Printing Industries of America - News and Updates

My Interest in Pinterest Started Decades Ago with a Band Aid Box!

mgarnett@printing.org — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:20:35 +0000

A childhood friend, Janie, and I exchanged metal bandage boxes when we were six years old. What does that have to do with Pinterest? Stay with me, please. We exchanged the metal boxes filled with “goodies” that we liked to share. My box might contain glittered fabric, a Cracker Jack toy, a picture of a pretty doll from the Sears Toy Catalog etc. (Yes, I am dating myself.) Janie’s box might contain a plastic purse for Barbie, a picture of a Lego set etc. The boxes evolved into scrapbooks, then charm bracelets and as adults—magazine clippings, photo albums, and scrapbooks. Get it?

Kids, aging kids and I like to show “mine” if you show “yours.” So now we have a very sophisticated “show me” tool called Pinterest. When 11 million unique visitors visit a site, you know that it is meeting some basic need…the “show me” need. People have a lot of time on their hands since Business Insider reported that nearly 100 minutes is the average on the site versus just 19 minutes on LinkedIn. The numbers are staggering. On the Business Insider comment section, people questioned the number of recent articles about Pinterest. The comments suggested that Pinterest and the magazine have a mutual financial investment. BI stated emphatically “no.” The Pinterest articles are everywhere so, this social media dabbler, checked it out.

Through Tweetdeck I mentioned that I was interested and received several invites (needed to use Pinterest). When questioned about its value, the comments were mixed. I jumped into Pinterest enthusiastically.

Conclusion: It was fun! Really fun….my childhood memories and “show me” need resurfaced immediately. I spent time….not 100 minutes….but more time than normal, checking it out. OK, so I slipped into the bath pics since that is one of my top-of-mind home projects. Wait, wait! What about work and business and my role to find profitable revenue activities and streams for our members? OK, from a work- related point of view, I say “monitor” this site. I have seen and heard of clever ideas for Pinterest’s use such as: designers’ projects and special printing campaigns uploaded for browsing; job seekers portfolios; photographers’ pictures. Other issues related to copyright and use are also cropping up such as from for-sale stock photo companies claiming “foul.” There are no businesses that are immune to the impact of new upstarts on the Internet! Are they making money? The Wall Street Journal article says it all, “The Rite of Web Passage—Huge Traffic, No Revenue.” Wait and see on revenue—the referrals to products from the Pins have increased tremendously. Advertisers are claiming more from Pinterest than other social media sites. Outsiders value the upstart at $200 million now. Targeted advertising is all the rage. So, if I start getting bathtub ads as a result of viewing Pinterest “pins,” we will have further evidence of how the revenue stream to advertisers will emerge. Don’t check out my pins, though--just don’t have the 100 minutes time to develop boards for review--yet. My “show me” need is not as strong as “get it done” need for work, family, and life.

Check out the Wall Street Journal article: http://prnt.in/ZgH Or the over 70 million entries about Pinterest. http://pinterest.com/ Here is one of the Business Insider articles: http://prnt.in/ZgV about the growth of Pinterest.

Let me know what you think! Mary Garnett

Printing Consistent Color

lerdner@printing.org — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:55:30 +0000

Printing Consistent Color

More and more printers are implementing the G7® specification and color management while profiling their monitors, proofing devices, and printing presses. There is no doubt that this process works, providing accurate, predictable color from proof to press. What should not be overlooked, however, is the notion of maintaining consistent color balance throughout the pressrun. Have you ever had a customer fan out a job, revealing that the colors don’t match from sheet to sheet (as close as possible) to the last sheet of a pressrun?

Maintaining consistent color throughout a pressrun is a difficult task. The press operator must maintain a multitude of print variables at any given time; things like ink density, dot gain, gray balance, and print contrast, to name just a few. More often than not, these jobs are being printed on less-than-desirable paper stock, further complicating the process.

The ability to maintain consistent color of images during the pressrun begins with the color separation process. Image conversion, that is, changing images from an RGB of LAB to a CMYK color space, is not as simple as a mode change in Photoshop. Considerations must be made for ink, paper, and the condition of the press, to name just a few.

To read the complete Tech Talk Paper, download the PDF by clicking on the following link: DPC Tech Talk/February 2012.

You can also learn more about achieving consistent color through Printing Industries of America’s G7 Certification Training Programs. Click on the links below to learn more.

G7 Digital Operator Training Program
April 17–18, 2012 in Pittsburgh, PA
Presented by Printing Industries of America, a training program endorsed by IDEAlliance

G7 Offset Operator Training Program
June 14–15, 2012 in Pittsburgh, PA
Presented by Printing Industries of America, a training program endorsed by IDEAlliance

G7 Expert/Professional Training
June 11–13 in Pittsburgh, PA
Hosted by Printing Industries of America and Presented by IDEAlliance
Please call 800-910-4283, ext. 731 for more information and to register for this program.

It’s All About the Experience

lerdner@printing.org — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:20:34 +0000

The LPIA Technical Institute has one mission—to provide a world-class experience that surpasses any other like it in the label converting, packaging, top-sheet, and product decoration industry. This year, we will feature two state-of-the art venues that will expertly cover the latest technological advances and end-to-end production and workflow solutions. This is not your typical “stand and deliver” program, but a mixture of industry-related experts who will deliver content that is then supported by application showcases and innovative technology demonstrations firsthand.

