09. On Monday, In-Plant Graphics plans to gather all of them into one room for a breakfast roundtable discussion. More than 50 managers have already signed up for this Ricoh-sponsored event, which will focus on digital color printing, and others are welcome to join us.

It will take place on Monday, September 14, from 8:30-10:00 (before the show floor opens) in room N-136 in McCormick Place. IPG Editor Bob Neubauer will discuss digital printing trends in the in-plant industry, and will moderate a discussion by managers who have purchased digital presses and others who are considering doing so.