Hemlock Printers Ltd News

Hemlock Expands Digital Capacity to Support Market Growth

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Burnaby BC, November 30th, 2011 – Hemlock Printers’ recent installation of a second HP Indigo digital offset press reflects the success and growth the company has experienced in the high quality short-run and variable print market. The HP 7500 is the most technologically advanced, high-volume digital printing solution in the market, giving Hemlock more opportunities to deliver a comprehensive array of ink and substrate options on digital projects to its valued customer base.

“Over the past five years, the demand for our digital print services has steadily grown, thanks to our great team and the incredible quality from the HP Indigo press,” says VP Customer Service and Business Development, Richard Kouwenhoven. “With the addition of our second Indigo press, we have technical advantages like thicker substrates and white ink; but equally important is our ability to produce higher volumes of small orders and data-intensive variable projects with a higher degree of automation.”

Already recognized as the Digital Printer of the Year for the last two consecutive years by international paper giant Sappi, Hemlock now brings the same expertise and experience to bear on a wide variety of substrates. Ranging in basis weights from 60 to 180lbs and up to 21 points in thickness, these substrates include an environmentally progressive selection of house stocks, textured finishes, translucent vinyls and metalized finishes.

The print industry continues to be a highly technical, creative and changing industry, requiring us to always adapt better ways of servicing our customers. Introducing the HP 7500 is another key step in facilitating Hemlock’s ability to deliver innovative and exciting solutions for our clients’ business communication needs.

About Hemlock Printers
Hemlock Printers is one of the largest commercial printers in the Pacific Northwest, and is a professionally managed, privately owned family enterprise that has built its success on service, integrity, quality products and a commitment to continuous innovation. With a production facility in Burnaby BC that operates 100% carbon neutral and offices in Victoria, Seattle and San Francisco, Hemlock is consistently recognized as an industry leader in both quality and sustainability.

For more information, please contact:
Doug Climie
Vice President Sales & Marketing
Hemlock Printers
604 439 5004

Hemlock Named Canada's Most Environmentally Progressive Printer At First Annual Canadian Printing Awards

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Burnaby BC, November 16th, 2011 – Hemlock Printers was once again honoured for both its leadership in sustainability and for the quality of its work at the first annual Canadian Printing Awards. Hosted by PrintAction magazine, the Canadian Printing Awards showcases excellence in quality printing, environmental initiatives and industry contribution, and builds on the success of PrintAction’s annual Environmental Printing Awards. Hemlock’s President & CEO Dick Kouwenhoven and Senior VP of Customer Service and Business Development Richard Kouwenhoven were in attendance on November 10th, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario. Hemlock won a total of six awards, including five for outstanding printing projects in a variety of categories.

Hemlock also received Gold for the sixth consecutive year in the category Most Environmentally Progressive Printing Company under 250 employees. “We work extremely hard to advance our sustainability practices at Hemlock, and it is wonderful to have that recognized,” Richard said. “To also have our products recognized for their exceptional quality at the same time, proves that when it comes to outstanding products and environmental responsibility, it is not an either-or situation.”

This recognition is only possible because of the creative work on which Hemlock collaborates with its extensive client base, including:

Gold – Magazines & Catalogues: Inventory Magazine, Issue #04
Silver – Magazines & Catalogues: Finchley Paper Arts Passport
Silver – Stationery Packages: Level Ground Trading
Bronze – Books: The Cheaper Show: Blood, Sweat & 10 Years
Bronze – Calendars: Butchart Gardens 2012

For more information about the Canadian Print Awards, visit http://www.printaction.com

About Hemlock Printers

Hemlock Printers is one of the largest commercial printers in the Pacific Northwest, and is a professionally managed, privately owned family enterprise that has built its success on service integrity, quality products and a commitment to continuous innovation. With a production facility in Burnaby, British Columbia that operates 100% carbon neutral, and offices in Victoria, Seattle and San Francisco, Hemlock is consistently recognized as an industry leader in both quality and sustainability.

For more information, please contact:

Doug Climie
Vice President Sales & Marketing
Hemlock Printers
604 439-5004

Hemlock recognized at Green Living's Inaugural Excellence In Corporate Responsibility Awards

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Burnaby BC, November 3rd, 2011 – The first ever Excellence in Corporate Responsibility (ECR) Awards by Green Living Enterprises were a sweeping success thanks in no small part to the 130 thought leaders and 20 organizations who supported the achievements of the nights winners. Among those recognized was Kate Scholz, Sustainability Co-ordinator for Hemlock Printers, who has been the standard-bearer for many unique initiatives on behalf of the industry-leading Vancouver printer for over 5 years. This important peer and public recognition was held at a special awards ceremony at Toronto’s TIFF Bell Lightbox, Oct. 26, 2011 and was developed by industry experts with deep knowledge of corporate responsibility within Canada.

The awards honour every level of influence within small, medium and large corporations across Canada and across a wide range of industries, and recognizes Canadians that have demonstrated a commitment to the highest standards and ideals of Corporate Social Responsibility, and by example should serve as a model that inspires excellence in others.

Hemlock Printers continues to lead the industry in sustainable practices and initiatives, and is proud of employees like Kate, who demonstrate an unparalleled commitment to ethical business practices and community engagement.

About Hemlock Printers
Hemlock Printers is one of the largest commercial printers in the Pacific Northwest, and is a professionally managed, privately owned family enterprise that has built its success on service integrity, quality products and a commitment to continuous innovation. With a production facility in Burnaby, British Columbia that operates 100% carbon neutral, and offices in Victoria, Seattle and San Francisco, Hemlock is consistently recognized as an industry leader in both quality and sustainability.

For more information, please contact:

Doug Climie
Vice President Sales & Marketing
Hemlock Printers
604 439-5004

Hemlock Wins Gold at Sappi North American Printer of the Year Competition

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Burnaby – June 7 2011 – Burnaby based Hemlock Printers brought home a prestigious Gold award from the 2011 Sappi North American Printer of the Year competition. From a field of approximately 2,100 entries from all over North America, Hemlock was awarded Gold for Best Digital Print for Peter Schafrick’s photography portfolio. This is the second year in a row Hemlock has won the Digital Print award, which supports our ongoing digital expansion path.

Hemlock’s entry in the Digital category garnered this coveted award and put Hemlock in the 2011 Gold Winners circle as one of two Canadian printing companies. The 10 North American Gold winners receives financial design support from Sappi and will move on to compete against other gold winning projects from printers in Europe, Australia, Africa, Central and South America.

“Being recognized as a quality leader in the emerging category of digital print is a tremendous honour for our company,” says Richard Kouwenhoven, Vice President of Client Services. “Our team shares in the excitement of the quality we are able to achieve and by the accessibility of this technology to a wide audience who are looking for short-run, highly personalized printed materials. This project is a perfect demonstration of what’s possible.”

Peter Schafrick relied on Hemlock to create for him a perfect bound portfolio, consisting of selected works. The result includes 32 pages of vibrant works of art, capturing movement via photography where the images jump off the page. From paper selection to art direction coupled with Hemlock’s talented prepress team, this project fulfilled the many technical requirements Sappi judges were seeking.

Using Hemlock’s HP Indigo 5000, these images were printed digitally, using 4-colour process on 80 lb McCoy Silk paper. Please contact a Hemlock Sales Representative for a first-hand look at the best in North America printed piece.

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For more information, please contact:

Doug Climie
Vice President Sales & Marketing
Hemlock Printers
604 439-5004

About Hemlock Printers
Hemlock Printers is one of the largest commercial printers in the Pacific Northwest, and is a professionally managed, privately owned family enterprise that has built its success on service integrity, quality products and a commitment to continuous innovation. With a production facility in Burnaby, British Columbia that operates 100% carbon neutral, and offices in Victoria, Seattle and San Francisco, Hemlock is consistently recognized as an industry leader in both quality and sustainability.

Hemlock Receives G7 Master Printer Qualification

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Burnaby BC, April 18th, 2011 - Hemlock Printers is proud to announce today, its qualification as a G7 Master Printer. The qualification was established with a G7 Certified Expert consultant from Fuji Film Canada and IDEAlliance, the non-profit industry association guiding print media methodologies, specifications and standards.

G7 is an internationally accepted set of best practices for achieving consistent colour reproduction across a range of proofing devices, presses (digital and offset) and substrates. Hemlock, known for the quality of its colour reproduction in both its digital and sheetfed offset environments, will utilize G7 to further improve output consistency across the entire range of its print services.

A growing number of clients, particularly those interested in maintaining brand consistency across multiple production facilities can rely on G7 Master Printers to adhere to a common colour standard for a wide range of materials. This translates to a greater degree of colour consistency from project to project within Hemlock’s own environment and consistency with national and international G7 Master Printers.