The HP Experience Center is “your center, your success!” This center is tailored to ensure a truly world-class experience that’s all about you. The HP Experience Center is focused on providing valuable insight on digital printing technologies and workflows that provide higher-impact solutions for their customer needs.

The Heidelberg North American Print and Packaging Technology Center will delve into traditional methods from prepress through finishing, as well as new technology and tactics. Andy Thomas, Editor, Label & Labeling magazine, will give a global perspective on the market and give insight on the new technology that will be featured in the first-ever packaging printer zone at Labelexpo America.

Join us and experience the LPIA Technical Institute for yourself! For more information, visit www.printing.org/lpiati.

Participate in the Quarterly Print Market Survey—deadline is February 24

kgrady@printing.org — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:58:28 +0000

Participate in the Fourth Quarter Print Market Survey and receive a free copy of the Year-End Print Market Update.

This quarter we focus on current and expected business conditions and Non-Print Ancillary Value-Added Services.

We value your feedback and hope you are able to take 10 minutes to complete this survey. As a thank-you for your time we will email you a free copy of the results. All information will be kept completely confidential and no information regarding your firm will be released.

Please submit your survey by Friday, February 24. To complete the survey, click on the following link: http://prnt.in/ZgQ.

Make Your Hotel Reservations for the TAGA Conference by February 16

kgrady@printing.org — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:11:42 +0000

Are you planning to attend the 64th Annual TAGA Technical Conference March 18–21, 2012, at The Hyatt Regency Hotel—Jacksonville, in Jacksonville, Florida? If so, you need to book your hotel reservations by Thursday, February 16.

With no additional rooms in the hotel left outside of the TAGA room block, it is vital that you reserve your space today.

Click here to make your hotel reservation or call 800-233-1234—use the room block PIAG or TAGA.

If you have questions, please contact Elise Cohen at ecohen@printing.org, 800-910-4283 ext. 713, or 412-259-1713.

Learn more about the 2012 TAGA Conference by downloading the conference brochure or visit ww.printing.org/tagaconf.

February 26–March 3 is Prepress Week

kgrady@printing.org — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:43:50 +0000

To show your prepress team that you value their hard work and dedication, purchase an Employee Recognition Award today.

Give Recognition to Your Press Team
Utilize our Employee Recognition Programto award your staff with the following:

Certificate of Achievement—three certificates are available under this category, including production, administrative, and management
Length of Service Certificate—celebrating 5, 10, 15, or 20 years of service
25-Year Congratulatory Certificate
Customized Recognition Weeks
Wallet Cards—back by popular demand!

These awards are a simple, cost-effective way to reward your employees for their commitment and dedication.

For more information, visit www.printing.org/erp or contact Jim Kyger at 202-730-7968

Student activities at the TAGA conference

csenay@printing.org — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:37:56 +0000

The following post was written by Martin Habekost, Associate Professor, School of Graphic Communications Management, Ryerson University.

Every year industry professionals and students gather for the annual technical conference of TAGA. In the weeks leading up to the conference, students spend countless hours in preparing their own journal of student research papers. This publication is entered into the Helmut Kipphan student publication competition where students from all the participating TAGA student chapters compete for the grand prize, the Helmut Kipphan Cup. During the last couple of years, between eight and nine student chapters from North America and Europe competed for this prestigious award.

There are also other competitions happening during the conference. Students can compete for the Harvey Levenson undergraduate and Dusty Rhodes graduate student research paper competitions. This is an individual competition and the winner of each competition gets the opportunity to present their paper at “Student brunch,” which takes place on Sunday morning of the conference.

The “Student brunch” is another student-related activity at the conference. Students from the various chapters meet for the first time. Those who are coming for their second or third time to the conference get to see old friends again. Very quickly the students mix and mingle and get to know each other. In the course of the conference a sense of camaraderie develops, although they all compete against each other for the grand prize.

Another student-only activity is the student dinner on Monday evening of the conference. During this dinner the student chapter closest to the conference location has to organize some activities that help them understand better what TAGA is about and how it is a benefit to be in this organization after they have left university.

Of course there are all kinds of other activities happening after the official part of the conference has ended, which helps students from various student chapters connect with each other and make new friends.

For more information about Student activities, visit www.taga.org/students.

Save the Date for the Teachers Update

kgrady@printing.org — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:54:02 +0000

Printing Industries of America is proud to host the 2012 GASC/Printing Industries of America Teacher’s Update. The Teacher’s Update will be held at Printing Industries global headquarters in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, July 16–20, 2012. This one-week program is the ideal opportunity to get out of the classroom and learn from industry experts.

What will you learn?

Attendees are given an understanding of new technologies in education, training, and retraining needs that can be carried out into the classroom. Both classroom and laboratory sessions in Printing Industries production facility will highlight the latest equipment and cutting-edge technology.

Who should attend?

Only those who receive funding can attend the Teacher’s Update. Fill out the funding application before April 23, 2012 to find out if you are qualified.*

For further information about the 2012 GASC/Printing Industries of America’s Teacher Programs, visit < href="http://www.printing.org/training">www.printing.org/trainingand click on the Teacher Programs headline.

