Xerox Corp.

A year and a half ago, the University of Southern Indiana's Publishing Services operation was outsourcing 75 to 85 percent of its four-color work. This bothered Terri Bischoff, assistant director of Publishing Services, at the Evansville, Ind., school. She knew the university would be better served if her in-plant could gain control over this work, improve the quality and reduce turnaround times. To do this, though, would require some new equipment.

When Jon Bedsted was approaching his junior year of high school in Austin, Minn., his dad (who was also his guidance counsellor) made a suggestion.

The top new technology products in each of the Graph Expo 2012 Must See ’Ems categories were revealed at the close of the annual Executive Outlook conference that precedes the opening of the show.

Graph Expo wrapped up its four-day domination of Chicago's McCormick Place on Wednesday, leaving memories of a surprisingly busy show floor. The crowds were augmented by hundreds of in-plant managers, scouting out equipment and attending the numerous in-plant-focused sessions. IPG Editor Bob Neubauer chatted with dozens of managers on the show floor, at the sessions and in the "InPlant Place" area, hosted by the In-Plant Printing & Mailing Association.

Graph Expo starts on Sunday, and in-plants are expected to play a major part in the graphic arts trade show. As we've noted several times in recent weeks, the Chicago show will be packed with seminars exclusively for in-plants, along with receptions and networking opportunities. In-plant managers from all over the country are expected to be at the four-day event.

I just returned from Denver, where I spent several days with government in-plants from all over the country. The event was the National Government Publishing Association conference, a meeting I've been attending since 1995.

Equipped with an arsenal of digital printing and high-tech inserting gear, the 42-employee print and mail operation at Physicians Mutual processes between 30 and 35 million mail pieces a year for the health and life insurance company.

Quality, efficiency and cost. Those were the three areas that Penn State University’s Multimedia & Print Center (MPC) sought to improve when it recently installed a new Presstek 52DI digital offset press.

It was anything but destiny that led Steve Schmuger to become manager of an in-plant printing operation. Inquisitive and intelligent, he majored in philosophy of science at Boston University—not quite a road map to the printing industry—but possesses a free-flowing nature and a quest for knowledge.

While in Denver recently, IPG Editor Bob Neubauer dropped in on Arapahoe County Print Services, overseen by Manager Tim Mulvey.