G7 will serve as an important foundation for Hemlock as it continues to expand its capabilities into new printing technologies and substrates.

View Hemlock’s Certificate of Qualification here and for more information about G7 print specifications or IDEAlliance, visit www.idealliance.org

About Hemlock Printers
Hemlock Printers is one of the largest commercial printers in the Pacific Northwest, and is a professionally managed, privately owned family enterprise that has built its success on service integrity, quality products and a commitment to continuous innovation. With a production facility in Burnaby, British Columbia that operates 100% carbon neutral, and offices in Victoria, Seattle and San Francisco, Hemlock is consistently recognized as an industry leader in both quality and sustainability.

For more information, please contact:

Doug Climie
Vice President Sales & Marketing
Hemlock Printers
604 439-5004

Seismic Market Change and Service Innovation Motivates Brand Shift for Hemlock Printers

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Burnaby BC, March 4th, 2011 – Changes in print communications combined with new technological innovations for customers has inspired Hemlock Printers, a 43-year-old sector leader, to put a new face forward.

“New technology allows us to give our customers so much more. So it’s important that our logo and our brand reflect that future focus,” says Dick Kouwenhoven, president and chief executive officer of Hemlock Printers. “Hemlock’s new look expresses technology-driven innovation in service while remaining true to our core principles of business integrity and superior print quality.”

Since the creation of the existing logo 18 years ago, Hemlock’s suite of services has expanded dramatically to include online customer service and production as well as a mix of traditional lithographic and digital printing options that enable customized projects with high-quality results.

“Today we offer customers sophisticated on-line services that simplify how printed materials are created, managed and ordered,” says Richard Kouwenhoven, vice-president client services at Hemlock. “Web-based orders from companies such as BC Hydro, Arc’teryx and Ledcor, have doubled in the past two years and now represent 50 percent of all orders received.”

Hemlock also has responded to growing customer demand for highly customized, short-run digitally printed products. For example, in 2010 Hemlock won the prestigious Sappi Printer of the Year Gold Award in the Digital Category for a limited-run photographic book that demonstrated the fine work of a photo retouching studio. Dick Kouwenhoven says, “We printed 50 copies of a fine-art book – you couldn’t afford that kind of quality in an ultra-short run ten years ago. Today we can print high-quality in numbers from one to thousands. We’re just scratching the surface of what is possible.”

The growth of internet-based communication also has changed the role for print in the marketplace. The effectiveness of online media is often enhanced when strategically mixed with print. “We can do things in print that grabs audience attention more effectively than with an email blast. Leaving a beautiful printed piece behind is a lot more impactful than another message in your in-box,” explains Richard Kouwenhoven.

“Innovation is the key,” says Dick Kouwenhoven. “In recent times many companies and industries have focused on maintaining the status quo and driving down the cost. But at Hemlock the solution to changing times is to foster innovation – it is so important in a company, in an industry and in a society.”

“We’ve built our success and reputation on our well known Hemlock tree for 20 years,” says Richard Kouwenhoven. ”Now we look forward to the next 20 years led by our new future-forward Hemlock icon and the words: “Integrity. Innovation. In Print.”

Letterbox Design
Letterbox Design, a leading graphic and environmental design boutique in Vancouver since 1981, and a Hemlock customer for 20 years, oversaw Hemlock’s design refresh.

“As Hemlock continually adapts to market and industry change, they keep finding new ways to serve us better. But one thing never changes – they always deliver exceptional print quality. It is an honour to help Hemlock evolve its iconic brand to reflect the dynamic future of print communications.”

Kiky Kambylis & Valerie Turnbull
Partners
Letterbox Design

About Hemlock Printers
Hemlock Printers is one of the largest commercial printers in the Pacific Northwest, and is a professionally managed, privately owned family enterprise that has built its success on service integrity, quality products and a commitment to continuous innovation. With a production facility in Burnaby, British Columbia that operates 100% carbon neutral, and offices in Victoria, Seattle and San Francisco, Hemlock is consistently recognized as an industry leader in both quality and sustainability.

For more information, please contact:

Doug Climie
Vice President Sales & Marketing
Hemlock Printers
604 439-5004

Maegan Thomson joins Hemlock

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Hemlock is proud to announce the addition of Maegan Thomson to the Canadian sales team effective February 22, 2011.

Maegan has an extensive track record of success in print sales and client development and will be bringing with her some of her loyal clients as well as many new business
opportunities.

With over 7 years at Rhino Print Solutions as an Account Manager, and the past year at 3S Printers, Maegan has a solid understanding of the dynamics and changes in the print community and a true sense of what it takes to develop and support long-term business relationships.

Maegan’s enthusiasm and her wealth of experience will be a welcome addition to the team of sales professionals at Hemlock.

Welcome to Hemlock Maegan!

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Media contact: Doug Climie
VP Sales & Marketing
doug@hemlock.com
604.439.5004

Donna Cameron joins Hemlock's Sales Team

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Hemlock is proud to announce the addition of Donna Cameron to the Canadian sales team effective Nov.23, 2010.

Donna brings a wealth of experience and success in sales and client development to the team, and will be charged with both existing account and new business responsibilities in her new role.

With over 15 years at Total Graphics as both Account Director and then President, and almost 10 years as owner of Rep Art Agencies and Verve Décor, Donna has an exceptional understanding of the dynamics and changes in the print and design community and a true sense of what it takes to keep and grow the business in a challenging environment.

Donna’s positive attitude, knowledge of the market, experience and enthusiasm will be a welcome addition to the team of sales professionals at Hemlock.

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Media contact: Doug Climie
VP Sales & Marketing
doug@hemlock.com
604.439.5004

Hemlock Printers Launches hPad at Open House

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0800

On December 3, over 400 people attended hParty1.0 for the unveiling of the hPad - Hemlock's newest communication platform. The hPad takes notes, works in B&W or full-colour, never needs batteries and is completely shockproof. It is, of course, the humble note-pad; designed to look and feel like a tablet computer.

"In an increasingly digital world, we felt it was time to remind people of the basic appeal and utility of the printed page," says Richard Kouwenhoven, Hemlock Vice President of Client Services, "yet we used this simple analog device to tell the story of the digital and web-integrated print services we now offer."

Everyone who attended the party received their own hPad to take home, and the YouTube video launch commercial is starting to catch on, with thousands of hits all around the world. http://www.hemlock.com/hpad

"We see the need for pritning to evolve hand-in-hand with the digital revolution," Kouwenhoven continues, "but human qualities like craftsmanship, integrity and fun transcends technology. THat's what the hPad, and Hemlock Printers are all about."

Hemlock engaged the creative services of Lorne Craig of Unicycle in all aspects of the launch, and recognizes his unique contribution. (www.unicycle.com)

Hemlock Printers Ltd. is one of the largest commercial printers in the Pacific Northwest, operating from a state-of-the-art 79,000 square foot facility in Burnaby, BC. Privately owned by the Kouwenhoven family, Hemlock also has sales offices in Victoria, BC, Seattle, WA and San Fransisco, CA.

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Media Contact: Doug Climie
VP Sales & Marketing
doug@hemlock.com
604.439.5004

Sales and Marketing Expansion

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Burnaby, BC – September 7, 2010 – Hemlock Printers Ltd. (Burnaby) is proud to announce changes related to Sales Management, Marketing and Business Development.

Doug Climie has joined Hemlock as our Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the Canadian market. Doug has a wide range of experience in sales development, programs and account strategies. His experience in top tier organizations includes publishing, printing, manufacturing, distribution and media. He has a sound knowledge of both our local market as well as the Canadian print environment. With a focus on sales innovation, leadership and customer service, Doug will direct Hemlock’s sales force in providing cost effective solutions at the highest quality level possible for our expanding base of valued customers.

Dirk Ottevangers has an exciting new role at Hemlock as the Director of Business Development and Major Accounts. During Dirk’s 28 years with Hemlock, he has proven to be of great value to both our internal and external clients. In this rapidly changing market, his extensive knowledge of Hemlock’s products, environmental initiatives, and his close working relationships will assure a high level of service and quality of product. Building on existing strong relationships as well as developing new contacts, Dirk’s knowledge and energy will be focused on fostering long term benefits to new and existing clients.

Hemlock is Western Canada’s premier commercial sheetfed printer, competitively offering a full range of services through a main plant and a digital print division, located in Burnaby, BC. With sales offices in Victoria, Seattle, San Francisco and Monterey, Hemlock supports clients throughout North America with a focus on quality, integrity, innovation and professional service.