*Please note: If you wish to receive funding for the 2012 GASC/Printing Industries of America Teachers Conference, October 6-8, 2012, you must send in your funding application by the April 23 deadline.

Register for the 2012 Vision 3 Summit!

kgrady@printing.org — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:27:13 +0000

VISION 3 SUMMIT TO DEMONSTATE THE POWER OF PRINT

Attendees to Learn the Facts on the Sustainability and Effectiveness of Print in Today's Communications Mix

Reston, VA - Even in this age of electronic options, print remains the backbone of business communication. Despite some uninformed naysayers, it also is sustainable, renewable, recyclable, and highly effective. Attendees at the Vision 3 Summit, coming February 19-22, 2012 to the Marco Island Marriott in Marco Island, Florida will have the opportunity to hear more about the power and sustainability of print, and also how to more effectively promote print to their customers.

"The graphic communications industry must champion not only the effectiveness of print but also our industry's commitment to sustainability," said Michael Makin, CEO of Printing Industries of America, who will moderate the Power of Print Panel Discussion on day two of the conference. "While print is both highly effective and very sustainable, it can also complement and enhance the evolving array of electronic communications."

Panelists for the session will include Ben Cooper, executive director of the Print Council, Bob Lindgren, president of Printing Industries Association of Southern California, and Kerry Stackpole, president of the Printing & Graphics Association MidAtlantic.

In his role as executive director, Cooper has led the Print Council in building the industry's first print marketing alliance. Under Lindgren's leadership, the Southern California association created and launched the highly successful "Choose Print" campaign. Stackpole is the architect of the "Print Grows Trees" education campaign.

Augmenting the Power of Print Panel Discussion will be a "Why Print is Sustainable" presentation by Gary Jones, Printing Industries of America assistant VP of Environmental, Health, and Safety Affairs. "You need to know not only what to say about print, but how to say it so that it resonates with your customers," said Jones. "You must also know the vehicles available to market the value of print, and the resources you can use to promote print as a sustainable communications medium."

The Vision 3 Summit is sponsored by NAPL, NPES and Printing Industries of America. For complete information about the Vision 3 Summit, and to register, visit: www.vision3summit.org. For conference updates and news, follow the Vision 3 Summit community online at: Facebook.com/Vision3Summit and twitter.com/Vision3Summit.

About NAPL
Chartered in 1933, the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) is a not-for-profit business management association representing companies in the $100 billion graphic communications industry. NAPL's comprehensive slate of business-building solutions provides company leaders with management tools that enable them to make informed business decisions in an ever-changing market environment. For more information on NAPL or its affiliated association, NAQP visit: www.napl.org or phone: 800/642-6275.

About NPES
NPES is a U.S. trade association representing more than 400 companies that manufacture and distribute equipment, software and supplies used across the workflow of printing, publishing and converting processes. NPES is a co-sponsor of the international PRINT show and GRAPH EXPO-the largest and most comprehensive prepress, printing, converting, package printing, binding and finishing, mailing and fulfillment, and offset and digital equipment trade show and conference in the Americas. For complete information about the association, its programs and member companies visit: www.npes.org or phone: 703/264-7200.

About Printing Industries of America
Printing Industries of America is the world's largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with more than one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. Together with its nationwide affiliate network, Printing Industries of America delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information. For complete information about the association, its programs and member companies visit: www.printing.org or phone: 800/910-4283.

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Does Anyone Print Valentines in 2012? In the US?

mgarnett@printing.org — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:02:14 +0000

Today a WSJ article grabbed my attention, it described a new e-valentine service called Paperless Post . See http://prnt.in/ZYK With an estimate of 150 million paper valentines, the e-valentines are now available to impact the second largest card holiday in theUS. The article raves about the ability to create a “paper-like experience.” I checked out the quality of the visuals on the site—very nice. A few YouTube videos, demo how to use the site to create the cards for free. The Hirschfeld founders raised more than $6 million from angel investors to start this venture. In December 2011, over six million pieces were sent. There is both free e-cards and pay e-cards. The average cost for a card is 19 cents, up from 13 cents last year. No postage is involved and the card is personalized. Good margins if you can get them! Is there any good news in the encroachment of another area of the card printing business? The only thing I could think of was that the founders are Americans who are hiring graphic designers. Is there any good news here for US print markets in cards?

2012 Harry V. Quadracci VISION Award Call for Nominations Now Open

kgrady@printing.org — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:30:33 +0000

(PITTSBURGH, PA – February 1, 2012)—WOA is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the Harry V. Quadracci VISION Award. The VISION award is conferred to that web offset printing industry executive who has reached an unsurpassed level of excellence and achievement in the industry—a leader who has gone far beyond the standard obligations to become a dominant force in shaping the business of web offset printing.

Past recipients of this prestigious honor include James Andersen, IWCO Direct; Edward Barr, Sun Chemical Corporation; Thomas Brinkman, Sr., Metroweb Corporation; Ken Field, Sr., Continental Web Press; John Frautschi, Webcrafters, Inc.; Michael Keene, The John Roberts Company; Remi Marcoux, Transcontinental Direct USA, Inc.; Robert Murphy, Japs-Olson Company; Roger Perry, Perry Judds; Thomas Quadracci, Quad/Graphics, Inc.; F. Edward Treis, Arandell Corporation; and Jerry Williamson, Williamson Printing Corporation.

