Xpedx

Avanti and xpedx have formed an agreement under which Avanti’s commercial and in-plant printing customers will have real-time access to availability and pricing information about printing papers. The alliance, to be fully implemented first quarter 2008, gives Avanti customers direct access to the xpedx paper catalog, customized pricing and fully updated information on availability. This information enables printers to quickly deliver accurate job quotes to their customers and prospective customers. “Paper can account for more than 40 percent of a printer’s total cost, and access to real-time information about pricing and the availability of specific papers is essential to just-in-time quoting,” says Stephen McWilliam,

ANYONE WHO thinks in-plants are all unplugging their offset presses and going digital should talk to John Sarantakos. “We run three shifts, 24 hours a day, five days a week, and we can’t get it all done,” remarks Sarantakos, director of University of Oklahoma Printing Services. So heavy is the demand for magazines, books and other four-color work, the 75-employee in-plant has been forced to do the unthinkable: “There’s stuff that we have to turn away because we just can’t get it done,” he confesses. To remedy that, the in-plant is installing an eight-color, 40? Heidelberg four-over-four perfector this month—to join its existing two

FOR 30 years now the Texas Association of College and University Printers (TACUP) has been meeting all over Texas. Last month, the University of North Texas (UNT) played host to the group, which included 42 managers from in-plants as far south as Brownsville, on the Mexico border. An affable group, they networked their way through 21/2 days of sessions and plant tours, finding plenty of time to laugh and learn. UNT’s Jimmy Friend modeled the conference’s theme on the TV reality show “Survivor,” splitting attendees into two tribes, the Inkadinkas and the Paperwampus. Members fielded questions throughout the event, getting points for correct answers.

Perhaps because it’s so large, Texas is the only state that has its own in-plant association. Called the Texas Association of College and University Printers (TACUP), the in-plant group has been meeting for 30 years. Earlier this month, managers from Lubbock to Brownsville and everywhere in between converged on the University of North Texas (UNT) for three days of networking, educational sessions and plant tours. Host Jimmy Friend modeled the conference’s theme on the reality show “Survivor,” splitting attendees into two tribes, the Inkadinkas and the Paperwampus. Members fielded questions throughout the event, getting points for correct answers (and humiliation for wrong ones: RGB

In-plant managers from all over the Lone Star State met recently at the University of North Texas (UNT) for three days of networking, educational sessions and plant tours. Called the Texas Association of College and University Printers (TACUP), the in-plant group has been meeting for 30 years. This year’s event took its theme from the reality show “Survivor” and focused on adapting and thriving. IPG Editor Bob Neubauer gave a presentation on in-plant survival, and xpedx sponsored a day-long version of its popular MBA of Finance workshop. The group toured the U. S. Bureau of Engraving & Printing, in Ft. Worth, and also visited Clampitt

International Paper has agreed to acquire Central Lewmar LLC, one of the largest privately held U.S. paper and packaging distributors, from Philadelphia-based private equity firm Chrysalis Capital Partners for approximately $185 million. International Paper’s distribution business, xpedx, will operate Central Lewmar as a business unit within its multiple brand strategy. xpedx is one of North America’s largest business-to-business distributors. Loveland, Ohio-based xpedx said that printers would not see any immediate changes, but the acquisition would enable both Central Lewmar and xpedx customers to continue to access a wide choice in supplies and services. Central Lewmar’s management team is to remain in place and all Central Lewmar

LOVELAND, OH—August 13, 2007—xpedx parent International Paper Co. today announced that xpedx will acquire Central Lewmar, Strategic Paper Co., and all other Central Lewmar companies. Privately held Central Lewmar is a large Newark, NJ-based distributor of printing and publishing papers with more than $900 million in 2006 revenues. It will become a division of xpedx. xpedx said that North America printers and publishers would not see any immediate changes following the close of the acquisition in about 30 days. The company said the planned acquisition would enable both Central Lewmar and xpedx customers to continue to access a wide choice in supplies

When a two-employee in-plant gets a four-color press, you know there’s a lot of demand for color. That’s exactly the case at Iowa Bankers Association, in Johnston, Iowa, which counts 93 percent of the state’s banks as members. “Everything just started moving to four color,” remarks Todd Palmer, print shop coordinator. He produces the newsletters, conference promotional materials, marketing brochures and other items for those member banks. When the amount of four-color work he and his coworker Kristi Junkin were printing on their two-color Hamada increased dramatically, Palmer knew it was time to upgrade. He did a cost justification for a four-color press, with

Starting this month, xpedx will offer its MBA of Finance workshops in several locations. Titled “Winning by the Numbers,” the free sessions will take place in these cities: Philadelphia September 18 Houston September 25 Dallas November 6                  Denton, Texas* November 7 Chicago TBD To register, visit www.xpedxworkshops.com * This workshop will be part of the TACUP conference (www.unt.edu/copycenter/TACUP).

xpedx will begin operations in Canada this August with a new Canadian national headquarters, a 150,000 square foot distribution center and two new xpedx Paper and Graphics stores serving the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding cities. Additional facilities will open across Canada starting in 2008, including a third store in the metro Toronto area. The new combined headquarters, distribution center and one of the two xpedx Paper & Graphics stores are located in Brampton, Ontario, northwest of downtown Toronto. xpedx said its second area store, a 10,000-square foot standalone facility, will open in Markham, Ontario. The third xpedx Paper & Graphics store slated for