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Media Contact: Doug Climie
VP Sales & Marketing
doug@hemlock.com
604.439.5004

Hemlock Delivers With Canada's First 100% Electric Trucks

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Burnaby, BC – July 13, 2010 – Hemlock Printers is proud to announce its participation as the first customer of Novex Couriers’ 100% electric powered delivery service. The trucks, manufactured by Smith Electric, are the first of their kind in Canada and will be used by Hemlock for daily freight and courier deliveries primarily in Burnaby, Vancouver and Richmond.

"We are excited to participate in this initiative with our clients being among the first in Canada to receive emission-free deliveries. It's another significant step for us as we look to green all aspects of our operation. Congratulations to Novex for their leadership in bringing this new service to Metro Vancouver." said Richard Kouwenhoven, Hemlock VP Client Services.

Hemlock’s interest in lower emission couriers was spurred by its commitment to reducing its operational greenhouse gas emissions 33% by 2020. By shifting a portion of its local deliveries to electrically powered trucks, Hemlock is able to achieve real emission reductions and have found a fitting complement to Zero, Hemlock’s Carbon Neutral printing program.

“It is important to have partners like Hemlock who are willing to show leadership in using zero emission vehicles to deliver their product.” said Ken Johnston, Novex President. “Novex has made a commitment to do the right thing for our environment, and the shift to zero emission vehicles is the future of the delivery business”.

Hemlock welcomes the arrival of emission-free freight services as another great example of green business innovation within our community and is proud to support its success. Each electric truck will save approximately 29 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions yearly and eliminates smog-forming exhausts, equivalent to taking 6 cars off the road.

Hemlock is Western Canada’s premier commercial sheetfed printer, competitively offering a full range of services through a main plant and a digital print division, located in Burnaby, BC. With auxiliary sales offices in Victoria, Seattle, San Francisco and Monterey, Hemlock supports clients throughout North America with a focus on quality, integrity, innovation and professional service.

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Media Contact: Dirk Ottevangers
VP Sales & Marketing
dirk@hemlock.com
604.438.2456

Hemlock releases 2009 Environmental Report

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

We are proud to present our second Sustainability Snapshot report that summarizes our activities over the past 12 months.

The report demonstrates our progress in a number of areas including scaling-up our eco-paper purchases, water and energy resource savings and continued progress in reducing our waste.

We welcome any feedback or questions you might have by contacting Richard Kouwenhoven.

Hemlock wins digital printing gold award at the Sappi North American printer of the year competition.

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Hemlock Printers Ltd., headquartered in Burnaby, BC was honoured with a gold medal at the 2010 Sappi North American Printer of the Year competition. From a total of over 3,000 entries from all over North America, ten Gold winners were selected, one in each of 10 product categories. Hemlock’s entry in the Digital category garnered this coveted award, and put Hemlock in the 2010 Gold Winners circle as the only Canadian printing company. The 10 North American Gold winners will receive $20,000 in design support from Sappi and move on to compete against other gold winning projects from printers in Europe, Australia, Africa, Central and South America.

“It is a great honour to be recognized in such a prestigious competition,” says Hemlock President & CEO, Dick Kouwenhoven. “This is our second Sappi Printer of the Year Gold award, and is of great significance, recognizing our unique position and quality of work also in Digital print. Hemlock’s staff has made great progress with this innovative technology, while we maintain our “integrity in colour” pledge, which we have practiced for over four decades in our traditional offset lithography.”

Hemlock was awarded the gold medal in the Digital Category for a beautiful book by The Orange Apple Creative Imagery. Based in Vancouver, BC, The Orange Apple Creative Imagery specializes in creative illustration and photography for the advertising and photographic industries. They called on Hemlock to create for them a perfect bound portfolio, which consists of eighty-eight vibrant pages showcasing their finest work for a variety of world-class clients. Only 50 copies were produced. Artistic ability, fine detail, and eye-popping colour make these images visually stunning. Using our HP Indigo, these images were printed digitally, using 4 colour process on 100 lb. McCoy Silk paper, FSC Certified with 10% post-consumer waste. The cover was embossed and foiled in Silver.

Hemlock is Western Canada’s premier commercial sheetfed printer, competitively offering a full range of services through a main plant and a digital print division, both located in Burnaby, BC. With auxiliary sales offices in Victoria, Seattle, San Francisco and Monterey, Hemlock supports clients throughout North America with a focus on quality, integrity, innovation and professional service.

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Media Contact: Dirk Ottevangers
VP Sales & Marketing
dirk@hemlock.com
604.438.2456

Hemlock Named Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada for Fifth Consecutive Year

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Hemlock Printers Ltd. (Burnaby) was once again honoured for its commitment to the environment at the 5th Annual Environmental Printing Awards, held April 8th, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario. Hemlock received its 5th consecutive Gold Award in the category of Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada, 100-500 employees. Hemlock also received a Bronze Award for Most Environmentally Progressive Print Project, Offset for the Hollyhock Foundation 2010 Calendar. Richard Kouwenhoven, Hemlock’s Vice President Client Services, was present at the awards ceremony to accept this prestigious honour. The event, hosted by PrintAction Magazine, and attended by over 350 paper and printing executives, recognizes excellence in environmental stewardship within the printing industry across Canada.

“What an honour it is to be recognized for the 5th consecutive year by our industry peers in this excellent award program. We can thank our dedicated staff for their ideas and enthusiasm in guiding Hemlock’s progress every year, the support that we receive from Dick and the rest of the management team and our clients who continue to encourage and inspire our continued progress.”

Highlights of Hemlock’s 2009 environmental and social achievements include:

Achieving Carbon Neutrality in its operations, the first printing company in Canada to achieve this distinction
Launching Zero, a Carbon Neutral Printing Program with over 60 participating projects in its first 4 months, affecting over 1,000,000 printed pieces and generating 134.4 metric tons of carbon offsets
Continued progress promoting FSC® grades to our clients which now represent over 70% of our total annual paper purchases
Continued progress in landfill bound waste reduction now totaling 90% since 2006
156,000 printed pieces printed for 12 different charitable organizations under our highly successful Off Cuts for Charity program
Raising over $15,000 in support of local charities, and $11,000 in support of the people of Haiti in response to the devastating Earthquake

For more information about the Environmental Print Awards, visit http://www.printaction.com

Hemlock is Western Canada’s premier commercial sheetfed printer, competitively offering a full range of services through amainplantandadigitalprint division, both located inBurnaby,BC. With auxiliary sales offices in Victoria, Seattle, San Francisco and Monterey, Hemlock supports clients throughout North America with a focus on quality, integrity, innovation and professional service.

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Media Contact: Dirk Ottevangers
VP Sales & Marketing
dirk@hemlock.com
604.438.2456

Announcing the Jim Rimmer Community Scholarship for Design

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800

The Society of Graphic Designers – BC Mainland Chapter and Hemlock Printers Ltd. announce prestigious scholarship for design students

Vancouver, British Columbia – Society of Graphic Designers – BC Mainland chapter (GDC/BC) and Hemlock Printers Ltd. are proud to announce the Jim Rimmer Community Scholarship for Design. With more than 50 years of expertise in design, book design and typography, Jim Rimmer is revered locally and internationally.

Sadly, Jim Rimmer passed away on Saturday, January 9th after a battle with cancer. The scholarship was initially announced in November 2009 at Practivism, an annual GDC/BC event. Though he knew of the scholarship in his name, Jim Rimmer was too ill to attend Practivism.

Dick Kouwenhoven, president and CEO of Hemlock Printers, says, "We are very proud to support the next generation of designers in our community, and feel it's fitting to honour Jim Rimmer's contributions to the field with this scholarship.”

The Jim Rimmer Community Scholarship for Design will be awarded annually to two students who demonstrate the use of design thinking to benefit their community, and have used print to effectively communicate a message, effect action, or promote change.

Applications for the two $1,000 scholarships are due at the end of September and will be judged by representatives of Hemlock Printers and GDC/BC. The recipients will be announced each November at Practivism, of which Hemlock Printers are the presenting sponsors.

“Jim Rimmer is an icon of Canadian design, craftsmanship and ingenuity. This scholarship is a reminder to the new generation of design thinkers that we need to retain the principles of our craft,” says Marga Lopez, MGDC, president of GDC/BC. “Jim led by example. His work and passion will always be remembered by our members and everyone in the design industry.”

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The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) was founded in 1956. The GDC’s mandate is to maintain a defined, recognized, competent body of graphic designers and to promote high standards of graphic design for the benefit of Canadian industry, commerce, public service and education.

Hemlock is Western Canada’s premier commercial sheetfed printer, competitively offering a full range of services, from traditional litho to digital print and fulfillment services, provided from two adjacent locations in Burnaby, BC, Canada. With auxiliary sales offices in Victoria, BC and serving our US customers from Seattle, San Francisco and Monterey, Hemlock supports clients throughout North America with a focus on quality, innovation, environmental excellence and professional service.