This award is dedicated to the memory of Harry V. Quadracci, president and founder, Quad/Graphics, Inc. A true pioneer, Harry V. Quadracci co-founded Quad/Graphics, Inc. in 1971. The company consisted of a 20,000-sq.-ft. building, 11 employees, a rented press, and a borrowed binder. Quad/Graphics is the quintessential American business success story. From those humble beginnings to becoming the largest privately held printer in the world, Quad/Graphics remains the breakaway company of those early days, asking “what if?” and “why not?” at every turn to uncover the next revolutionary idea that will push print’s potential.

The nomination period for the award opened February 1, 2012. The nomination criteria are now available to view at http://www.printing.org/page/3416. The deadline for nomination submission is Friday, March 2, 2012. The recipient of the award will be recognized at the Offset & Beyond Conference, June 4–6, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.

For more information, please contact Elise Cohen at 412-259-1713 or ecohen@printing.org.

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About WOA: WOA delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.

2012 H. Howard Flint II Pressroom Manager of the Year Call for Nominations Now Open

kgrady@printing.org — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:25:21 +0000

(PITTSBURGH, PA – February 1, 2012)—WOA and Flint Group are pleased to announce the call for nominations for the H. Howard Flint II Pressroom Manager of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes a pressroom manager or supervisor who has excelled in their profession and contributed above and beyond to their company, customers, and the printing industry. This award is dedicated to the memory of H. Howard Flint II, Chairman, Flint Group.

The award recipient will be chosen by a selection committee and honored during the Offset & Beyond 2012 Conference, June 4–6, at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. In addition, the recipient will receive a conference package and the opportunity to recognize the graphic arts school of their choice with a $2,000 sponsorship check courtesy of Flint Group.

Past recipients of the award include Philip E. Archer, Von Hoffmann Corporation; Scott Robinson, John Roberts Company; Steve Richardson, Courier Corporation; Steve Buechel, The Segerdahl Group; and John Gaspari, Specialty Print Communications (SPC).

The nomination period for the award opened February 1, 2012. The nomination criteria are now available to view on the WOA website at www.printing.org/weboffsetassociation. The deadline for nomination submission is Friday, March 2, 2012.

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Five Gotta-Go Reasons—the 2012 TAGA Conference

csenay@printing.org — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:45:38 +0000

The following post was written by Paul Cousineau, President, Technical Association of the Graphic Arts.

As we enter 2012 and we contemplate the changes in the industry over the past 30 years and what the future looks like 5–15 years ahead, I think about how this fits in with the upcoming TAGA Annual Technical Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. There are many reasons our members attend the annual conference, but here are my five top reasons to attend this year.

1. Print. Despite rumors that print is dead because of the explosion of electronics, it is not. There are more printing processes available today than ever before in history. Oddly enough, printing processes today are highly complex processes that require using the “explosion of electronics” to control the process and drive the efficiency and productivity needed to meet today’s market demands. Print is alive, it is changing, and it is exciting. The annual technical conference provides a way to keep learning about and discuss cutting-edge research into current processes and new technology developments.

2. Keynotes. Don’t ask me how we get them every year, but of the technical meetings I attend, TAGA brings the highest quality keynotes to the table year after year. We have a number of relevant topics this year:

Future Developments from the Print Industry
Security Printing and Imaging
Moving Ahead in a World of Changes: the Renewal of the Pulp, Paper, and Forest Products Industries
Advances in Wide-Format Inkjet

3. Expert and academic-reviewed white papers. Networking, networking, networking. Who do I contact to learn about something new? In my professional career having contacts available from TAGA provides me a competitive edge. Whether discussing a white paper with the presenter/author, or having a direct connection to university professors or TAGA members with expertise in specific areas, it’s all there at the conference. Every year, I have been able to leverage this network to help develop and provide a pathway for new business initiatives.

4. Students. Yes, undergraduate students, graduate students, professors, and advisors from the top universities with graphics programs attend from around the world. They are working on cutting-edge research. They are the best and brightest. They are the future, and the best kept secret is they don’t come empty handed. Every year, TAGA student chapters produce a published technical journal chock full of new ideas and research. Everyone who attends the conference receives a complete set of published research.

5. Annual Proceedings. After the conference, the white papers are published and provided to the attendees, and they are included as part of the conference. Proceedings back to the inception of TAGA are all available on a set of DVDs. Receiving the white papers behind the presentations at the conference provides a context and level of detail that is rarely available to conference attendees.

If I had a sixth reason, the bottom line is I get excited about attending the conference every year, learning of new research, reconnecting with attendees, and meeting new people. I feel strongly enough about it to serve as TAGA president. Please invite your colleagues to attend. I can’t wait to meet you at this year’s conference; we have a great venue on the Hyatt Riverfront at Jacksonville. See you there!

Looking for good book suggestion for 2012? Try Enchantment!

mgarnett@printing.org — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:01:54 +0000

Guy Kawasaki is a well-known authority in the tech world and author of numerous columns, articles and especially http://alltop.com . So picking up Enchantment was a no brainer for me. The book impressed me with its common sense suggestions as well as good tips & tricks for email and Facebook marketing. The cover design contest also was appealing and I may try to duplicate the process. The entire concept of “enchantment” is described as a process and not an event. Reading the book is an event; following the suggestions will be a process to try! Let me know if you have a good book to recommend. Here is my complete review. http://prnt.in/ZYL

Enter the WOA Print Awards by February 3, 2012!

kgrady@printing.org — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:51:09 +0000

You only have a few days left to enter the WOA Print Awards. Don't let your company stand on the sidelines and watch your competitors pass you by. Face up to the challenge and become an award-winning printer by entering the 2011-2012 WOA Print Awards. Winning will not only reinforce your existing customers' high opinion of your company but also establish a higher level of expectations from future customers.

Entries are currently being accepted. So, if you have high-quality printed pieces that you think are up to the challenge, be sure to enter them into this prestigious competition. Winners receive complimentary registrations to the Offset & Beyond Conference, June 4-6, St. Louis, Missouri.

To enter or to learn more about the 2011-2012 WOA Print Awards, visit www.printing.org/printawards today. Entries must be received by Friday February 3, 2012, to qualify.

Printing Industries of America Applauds President’s Call to Action on Manufacturing; Urges a “No Cop-Out” Stance on Postal Reform

tvinski@printing.org — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:46:40 +0000

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 25, 2012--Printing Industries of America today applauded President Obama on his call to action to strengthen American manufacturing delivered last night in the State of the Union address. Additionally, the industry group urged the President to add postal reform to his list of policies on which there should be, in his words, no “cop-out.”

The printing and graphic communication industry ranks among the top ten in the manufacturing sector by number of establishments, number of employees, and dollar value of shipments. It is among the most heavily domestic of all manufacturing industries and is comprised largely of small businesses, 60 percent of which are family-owned, locally operated companies.

“We were pleased to hear President Obama lead the State of the Union address with a strong call to arms to strengthen manufacturing in this country,” said Lisbeth Lyons, Vice President of Government Affairs at Printing Industries of America. “The President acknowledged the economic importance of both domestic manufacturing and small business, calling upon Congress to address tax and energy policies to spur a continued rebound in industries like printing. We applaud him for his vision and encourage Congress to act on pro-growth, pro-print policies this year.”

President Obama also demanded decisive action on tough political and policy issues, stating that he would not support any “bailouts, handouts, or cop-outs.”

Printing Industries of America urges President Obama and Congress to add postal reform to the list of issues that demand swift and possibly difficult decisions to be made in short order. The printing and graphic communications industry is a key sector in the $8 billion-plus mailing industry, which includes the entire mail-based supply chain of equipment manufacturers, paper mills, retailers, financial services, and more. Together with the U.S. Postal Service, the mailing industry employs more than 8 million American workers.

“The U.S. Postal Service is at a true crisis point and faces bankruptcy by mid-year unless Congress takes immediate action to institute financial and structural changes,” said Lyons. “Such changes may mean difficult decisions for lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Printing Industries encourages Congress to adopt the President’s “no cop-out” stance on postal reform and to take swift action on bipartisan legislation currently pending in both chambers. Stabilizing and modernizing the U.S. Postal Service will ensure that the mailing system remains a lynchpin of the American economy.

“Printing Industries of America looks forward to working with both the White House and Congress to support these and other policies in 2012.”

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About Printing Industries of America
Printing Industries of America is the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with approximately one million employees. It serves the interests of 10,000 member companies. Together with its nationwide affiliate network, Printing Industries delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.

Government Affairs Contact:
Lisbeth Lyons
llyons@printing.org
(202) 730-7970

Media Contact:
Lisa Rawa
lrawa@printing.org
(800) 910-4283 ext. 810

LPIA Announces Call for Nominations - LPIA Hall of Fame

kgrady@printing.org — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:17:55 +0000

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—January 24, 2012—The Label Printing Industries of America (LPIA), a special interest group of Printing Industries of America, announces the call for nominations for the LPIA Hall of Fame.

In my mind, being recognized by your peers is an honor and compliment on a job well done. —James Hammer, President & CEO, Hammer Packaging

Established in 2003, the LPIA Hall of Fame is awarded to an individual who has reached an unsurpassed level of excellence and achievement in the label converting, packaging, product decoration, or top-sheet industry. Sponsored by LPIA, this award is dedicated to the spirit of those industry pioneers whose hard work and determination created a vibrant, growing, and changing industry.

To be judged by your “peers” in the industry and selected to the LPIA Hall of Fame is an honor. For me to be alongside the individuals already in the hall of fame is unreal. I will be forever grateful for this honor and thanks to all who had a hand in putting me in the LPIA Hall of fame. —Steve Frantz, COO, Huston Patterson Corporation

Nominating an individual provides an opportunity to honor someone you believe has made a major, long-term contribution to and has had a significant impact on our industry. The award recipient will be selected by a panel of industry leaders and will be honored before his or her peers at the annual LPIA Fall Management Conference.

I am honored to be the recipient of the LPIA Hall of Fame. The LPIA organization has been a source for knowledge, experience, and friendship in the label industry for me and without a doubt, I have received more from being active in this organization than I have or could ever put back in. For that I am truly appreciative and humbled. As the Printing Industries of America profit leader data points out, the best in our industry focus on their niches. Groups like the LPIA are an important component for furthering the advancement of those niches. —Mark Glendenning, CEO, Inland Label & Marketing Services

Nomination deadline is Friday, February 24, 2012. For full details, please visit http://prnt.in/Zf9.