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For more information, contact Darren Carcary MGDC at pr.bc@gdc.net, or visit http://www.gdc.net/chapters/bc_mainland.htm

Hemlock Reaches Zero; Promotes Carbon Neutral Printing

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

VANCOUVER – Hemlock Printers announced today the launch of “Zero”, its innovative and industry leading carbon neutral printing program, and the first of its kind in Canada.

“Zero” is an easy three-step carbon neutral printing program that enables Hemlock’s print customers to make sound, environmentally friendly choices and demonstrate the positive steps they are taking toward climate change mitigation. The program was jointly created with Offsetters, Canada’s leading carbon management company and the Official Supplier of carbon offsets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“We developed ‘Zero’ because we recognize that climate change is unequivocally the greatest challenge facing the planet today,” said Dick Kouwenhoven, President and CEO of Hemlock. “The print industry contributes to this impact so we are taking action in a number of ways to reduce our footprint. The ‘Zero’ program is a concrete way that we can make some changes today for the benefits of tomorrow.”

When a customer decides to go “Zero”, they purchase carbon offsets and neutralize their climate impact through investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that would otherwise not be developed without the investment.

Carbon neutral in its operations since 2008, Hemlock launched “Zero” as a means to actively work together with its customers and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at every stage of the paper lifecycle. An optional one to two percent fee per print job offsets the carbon emissions from the lifecycle of the paper.

“Hemlock does not produce paper, but we purchase it and have it shipped to us, print on it and then deliver the final product to our customers,” noted Richard Kouwenhoven, Viceâ€�President of Client Services at Hemlock. “The lifecycle of paper from forest, to mill, transport, printing and then disposal/recycling, emits CO2 at every stage. We want to work with our customers to reduce this impact.”

Offsetters provides credits from local projects that meet or exceed the highest international standards for ‘real’, ‘additional’ and ‘permanent’ GHG reductions – the hallmarks of high quality carbon offsets.

Sharing innovation and opportunity with its customers is another key feature of ‘The Hemlock Way’. The launch of “Zero” aligns with Hemlock’s pioneering spirit and further solidifies its longstanding reputation as a leader in the printing market.

Customers can find detailed information on the “Zero” program, its marketing attributes and the tools employed to calculate the carbon offsets of an individual print project, at www.hemlock.com

Hemlock Printers Ltd. is redefining print by leading and expanding how communications materials are viewed, produced and shared. Hemlock provides a range of impeccable print, digital and advisory services with accomplished quality, integrity and customer-focused service excellence. With an unmatched commitment to innovation, best practice and environmental care, Hemlock is the printer of choice in North America.

Offsetters is Canada’s first and leading integrated carbon management company. Since 2005, Offsetters has been helping individuals and organizations understand, reduce, track, and offset their greenhouse gas emissions. Offsetters uses carbon offset funds to develop and invest in high-quality, renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that would otherwise not take place. The goal is to create a mainstream shift toward clean energy systems, away from the fossil fuel dependence of today.

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For more information, contact:

Offsetters media contact:	Hemlock Printers Ltd. media contact:
Kari Grist VP, Marketing and Client Engagement Offsetters 604.699.2657 kari_grist@offsetters.ca	Richard Kouwenhoven VP, Client Services Hemlock Printers Ltd. 604.439.5003 rkouwenh@hemlock.com

Hemlock recognized at Burnaby Business Excellence Awards

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Hemlock was recognized for its leadership within the Burnaby business community with an Environmental Sustainability Award at the Burnaby Business Excellence Awards held on November 4th, 2009.

Accepting the award on behalf of the entire team at Hemlock, was Kate Scholz our Sustainability Coordinator.

See the online article about the event and the list of winners on the Burnaby Now's website.

Hemlock first Canadian printer to achieve carbon neutrality

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Company also receives International 2008 Heidelberg Eco Printing Award for Most Sustainable Printing Company

VANCOUVER, BC – Hemlock Printers, Western Canada’s premier commercial sheetfed printer, announced today that it has achieved carbon neutral status. It is the first printing company in Canada to gain this distinction. In addition to carbon neutrality, Hemlock has recently won the prestigious Heidelberg Eco Printing Award 2008 for “Most Sustainable Printing Company” establishing itself as a global leader and innovator of environmentally progressive printing practices.

To achieve carbon neutrality, Hemlock worked closely with Offsetters, Canada’s first carbon offset provider, to assess their existing carbon footprint. The companies then jointly created greenhouse gas reduction strategies and sourced high quality offsets for greenhouse gas emissions that could not be reduced. Hemlock has set a target of 33% reductions in absolute GHG emissions by the year 2020, meeting the target set by the BC Provincial Government.

“This is an accomplishment that everyone at Hemlock can take great pride in. Becoming the first carbon neutral printing company in Canada further solidifies our commitment to progressively promoting sustainable practices within our industry,” said Dick Kouwenhoven, president and CEO of Hemlock.
Hemlock has further plans to assist its customers to reduce the carbon footprint of their individual print projects. The company will introduce this program in November 2009.

Further entrenching its sustainability leadership, Hemlock Printers also announced today that it has won the Heidelberg Eco Printing Award 2008 for “Most Sustainable Printing Company.” The award, the first environmental award in the world recognizing print leaders in the sheetfed offset sector, was presented to Dick Kouwenhoven at an international awards ceremony in Heidelberg, Germany last Friday, March 20.

This new international environmental award is focused on the sustainable use of resources and energy, climate protection, and environmentally aware business practices. Winning companies and solutions set the standard for the entire industry and encourage others to adopt sustainable business practices and solutions. The independent judging panel for the Heidelberg Eco Printing Award is made up of global representatives from the print media industry, scientists from the IFEU (the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research), and members of environmental associations.

Dr. Jürgen Rautert, a member of the Heidelberg management board, expects this award to become an important international driver of environmental innovation in the industry, adding, “We are deeply impressed with Hemlock Printers Ltd. as a model for the entire industry, which gives impetus to other printers to initiate sustainable print production in their own business.”

Hemlock Printers Ltd. is Western Canada’s premier commercial sheetfed printer, competitively offering a full range of services through a main plant and a digital print division, both located in Burnaby, BC. With auxiliary sales offices in Victoria and serving our US customers from Seattle, San Francisco and Monterey, Hemlock supports clients throughout North America with a focus on quality, integrity, innovation and professional service.

For more information, contact:

Jamie Slade
Marketing Coordinator
Hemlock Printers Ltd.
(604) 439-5004

jslade@hemlock.com

Hemlock Named Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada for 4th Consecutive Year

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Hemlock Printers Ltd. (Burnaby) was once again honoured for its commitment to the environment at the Annual Environmental Printing Awards, held February 12th, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario. Hemlock President and CEO, Dick Kouwenhoven, was present at the awards ceremony to accept this prestigious honour. The event, hosted by PrintAction Magazine, and attended by over 350 paper and printing executives, recognizes excellence in environmental stewardship within the printing industry across Canada.

“Receiving this recognition for the fourth consecutive year is a clear sign of Hemlock’s leadership role in the greening of the paper and print industry. Our dedicated staff and our conscientious clients keep driving all of us at Hemlock to continuous improvement in environmental performance. It is an essential and exciting journey.” - Dick Kouwenhoven, President & CEO

Highlights of Hemlock’s 2008 environmental achievements include:

Completion of a Carbon Emission Inventory for calendar 2007, in accordance with the World Resource Institutes GHG Protocol
Energy efficiency improvements resulting in a 33% annual savings in lighting energy, 10% overall
Fountain solution ultra-filtration and recycling system resulting in decreased water use and reduced fountain solution wastewater by 90%
Further reductions to landfill bound waste through improved recycling & composting programs resulting in an 80% reduction over 2 years
Installation of waste paper, cardboard and plastic baler to increase revenue of recycled materials, streamline waste handling process and reduce collection truck visits to once per week
Continued work with paper mills to identify source woodlands of paper fibre purchased by Hemlock in accordance with our Ancient Forest Friendly policy

For more information about the Environmental Print Awards, visit http://www.printaction.com/epa

For a closer look at Hemlock’s accomplishments in 2008, download our Sustainability Snapshot Report

Hemlock releases 2008 Environmental Report

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

We are proud to present our first Sustainability Snapshot report that summarizes our activities over the past 12 months.

The report demonstrates our progress in a number of areas including scaling-up our eco-paper purchases, water and energy resource savings and continued progress in reducing our waste.

We welcome any feedback or questions you might have by contacting Jamie Slade, jslade@hemlock.com.