LPIA represents and supports the interests of the label converting, packaging, product decoration, and top-sheet industry by providing information, education, and networking that assist member companies in making informed business decisions and to increase market share and profitability through innovative ideas and growth opportunities.

State-of-the-Art Venues to Host LPIA Technical Institute

kgrady@printing.org — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:40:26 +0000

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—January 24, 2012—The Label Printing Industries of America is pleased to announce that the LPIA Technical Institute, March 6—7, 2012, will be hosted by two state-of-the-art progressive venues. This program addresses the specific needs of the label converting, packaging, product decoration, and top-sheet industry within the production arena with an emphasis on the production process as a whole.

It’s all about the experience. The HP Graphic Arts Experience Center and the Heidelberg North American Print and Packaging Technology Center will host this year’s event. These revolutionary centers offer the latest end-to-end production solutions by combining classroom learning with application showcases and innovative technology demonstrations firsthand. Connect with experts who understand your needs and see the latest end-to-end production and workflow solutions.

Reduce lead times, inventory, and waste
Execute seamless workflow from the online designs to the final print
Achieve optimal image quality, consistency, and reliability
Explore new processes and markets and see new applications that build brands
Deliver new capabilities that address the growing demand of the marketplace
Endless possibilities with innovation displays around every corner!

For more information on the program, the venues, sponsorship opportunities, or registration, please visit www.lpiati.printing.org or contact Laurie Reynolds at 412-259-1802 or lreynolds@printing.org.

Are There Ghosts Among Us? That is---Ghost Writers in Social Media!

mgarnett@printing.org — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:52:14 +0000

Ghost writers for blog posts and Twitter accounts are common for busy figures, particularly celebrities. There are a lot of busy figures who don't have ghost writers too--look at the goofy antics in the news! A Wired article had a facinating interview with a ghost tweeter writer, Annie Colbert. see http://prnt.in/ZfK

Colbert’s clients include starlets, sports icons, and authors and, according to the article, even one of my favorites, Guy Kawasaki, author of business books and a noted Apple evangelist. Guy has made his name in many areas in the tech field, I was not surprised but a bit disappointed to hear he has a ghost writer but I still enjoy his thinking and his advice is spot on.

What was more interesting in the article was the method of payment and how Colbert strategizes to create the voice of the client, notes who to follow, and who is following her client. She charges an unknown flat fee per month. Not only does she send tweets but she also checks sites, registrations etc. to be sure their accounts are in order. Reputation management most likely. Of course some of the tweets need vetting too; so the process is lengthly. Odds are some politicians and others wish they had a vetting system. (Oh yes, if a bad tweet goes out from your ghost writer or you, you can always say your account was "hacked." Right?)

I have heard of companies in our industry that are hiring bloggers and paying a consultant to write pithy, knowledgeable notations. (No names of course.) I have not heard of ghost tweeters in our industry. Ghost tweeters? Ghost bloggers? What do you hear? Do you care if the person you are following uses a ghost author/writer? Do you need one? Are you a ghost writer in the industry? Please write me your thoughts about ghost writing in social media.

Regards,

Mary Garnett

Announcing the 2012 PIFE Conference

dtallarico@printing.org — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:50:33 +0000

The 2012 Printing Industry Financial Executives (PIFE) Annual Conference will take place April 1–3 in St. Louis, Missouri. The PIFE Annual Conference is designed for anyone with financial oversight at a graphic communications company looking for practical ways to reduce operational costs and improve their customers' experience and satisfaction through process improvement. It is ideal for executives and managers playing a vital role in driving financial excellence.

At the 2012 PIFE Conference, attendees will find a number of resources to help develop a roadmap to bolster profit, learn how to implement specific improvement strategies, and hear case studies by printing companies that reveal advanced approaches to cutting costs and becoming more productive.

Past attendee Terrie Rubac, Heritage Press, El Reno, OK, said, "New participants are always amazed at how open and honest the discussions can be. I have left every peer exchange session with at least one great idea to try back at my company."

The PIFE Conference is held in conjunction with the Continuous Improvement Conference. This gives financial executives the opportunity to take advantage of sessions about Lean and operational excellence. With vast networking opportunities and the chance to participate in roundtables with peers, the 2012 PIFE Conference is not to be missed by financial executives. More information about the conference can be found at http://pife.printing.org. For questions or to register for the conference, contact Justin Goldstein at jgoldstein@printing.org or 412-259-1806.

Now Accepting Nominations for the InterTech™ Technology Awards

dtallarico@printing.org — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:43:24 +0000

Printing Industries of America is now accepting nominations for the 2012 InterTech™ Technology Awards. These awards honor the development of technologies predicted to have a major impact on the graphic communications and related industries.

About 250 technologies have received InterTech Awards since the award was introduced in 1978. Technologies have been singled out in almost all aspects of graphic communications business and production from management information software and workflow systems to press consumables and digital printing systems. More than 80-percent of the technologies honored have experienced commercial success in the marketplace. Recipients are chosen by an independent panel of judges made up of experienced print professionals with expertise in a variety of areas.

Recipients of the InterTech award have their technology showcased in publications and emails that reach more than 50,000 graphic communication companies around the world. Additionally, recipients receive an InterTech Lucite Star--a recognized icon of innovation--and permission to use the InterTech logo in connection with their technology.

Entries will be accepted online to streamline the nomination process. Vendors can submit all necessary information at www.printing.org/intertechentries. The deadline for entry is June 8, 2012, but those entering by March 31, 2012, will receive a $500 discount on their entry fee.

To see a video of the 2011 recipients, visit www.printing.org/intertech. For additional inquiries about the InterTech Technology Awards call: 800-910-4283, ext. 710 (dial 412-259-1710 outside the U.S.); or email InterTech@printing.org.

Printing Industries of America Obtains Department of Labor Enforcement Statistics

dtallarico@printing.org — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:13:31 +0000

Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage/Hour Division has not published on its web site enforcement statistics for the Division, despite requests from Printing Industries of America. In turn, Printing Industries has filed Freedom of Information Act requests obtaining this data over the years. Click here for more information.

URL Redirect:

http://www.printing.org/page/10114

Mark your calendar for the Offset & Beyond Conference for June 4-6, St. Louis MO.

kgrady@printing.org — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:10:21 +0000

Integrate, Innovate, Collaborate!

Create your very own conference at Offset & Beyond, June 4—6, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. Select from the variety of topics offered to customize your experience and meet your needs.

Offset & Beyond 2012

This program offers all the right ingredients for you to create the ideal educational experience. Regardless of your role, this event offers resources and information you need to excel in your position. From executive management to operations to production, this conference has quality sessions designed just for you. Check out the keynote highlights—

Craig Faust, President, Commercial & Specialty, Quad/Graphics Inc.
Michael Komasinski, President, Schawk Retail Marketing
Volker Petersen, President & CEO, Brown Printing Companies

Click here for more details!

Keynotes Focus on the Future at the 2012 TAGA Conference

dtallarico@printing.org — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:05:36 +0000

The Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) is excited to announce that the four keynotes for the 64th Annual Technical Conference are Marc Olin, senior vice president and general manager of EFI, Steve Simske, director and chief technologist, Hewlett-Packard Labs Inc., Patrice J. Mangin, professor, chemical engineering, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières, and Mike Puyot, president, Memjet Wide Format Inc. The keynotes will discuss the future of the industry, security, the pulp, paper, and forest product industries and inkjet technologies at the TAGA Technical Conference, March 18–21, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville-Riverfront Hotel, in Jacksonville, FL.

Marc Olin
Marc Olin will discuss his vision of this new marketplace, how the technologies interact and where there are opportunities to make more profitable and effective companies in the industry. He will illustrate why EFI is so bullish on the industry, having made a series of global acquisitions, when so many are questioning its future.

Steve Simske
Security printing and imaging provides brand differentiation, brand protection and anti-counterfeiting through novel security algorithms, printing approaches and image analysis technologies. Steve Simske will help attendees understand the latest developments, how some of the technologies can be applied, and where the industry is focusing its efforts.

Patrice J. Mangin
Patrice Mangin will explore the renewal of the pulp, paper, and forest products industries. Although the implications for the traditional printing business are still difficult to appreciate, the pulp, paper, and forest products industry is slowly paving the way for a bright future.

Mike Puyot
The introduction of high-speed inkjet is changing the technological and business decisions, as well as opening up new opportunities for print. These technologies are rapidly evolving, and there are thousands of inkjet patents issued each year. Mike Puyot will help attendees understand this unique marketplace and the changes that are going to happen in the future from one of the companies at the leading edge of this technological innovation.

This conference provides the assets, solutions, and network necessary to stay on top of graphic arts technology. For more information please visit www.printing.org/taga, or to register for the conference contact Elise Cohen at ecohen@printing.org, or 412-259-1713.

Recounting the Highlights of the Association

dtallarico@printing.org — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:54:37 +0000

I sat down to talk with Michael Makin, President & CEO of Printing Industries of America, to hear his take on association's 125th anniversary. We talked about how Printing Industries of America has adapted throughout the years and where it's heading. Michael also touches upon some of the highlights of the association, such as teaming up with the Graphic Arts Show Company and last year's CPSIA victory. You can listen to that interview below.

Michael Makin Talks about Printing Industries of America"s 125th Anniversary (mp3)

Have a highlight or memory you want to share? Leave a comment below!

How to Be Involved in Securing the Future of Your Industry—TAGA Adopt–A–Student

dtallarico@printing.org — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:48:37 +0000

The following post was written by Harvey R. Levenson, Ph.D., Professor and Department Head of Graphic Communication at Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, California.

I joined the graphic arts industry in 1961. Including my education in the field and work experience, that makes it 51 years. Egad! Could that be? I feel like I am just getting started!

Over the years I’ve attended hundreds (no thousands) of graphic arts conferences, seminars, workshops, expositions, and related meetings. If I had to select common concerns often heard at these events over the decades, they are:

When will the graphic arts industry economy turn around?
Where can we find bright people to drive our industry in the years ahead?
How can we reverse the trend of media buyers moving their advertising dollars to non-print media?
How can my company find employees who understand new media and how to integrate it into a traditional printing company?
Where can I find talent who understand how to market new technology to traditional-thinking companies?