Hemlock scores a hat-trick for the environment

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Named Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada for the third year in a row

Hemlock Printers Ltd. (Burnaby, BC) was once again honoured for its commitment to the environment at the third annual Environmental Printing Awards, held on February 27th in Toronto, Ontario. This marks the third consecutive year that Hemlock has been named the Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada for its efforts to promote environmentally progressive practices to its clients and industry colleagues. The Environmental Printing Awards, a PrintAction Magazine event, recognize excellence in Canadian environmental stewardship across the print-based communications supply chain. This award complements Hemlock’s recent environmental achievements, including the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters’ 2007 BC Export Award for Sustainability, and the Capital Regional District’s 2007 EcoStar Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.

Hemlock’s most significant sustainability achievements of 2007 include:

Sourcing a third-party environmental audit of the company’s wastewater discharges and worker exposure to evaporable chemicals, ensuring compliance with Metro Vancouver’s regulations and further improving practices
Auditing waste by segmenting and weighing all waste in one dumpster and comparing it to 2006 results, showing that 80% of all manufacturing-derived waste had been eliminated from the landfill stream
Developing Runningreen: the EcoPrinting Infoforum, a full-day event where speakers from around North America spoke to an audience of 200 print purchasers and suppliers regarding methods to improve the environmental impact of the print process

“We’ve done a lot to improve our environmental performance. In 2007, we really focused on advocating environmentally friendly practices for our clients and our competitors by sharing our knowledge gained over this last few years,” says Hemlock President & CEO, Dick Kouwenhoven. “We are working to reduce the environmental impact of the entire graphic arts industry making a business case for sustainability.”

Hemlock named Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Hemlock wins two gold awards at the Environmental Printing Awards. Hemlock Printers Ltd. was the only company to garner two gold awards at the 2007 Environmental Printing Awards, held last month in Toronto. For the second consecutive year, Hemlock has been named the Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada for its efforts to position sustainability as a critical consideration in the company’s business strategy. Widely known as an environmental influence on a local and global scale, the Vancouver-based, family-owned printer received a second gold award for Most Environmentally Progressive Print Project. This award was presented for the unique Holiday Gift Wrap Set, a piece that Hemlock prints using eco-friendly practices as a gift to clients. These awards complement the company’s 2005 Ethics in Action Award for Environmental Excellence and the two awards received at the 2006 Environmental Printing Awards, as well as the over 160 awards for print excellence that the company has won in the last year.

Hemlock’s most significant sustainability achievements of 2006 include:

Installation of an e-waste recycling centre that has helped to divert over 2,000 lbs. of techno-trash from landfill
Implementation of a comprehensive waste reduction strategy that has allowed the company to reduce waste pick-ups from every day to three times weekly
Conversion of half of the company’s delivery fleet to biodiesel
Development of an environmentally friendly line of house papers at Hemlock’s digital division

“We are continually working on improving our processes to reduce impacts. We see it as a journey,” says Hemlock President & CEO, Dick Kouwenhoven. “We hope to take things one step further by helping our clients and printing industry colleagues to be environmentally responsible. These awards are recognitions that we share with our clients and suppliers.”

The Environmental Printing Awards, a PrintAction Magazine event, recognize excellence in Canadian environmental stewardship across the print-based communications supply chain. Hemlock’s initiative in moving the graphic arts industry towards greener practices has positioned the company as a promoter of sustainability.

“We realize that it’s not enough to make some changes, bask in the glory of the award, and then be dormant. We’ve got to keep evaluating and making changes, and then re-evaluating and making more changes,” Kouwenhoven says. “Sustainability is an integral part of our business – we think about it every day.”

Hemlock congratulates the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada on the issue of their 50th anniversary stamp

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Congratulations to the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) on their 50th anniversary.

To celebrate this milestone, we are honoured to use the custom-designed GDC stamp on all Hemlock mail. This beautiful stamp, designed by our friends at Ion Design, is a sophisticated combination of typography and image that captures the essence of Canada and the strength of our graphic design community.

Hemlock installs state-of-the-art 10 colour press

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Hemlock Printers Ltd., headquartered in Burnaby, BC, is proud to announce the installation of a new piece of capital equipment into their manufacturing line-up. With ten 40” units, a perfector and a convertible aqueous coater, this press is Hemlock’s largest installation to date. This new addition, referred to as ”H10”, comes with the most advanced technology on the market including closed loop colour control for a perfect match every time and an assortment of preset functions that reduce set-up time.

Hemlock carefully considered many aspects in selecting this new piece of equipment. Ultimately, Hemlock selected this press for the benefits it offered Hemlock’s clients. Although the prospect of designing a ten-colour job is exciting to graphic designers, Hemlock is confident that its clients will benefit most from the press’s one pass productivity. Double-sided printing in a single pass with high quality results means reduced set-up time, reduced running time, reduced press check time and reduced cost – all with the same level of quality that clients expect from Hemlock.

With a convertible aqueous coating unit, H10 enhances Hemlock’s collection of coating presses. Now Hemlock clients can coat their projects on 20”, 29” and two 40” presses, meaning that their jobs can run on multiple machines at once for quick turnaround. Hemlock’s strategic decision to install only Heidelberg presses means that matching colour and quality from press to press is seamless.

Hemlock joins the $200,000 club of the Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Hemlock Printers Ltd., headquartered in Burnaby, BC, recently completed the company’s seventeenth year in the Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay for the Kids. Since 1990, Hemlock employees and their families have raised funds to support the BC Lions Society’s Easter Seal Camping program, which operates 3 B.C. summer camps for children with disabilities. Hemlock’s team, the Hemlock Sprinters, raised over $17,000 for the 2006 event, which happened on June 17th – 18th at Central Park in Burnaby. This puts Hemlock into the 24 Hour Relay’s “$200,000 Club” for reaching this level of funds raised since the team’s inception.

“We are delighted to participate in this annual event. As well as being a major sponsor, we are proud to be in the top 10 all-time fundraisers,” says Dick Kouwenhoven, President & CEO of Hemlock Printers. “I encourage other companies to sign up in support of this worthy cause.”

Hemlock also sponsored the 24 Hour Relay event in Victoria, where Hemlock employees set the stage for a long-term involvement.

Hemlock named Most Environmentally Friendly Printer in Canada

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Hemlock Printers Ltd. (Burnaby, BC) won two awards including Most Environmentally Friendly Printer in Canada at the Environmental Printing Awards, a Youngblood Publishing event, publishers of PrintAction Magazine. The event was held in early February at the Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto. Widely known as an advocate for environmental preservation, the Vancouver-based, family-owned printer also received a silver award for Community Involvement for its one-of-a-kind Off Cuts for Charity program. Having recently been presented with the 2005 Ethics in Action Award for Environmental Excellence, Hemlock continues to be recognized for its commitment to sustainability.

These Environmental Printing Awards compliment the over 120 awards Hemlock has won in the last year for printing excellence. “Although we were ecstatic to be named International Printer of the Year in 2005, we are particularly proud to be recognized by awards that reinforce the importance of environmental sustainability in business,” says Hemlock President & CEO, Dick Kouwenhoven. “Practicing environmentally-friendly printing has always been important to us, but now it’s becoming progressively more important to our clients. We hope these awards will inspire others to join us by reducing their environmental footprint.”

The Environmental Printing Awards recognize companies within the graphic arts industry that have integrated environmentally considerate processes, products and services into their business practices. Hemlock’s initiative in moving the graphic arts industry towards greener practices has positioned the company as a promoter for sustainability. Hemlock’s innovative programs range from recycling used CD jewel-cases, to the more elaborate Off Cuts for Charity program, which provides printing services to qualified charitable organizations by offering space on existing print runs, giving this unused space a second life that benefits the community.

“We are taking action in making the world a better place for future generations. Being recognized for our efforts makes us want to work even harder,” Kouwenhoven says. “We are proof that sustainability is not only good for the environment, it is good for business. That is why we have woven our sustainability goals into our corporate strategy.”

Hemlock is Western Canada’s premier commercial sheetfed printer, competitively offering a full range of services through a main plant and a digital printing division, Hemlock Express, both located in Burnaby, BC. With auxiliary sales offices in Victoria, Seattle, San Francisco and Monterey, Hemlock supports clients throughout North America with a focus on quality, integrity, innovation and professional service.

Proud to be a socially and environmentally responsible company, Hemlock is the first printer in the Pacific Northwest to have obtained Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody certification, and the only printer in Canada to be a member of Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR). Hemlock’s team of talented craftspeople is committed to producing the highest quality results with the lowest environmental impact.

Hemlock wins "Best of the Best" award in international competition

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Hemlock Printers Ltd. (Burnaby, BC) was presented with a ‘Best of the Best’ award in the 31st International Gallery Best of the Best competition, held in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 14th, 2006.
The ‘Best of the Best’ award is an exciting addition to the 64 International Gallery of Superb Printing awards that were presented to Hemlock in the November 2005 competition, sponsored by the International Association of Printing House Craftsmen. Hemlock continues to be Vancouver’s most awarded printer in the International Gallery competition.

‘Best of the Best’ winning projects have been awarded in the general level of competition. From the general level, the projects go through additional rounds of judging by more than four dozen global industry experts. The project selected was the Rick Ryniak Architects Stationery Package, chosen from all winners Internationally in the ‘Envelope’ category. This winning project was printed at Hemlock’s small press division, Hemlock Express and was also awarded with the coveted Benjamin Franklin Printing Award (commonly known as the ‘Benny’) in the 2005 Premier Print Awards competition.

Although this is not the first ‘Best of the Best’ award that Hemlock has been presented with, it is still just as exciting as our first,” says Hemlock President, Dick Kouwenhoven. “We are proud of each individual award that we win. Each one represents a project that the Hemlock team puts the utmost care into. We are fortunate to have a staff of craftspeople that is committed to achieving the highest quality results, always.”

Hemlock Printers takes corporate social responsibility to a higher level

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Hemlock employees raise over $33,000 for the Burnaby Christmas Bureau.

Hemlock Printers Ltd., headquartered in Burnaby, BC, is proud of its strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) culture. Recently honoured with an Ethics in Action Award for Environmental Excellence, Hemlock is well recognized for their efforts at making their business more sustainable. But the commitment goes beyond just the environment, Hemlock firmly believes in giving back to the community that has supported their business for 38 years. A group of Hemlock employees formed a committee in the year 2000 and in six years, have raised over $33,000 to support the Burnaby Christmas Bureau.

The Burnaby Christmas Bureau ensures that financially disadvantaged families will not go without food and children will not go without toys during the holiday season. Hemlock’s committee plans a variety of events to raise funds in support of the Bureau, including 50/50 draws, bake sales, a silent auction and a coin drive. Hemlock employees willingly participate in these events and were able to raise $8,748 in 2005 to help brighten the holiday season for over 1,400 Burnaby families who counted on the Christmas Bureau this past year.

We are fortunate to have a staff that is committed to Hemlock’s CSR culture,” says Hemlock’s President, Dick Kouwenhoven. “Our employees have adopted this important charity, and for 6 years now, have donated selflessly to help families in our community. I am proud of their thoughtful initiative.”

Earthquake Days book wins Hemlock Award

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Hundred year-old stereographic (3-D) images reproduced with the most modern printing technology of today.

Hemlock Printers Ltd., headquartered in Burnaby, BC, used the most modern and innovative printing technology of today to produce the award-winning “Earthquake Days – The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake & Fire in 3-D” book, published by Faultline Books. The book is the first “coffee-table” style book to be produced on the subject, featuring 3-D stereographic images. It has been produced in recognition of the upcoming 100th Anniversary of this tragic event, which literally shook the city of San Francisco on April 18th, 1906.

“It is very interesting to print a book depicting a major world tragedy in a 100-year-old technology, that is reproduced using the most modern technology in printing today,” says Hemlock’s President, Dick Kouwenhoven. “We were honoured to have been involved in the production of this book.”

The “Earthquake Days” book was chosen as the November Hemlock Award Winner. The Hemlock Awards recognize the technical excellence, degree of difficulty and overall impact of a project as voted by the Hemlock staff. “Earthquake Days” was awarded from all jobs produced in the month of November.

The 1906 earthquake destroyed 508 city blocks and left 200,000 “City-By-The-Bay” citizens homeless. The book contains haunting stereographic images of the city before, during and after this catastrophic event. The century-old technology of stereo photography, which was seen as a modern technology of its time, allows the viewer to see images in 3-D using a pair of viewing glasses, which accompany the book.

The book’s author, David Burkhart, presents a stunning visual walk through the calamitous events in San Francisco on April 18th, 19th and 20th, 1906. Mr. Burkhart envisioned the book printed by a credible company that used the most modern print technologies. He contacted Hemlock’s Bay-area sales office, and selected them for their passion for quality and their integrity in colour and image reproduction. The book was printed using stochastic screening technology, which produces incredibly high level of quality and detailed reproduction of the stereo photographs, lithographs and newspapers of that time. Hemlock worked closely with Burkhart to prepare and test multiple scenarios on-press before beginning live production. The book can be purchased on-line.

Hemlock Printers wins highest global honour in printing

Mon, 24 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Hemlock Printers Ltd., headquartered in Burnaby, BC, was honoured with an International Printer of the Year Award for General Print this past Friday in Shanghai, China. Previously awarded with two gold medals in the North American Printer of the Year competition, Hemlock moved onto the International division to compete against 34 finalists in 10 categories. Hemlock is one of two North American printers to receive International awards, and the only Canadian printer represented in the competition.

“We were honoured to be recognized in Shanghai amongst the most innovative and progressive printers in the world,” said Hemlock President, Dick Kouwenhoven. “This prestigious award belongs to our whole team of craftspeople. It’s their skill and attention to detail that makes the difference.”

The Sappi Printer of the Year competition is the only global honour of its kind to recognize excellence in printing craftsmanship and design. The entries were critiqued based on the overall impact of the piece, the degree of difficulty, and the technical excellence. Hemlock was awarded for a stunning brochure promoting the “Yangtze Remembered” book of photographs, for which Hemlock won a gold award at the North American level of competition.

This honour was the second in a winning week for Hemlock. The company was awarded with an Ethics in Action Awards in Environmental Excellence on October 19th. “This week’s awards reinforce what we are trying to achieve as a company. Our goal is to print the highest quality product with the lowest environmental impact,” said Kouwenhoven. “Our efforts are being recognized and that makes us feel great.”

Hemlock Printers wins 2005 Ethics in Action Award

Thu, 20 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Hemlock Printers Ltd. was honoured last night, with an Ethics in Action™ award in the Environmental Excellence category (www.ethicsinaction.com). The Ethics in Action™ Awards celebrate businesses and individuals whose commitment to corporate social responsibility has a positive impact on the community. The announcement was made at a dinner event yesterday, held at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel.

“This achievement makes us incredibly proud,” says Richard Kouwenhoven, Chair of Hemlock’s Sustainability Committee, and son of President and CEO, Dick Kouwenhoven. “We were honoured to be named a finalist, but to win amongst such fine competition is overwhelming! The other finalist in our category, Hewlett Packard Canada, is a large corporation. This just goes to show that both big and small businesses can make changes to their corporate cultures. We can all become more sustainable if we put our hearts and minds into it.”

Ethics in Action Award, Richard KouwenhovenHemlock, a family-owned business, has a long-standing history of environmental awareness and corporate social responsibility. Becoming the first printer in the Pacific Northwest to obtain Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody Certification, and the first printer in Canada to sign an Ancient Forest Friendly policy with Markets Initiative, Hemlock hopes that more printers will follow.

“Since we’re right in the middle of the supply chain, we try to use our influence to advance sustainable practices in our clients, our suppliers, and the print industry as a whole,” says Kouwenhoven. “Ultimately we hope sustainability will become a standard business practice in the printing industry.”

Hemlock Printers named finalist in 2005 Ethics in Action Awards

Thu, 15 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Hemlock Printers Ltd. has been named a finalist in the Environmental Excellence category in the 2005 Ethics in Action™ Awards. The Ethics in Action™ Awards celebrates businesses and individuals whose commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility has a positive impact on the community.

“We are honoured to be recognized by Ethics in Action,” says President and CEO, Dick Kouwenhoven . “It’s great encouragement for our employees who are actively involved in reducing the size of Hemlock’s environmental footprint. I am proud of our accomplishments to date, and I envision a future of continual improvements to both our environmental and social performance.”

Although Hemlock, as a family-owned business, has a long-standing history of environmental awareness, in 2004 the company became more proactive in its commitment to sustainability. It formed a Sustainability Committee made up of fourteen dedicated employees with the goal of improving the company’s own environmental performance and contributing to the introduction of sustainable business practices in a resource-dependent industry. As a result Hemlock has made, and continues to make, many changes and improvements in its operations. In May 2004, Hemlock obtained Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody Certification. And, recently Environment Canada recognized Hemlock’s environmental efforts as a Pollution Prevention Success Story.

“Of course we would like to take home an Ethics in Action Award, but we hope that if nothing else, we inspire other printers in the marketplace to join us in adopting sustainable practices and improving the overall environmental performance of the printing industry.” says Kouwenhoven. The awards will be presented in Vancouver on October 19th, 2005.

Hemlock wins top awards in international print competition

Mon, 15 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Hemlock Printers Ltd., headquartered in Burnaby, BC, was awarded top honours in the 56th annual Premier Print Awards, the world’s largest and most prestigious print competition. This year, with over 5,200 submissions from printers worldwide, Hemlock received a grand total of 43 awards, bringing their Premier Print Awards total to over 200 in the last five years. Among this year’s count were two Best of Division awards, three environmental awards and two top honours - the coveted Benjamin Franklin awards for Best in Category. Hemlock will be presented with the awards in early September, at the gala event in Chicago, hosted by the Printing Industries of America (PIA).

“To printers, winning a ‘Benny’ is like bringing home an Oscar,” says Hemlock President, Dick Kouwenhoven. “We’ve received 18 Benny’s over the years. They all reinforce our efforts to produce the best possible job, regardless of the specifications.”

LensWork Magazine, Issue No. 56 was awarded with the Benny in the Magazine category. “I do not know of any printer who can print black and white photographs better than Hemlock,” says Brooks Jensen, Editor LensWork Publishing. “Hemlock's reproductions are so true to original fine art black and white gelatin silver gallery prints that it can be a challenge to determine which is better in side-by-side comparisons.”

The Benny in the Stationery Category was awarded for the Rick Ryniack Architecture stationery package, which consists of the traditional stationery items, as well as a captivating brochure featuring some of the elaborate homes for which the architect is known. The stationery package was printed at Hemlock’s small press division, Hemlock Express.

“I am even more proud of the three awards that we were presented with in the Environmentally Sound Materials category, new to the competition this year. We are continually working to educate our clients about sustainable options in printing. That this education has resulted in award-winning work is extremely gratifying.”

Hemlock Printers wins double Gold at the 2005 Sappi North American Printer of the Year Competition

Wed, 15 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Hemlock Printers Ltd., headquartered in Burnaby, BC, was honoured with two gold medals at the 2005 Sappi North American Printer of the Year competition, held in Quebec City on June 4th. Hemlock competed with 47 silver finalists from over 2100 entries throughout North America to win two of eight possible gold medals. Hemlock will move on to the International Printer of the Year Competition to be held this Fall in Shanghai, China, where it will be the only Canadian printer to compete against the world’s best. In the preliminary voting, Hemlock was recognized in half of the categories in the Western Division, winning four Silver awards.

“It is a great honour to be recognized in such a prestigious competition,” says Hemlock President, Dick Kouwenhoven. “Our talented team of craftspeople take extreme pride in the work that they do, and they will be delighted when we arrive back in Burnaby with not one, but two gold awards.”

The Sappi Printer of the Year competition is the only global honour of its kind to recognize excellence in printing craftsmanship and design. The entries were critiqued based on the overall impact of the piece, the degree of difficulty, and the technical excellence. “The importance of the quality of print should never be under-estimated,” says Jonathan Leslie, Sappi Ltd. CEO.

Hemlock was awarded a gold medal in the books category for a stunning book of photographs by Linda Butler entitled, “The Yangtze Remembered” published by Stanford University Press. The second gold recognized Hemlock’s immaculate work on a promotional booklet for the same project. “The Yangtze Remembered” includes over 100 duotone reproductions of Butler’s photographs. Both projects demonstrate Hemlock’s skill with colour separation, retouching and reproduction. The Sappi judges commented that the piece was “as close to continuous tone printing as possible.”

“This project represents more to us than ink on paper,” says Kouwenhoven. “The Yangtze Remembered captures images of a place that can never again be visited. It is a piece of history. It seems only right that we have the chance to take this project to the international competition in China.”

HemlockPrinters is featured as an Environment Canada - Canadian Pollution Prevention Sucess Story

Tue, 15 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Hemlock Printers is pleased to have been approached by the Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention, to be part of the Environment Canada - Canadian Pollution Prevention Success Story column, published on Environment Canada's website.

Hemlock is an socially and environmentally responsible company, and we are continually working to reduce our environmental impact. We are proud of our achievements to date, and we look forward further improvements.

Please click here to read the story.

Hemlock Printers is pleased to announce appointments to Management Team

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0800

Dick Kouwenhoven, President & CEO of Hemlock Printers Ltd. (Burnaby, BC) and the Hemlock Management Team are pleased to announce the following appointments:

Jeff Taylor will assume the responsibility for all day-to-day operational aspects of our company as General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. With an extensive career in both print and pre-press services, Jeff joined Hemlock in February 1998 as Vice President of Manufacturing. His leadership and vision in this position saw our company grow in capabilities to enhance the value we provide to our many clients. In his new function, Jeff will focus on maintaining our position as the leading supplier of exceptional quality printed products and bringing new and innovative additional services to our markets.

Reporting to Jeff, Dave Wiens will assume the role of Director of Manufacturing. Dave’s career has included supervisory and management roles in the printing industry in British Columbia and we welcomed him to Hemlock in 2002. His well-rounded experience, and his strong people skills bring much strength to Hemlock’s extensive Burnaby based printing plants.

Please join all of us at Hemlock in congratulating Jeff and Dave on these important steps. Please do not hesitate to contact any member of our management team for any further information: Dick Kouwenhoven, President & CEO, Frits Kouwenhoven, VP Hemlock USA Sales, Chris White, VP Finance & CFO, Peter Madliger, VP Prepress, Jeff Taylor, GM & COO.

Hemlock Printers is proud to introduce our latest sustainable initiative

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0800

In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development composed a definition of sustainability:

“meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

At Hemlock, we are dedicated to the promotion of innovative business practices that minimize our impact on the environment. We are working to provide an inspiring and equitable workplace for all stakeholders while becoming a resource and advocate for a better world. We are committed to sustainability.

One of our most recent sustainable initiatives was the redesign of the chipboard liners that we insert into the top and bottom of all of our cartons in order to protect the product. Previously, these liners were made from virgin cardboard. In keeping with our commitment, the liners are now printed on waste makeready paper, using waste inks and waste coating. This project will save 23,000 lbs of paper per year – that is 123 trees saved!

Savings:

123 Trees Saved
73,856 Pounds of Wood Reduced
22,371 Pounds of Landfill Reduced
60,564 Net Greenhouse Emissions
421,198 Btu's of Energy Reduced (000)

Hemlock Printers is Vancouvers most awarded printer in this year

Tue, 09 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0800

Hemlock Printers Ltd. (Burnaby, BC) is proud to announce another victory at the 30th annual International Gallery of Superb Printing awards. Competing with companies from all over the world, Hemlock was honoured with 48 awards – making Hemlock Vancouver’s most awarded printer in this year’s competition. Hemlock was presented with the awards at a gala dinner held in late October, sponsored by the Vancouver Club of Printing House Craftsmen.

The International Gallery awards are judged on the basis of the entry’s quality and the difficulty of the graphic arts process used. Picking up 17 Gold awards, 19 Silver, 8 Bronze and 4 Honourable Mentions is a true testament to Hemlock’s ability to produce highly complex, top quality work. Winning 18 more awards than any other local printer, Hemlock’s skilled craftspeople prove once again that they truly are the best of what Vancouver has to offer, and they take extreme pride in what they do.

Two of Hemlock’s own promotional pieces were awarded this year. “Tools of the Forgotten Art”, a limited edition correspondence kit containing specialty note cards, envelopes and a designer pen presented in a reusable tin box, was recognized with a Gold award. Awarded a Silver was “Canada from Eh to Zed”, a collection of Canadian flavoured flash cards designed for Hemlock’s sponsorship of the AIGA conference that was held in Vancouver last year.

Hemloock Printers receives 16 awards in Applied Arts Design & Advertising Annual competition

Mon, 13 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Hemlock Printers Ltd. (Burnaby, BC) is proud to announce its achievements at the 13th Applied Arts Design & Advertising Annual awards competition. The competition, sponsored by Canada’s visual communications magazine, Applied Arts, is open to international submissions in graphic design, digital media design, advertising and printing. The awards recognize pieces that exhibit creative merit, technical execution & suitability for intended end use. Hemlock was honoured with an outstanding 16 awards in this year’s competition, bringing their total to 58 awards in the last 5 years of participation.

Hemlock was presented with awards in multiple categories including Annual Reports, Brochures & Catalogues, Promotional Materials, Magazines, Books and Stationery Packages, proving their extensive abilities in a variety of printing applications. All winning pieces will be showcased in the Design & Advertising Annual to be published in January 2005.

Hemlock Printers introduces Dan Brennan as the newest addition to the Sales Team

Tue, 07 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Burnaby, British Columbia – The management of Hemlock Printers Ltd. is pleased to announce that Dan Brennan has joined the sales team in the Burnaby location, as of September 7th, 2004. Dan started out his career in sales with a national book wholesaler in BC and Yukon, and has been involved in print sales in Ontario for the past year. With an education in graphic design, Dan’s experience and knowledge makes him an asset to the Hemlock team.

Dan is excited about developing strong relationships with his clients, through his team-based approach to sales. His expertise and dedication ensure that he will assist in promoting Hemlock’s competitive abilities in all aspects of high quality lithographic printing, from prepress through to distribution.

Hemlock is honoured with a top award in worldwide print competition

Thu, 26 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Hemlock Printers Ltd. (Burnaby, BC) is proud to announce its success at the 55th annual Premier Print Awards, the world’s largest and most prestigious competition honouring excellence in print. This year, with over 4400 submissions from printers all over the world, Hemlock brought home 28 awards, including a top award, the coveted Benjamin Franklin award for Best in Category.

The “Benny”, known as the Oscar of the printing industry, is testimony to the high quality of work produced by Hemlock Printers. This year’s outstanding achievement brings Hemlock to a total of 16 Bennys in this worldwide competition, hosted by North America’s largest graphic arts association, the Printing Industries of America (PIA).

Hemlock’s own promotional piece, “Tools of the Forgotten Art”, a limited edition correspondence kit containing specialty note cards, envelopes and a designer pen presented in a reusable tin box, was recognized with the “Benny” award. This piece is a nostalgic reflection on the art of letter writing, which is so often replaced by forms of communication such as email or voicemail.

Hemlock also received a Best of Division award for the “One Harbour Green” real estate brochure and in addition was presented with 4 Awards of Recognition, and 22 Certificates of Merit.

Neenah Paper joins forces with Hemlock Printers to promote environmental responsibility

Thu, 10 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0700

This partnership signals the inncreasing popularity of recycled papers.
ROSWELL, Ga. - To promote the use of recycled papers, Neenah Paper announces a partnership with Hemlock Printers of Burnaby, British Columbia, which has recently received chain-of-custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). As a result of this partnership, Hemlock Printers will help promote Neenah Paper’s recycled ENVIRONMENT® Brand as a preferred line of products.

“Sustainability is a highly important topic,” said Dick Kouwenhoven, president of Hemlock Printers. “Many clients are looking for a proven method to reduce their footprint on the environment, such as using recycled papers. And, of course, FSC-certification plays a major role in that.”

Chain-of-custody certification applies to companies that produce or trade forest products, including printers and paper manufacturers. It assures that the companies’ products — such as the ENVIRONMENT® Brand from Neenah Paper — come from well-managed forests, according to FSC’s internationally recognized standards.

Neenah Paper also received chain-of-custody certification in 2003 for this brand of papers, which applies to the colors White and Ultra Bright White. FSC-certified paper must contain a minimum of 17.5 percent FSC content and 82.5 percent post consumer content.

“American businesses have latched onto a growing environmental trend — and for good reason,” says Gerry Rector, senior product development manager, Neenah Paper. “By using recycled papers, they’re helping to conserve resources such as trees, water and energy, and limit the production of greenhouse gases. What is even better is that this can now be easily accomplished while using papers that are economically priced and are available in a variety of color options.”

For further information about Neenah Paper, visit the company’s website at www.neenahpaper.com or call 1-800-558-5061 and press “5.”

Neenah Paper is the leading manufacturer of premium uncoated writing, text and cover papers marketed under the CLASSIC®, ENVIRONMENT®, NEENAH®, UV/ULTRA® II, and other fine brand names. Established in 1873, Neenah Paper is a sector of Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

Hemlock Printers welcomes Janet Speer to the Sales Team

Tue, 01 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Burnaby, British Columbia – Hemlock Printers Ltd. is pleased to announce that Janet Speer has joined the Vancouver sales group effective April 5, 2004. Janet brings over 24 years of experience in the prepress and printing industry to Hemlock Printers.

Janet has vast experience working with the design and print community in Vancouver, and comes highly recommended. Her addition to the sales force promises to benefit Hemlock’s strong team. Janet looks forward to working with Canada’s most awarded printer, and helping to promote Hemlock’s abilities in high quality sheetfed printing for a variety of markets. Janet’s expertise, combined with Hemlock’s competitive capabilities will prove to be a winning combination.

Hemlock Printers obtains Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)� Certification

Mon, 31 May 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Burnaby, British Columbia – Hemlock Printers Ltd. is privileged to announce that they are the first printer in the Pacific Northwest to receive the chain-of-custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)®.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)® is an international, non-profit organization founded in 1993 to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. FSC® certified forests are responsibly managed according to set standards. The goal is to improve forest conservation and reduce deforestation. Through chain-of-custody review, the source of a wood product is verified and tracked through productions into its final state. These products are labeled with a FSC® logo, guaranteeing the consumer that the product they receive is credible and comes from a well-managed forest. For more information on FSC®, please visit www.fsc.org.

FSC® is recognized as the most rigorous and credible forest certification system internationally. Hemlock Printers’ processes and standards were thoroughly audited by KPMG Forest Services in order to qualify for this certification. In a time where the environment is one of the most precious, yet most endangered resources, Hemlock feels it is important to take action and be responsible for their part in the process. As there is huge public concern about the destruction of the world's forests, consumers are demanding products that are environmentally responsible, and through FSC®, Hemlock can proudly provide this.

“Sustainability is a highly important topic,” said Dick Kouwenhoven, president of Hemlock Printers. “Many clients are looking for a proven method to reduce their footprint on the environment, such as using recycled papers. And, of course, FSC®-certification plays a major role in that.”

Hemlock Printers Ltd News

Hemlock Expands Digital Capacity to Support Market Growth

Hemlock Named Canada's Most Environmentally Progressive Printer At First Annual Canadian Printing Awards

Hemlock recognized at Green Living's Inaugural Excellence In Corporate Responsibility Awards

Hemlock Wins Gold at Sappi North American Printer of the Year Competition

Hemlock Receives G7 Master Printer Qualification

Seismic Market Change and Service Innovation Motivates Brand Shift for Hemlock Printers

Maegan Thomson joins Hemlock

-30- Media contact: Doug Climie VP Sales & Marketing doug@hemlock.com 604.439.5004

Donna Cameron joins Hemlock's Sales Team

Hemlock Printers Launches hPad at Open House

Sales and Marketing Expansion

Hemlock Delivers With Canada's First 100% Electric Trucks

Hemlock releases 2009 Environmental Report

Hemlock wins digital printing gold award at the Sappi North American printer of the year competition.

Hemlock Named Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada for Fifth Consecutive Year

Announcing the Jim Rimmer Community Scholarship for Design

The Society of Graphic Designers – BC Mainland Chapter and Hemlock Printers Ltd. announce prestigious scholarship for design students

Hemlock Reaches Zero; Promotes Carbon Neutral Printing

Hemlock recognized at Burnaby Business Excellence Awards

Hemlock first Canadian printer to achieve carbon neutrality

Company also receives International 2008 Heidelberg Eco Printing Award for Most Sustainable Printing Company

Hemlock Named Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada for 4th Consecutive Year

Hemlock releases 2008 Environmental Report

Hemlock scores a hat-trick for the environment

Hemlock named Most Environmentally Progressive Printer in Canada

Hemlock congratulates the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada on the issue of their 50th anniversary stamp

Hemlock installs state-of-the-art 10 colour press

Hemlock joins the $200,000 club of the Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay

Hemlock named Most Environmentally Friendly Printer in Canada

Hemlock wins "Best of the Best" award in international competition

Hemlock Printers takes corporate social responsibility to a higher level

Earthquake Days book wins Hemlock Award

Hemlock Printers wins highest global honour in printing

Hemlock Printers wins 2005 Ethics in Action Award

Hemlock Printers named finalist in 2005 Ethics in Action Awards

Hemlock wins top awards in international print competition

Hemlock Printers wins double Gold at the 2005 Sappi North American Printer of the Year Competition

HemlockPrinters is featured as an Environment Canada - Canadian Pollution Prevention Sucess Story

Hemlock Printers is pleased to announce appointments to Management Team

Hemlock Printers is proud to introduce our latest sustainable initiative

Hemlock Printers is Vancouvers most awarded printer in this year

Hemloock Printers receives 16 awards in Applied Arts Design & Advertising Annual competition

Hemlock Printers introduces Dan Brennan as the newest addition to the Sales Team

Hemlock is honoured with a top award in worldwide print competition

Neenah Paper joins forces with Hemlock Printers to promote environmental responsibility

Hemlock Printers welcomes Janet Speer to the Sales Team

Hemlock Printers obtains Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)� Certification

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Media contact: Doug Climie
VP Sales & Marketing
doug@hemlock.com
604.439.5004