In consulting I’ve done for more than 250 printing, publishing, and related companies worldwide, I’ve observed that the answer to such questions lies in strategic planning focusing on building a staff mindset that looks to the future—not to the past—in securing a company’s success.

Who will survive and who will not, and who will flourish and who will decline, rests in the mindset of those who understand and love our industry and want to join it. One typically does not select the graphic arts or printing as a career choice in the way one elects to become a doctor, engineer, architect, teacher, lawyer, minister, and so on. Such professions are often selected at a very young age. However, one elects to study and join the graphic arts or printing industry after experiencing some favorable aspect of the field, usually in one’s high school or college years or beyond. Some select the field because of family involvement in it, but most do not.

As concerned professionals wanting to preserve and grow the graphic communication industry, we have a responsibility to expose young people to the most positive and promising facets of our field—creativity, new technology, science, but most of all smart, inspirational, and great people dedicated to our industry.

Where are these people found? You encounter them at all of the important industry conferences, expositions, and meetings. However there is no greater opportunity than at the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) annual technical conference where the world’s leading graphic arts scientists, technologies, engineers, managers, and thinkers meet to learn about and discuss the inventions and research that will define our industry in the future.

For many years the annual TAGA conference has attracted students, and there are student TAGA chapters worldwide. In fact, I started the student chapter program in 1984 when I was a member of the TAGA Board of Directors. I realized then that the future of our industry relied on motivating young people to join it, and that we needed to encourage more students to attend TAGA’s annual conference for the reasons I’ve noted. However, there is a cost in doing so which greatly limits the number of students that TAGA can support. Hence, TAGA has developed an opportunity for our industry’s corporations to assist. It’s called “TAGA Adopt-A-Student.” (PDF Link)

For a tax-deductible donation of $400, a company or individual can help develop the type of future industry employees I’ve described. For a one-time contribution, a college student will have the opportunity to attend the annual conference in your company’s name and be indentified as such throughout the conference.

He or she would be identified and introduced to the conference as “XYZ’s Adopted TAGA Student.” This would also appear on their name badge, and they will never forget you.

For “Adopt-a-Student” for $400 you get:

Public acknowledgement at the annual TAGA conference.
Acknowledgement in a press release going to the international graphic arts press.
Your name or company name on the student’s name badge worn at the conference.
Name of student and photo for your own public relations.
Set of student research journals presented at the conference.
CD of all conference papers.
Tax deduction for $400-donation as TAGA is an IRS c.3 non-profit organization.

All TAGA needs is a pledge and you will receive an electronic invoice.

TAGA's annual technical conference is the only international conference for the graphic arts that features technical papers on research straight from the laboratory, studies from within companies, and software and systems engineering papers.

The TAGA Adopt-A-Student (PDF Link) program will improve your industry and possibly your company in the future. It is a worthwhile and worthy investment.

Printing Industries of America Obtains Department of Labor Enforcement Statistics

dtallarico@printing.org — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:19:26 +0000

Printing Industries of America has obtained Department of Labor Wage/Hour statistics for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 fiscal years. These numbers reveal key enforcement data on a number of parameters. A breakdown of the statistics can be found on Printing Industries of America’s website here.

Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage/Hour Division has not published on its website (http://www.dol.gov/whd/statistics) enforcement statistics for the Division, despite requests from Printing Industries of America. In turn, Printing Industries has filed Freedom of Information Act requests obtaining this data over the years.

In March 2009 the Wage/Hour Division began hiring 150 additional investigators after a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report concluded that the division was understaffed. The 2011 Fiscal Year statistics shows that enforcement has increased (e.g., back wages collected, number of employees receiving back wages, enforcement hours worked) despite complaints registered decrease by 4,700 from FY 2010. Minimum wage and overtime cases have jumped. Family and Medical Leave Act cases have remained relatively flat. Low-wage industries (which do not include graphic communications) saw a 31 percent increase in cases. Child labor cases were relatively flat.

Here’s a sample of some of the data:

W/HD Enforcement Statistics – All Acts	FY 2010	FY 2011	*Change from 2010*
Back Wages Collected	$175,652,665	$226,616,156	$50,963,492
Employees Receiving Back Wages	208,615	284,593	75,978
Complaints Registered	31,824	27,112	(4,712)
Enforcement Hours	884,419	1,212,664	328,245
Average Days to Resolve Complaint	137	124	(13)
Concluded Cases	25,166	33,666	8,500

For more information and a breakdown of the stats, contact Jim Kyger, Assistant Vice President of Human Relations, Printing Industries of America, at jkyger@printing.org.

Enter the WOA Print Awards by January 31, 2012!

kgrady@printing.org — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:04:21 +0000

You only have a few weeks left to enter the WOA Print Awards. Don’t let your company stand on the sidelines and watch your competitors pass you by. Face up to the challenge and become an award-winning printer by entering the 2011–2012 WOA Print Awards. Winning will not only reinforce your existing customers’ high opinion of your company but also establish a higher level of expectations from future customers.

To enter or to learn more about the 2011–2012 WOA Print Awards, visit www.printing.org/printawards today. Entries must be received by January 31, 2012, to qualify.

Printing Industries of America Celebrates 125 Years!

dtallarico@printing.org — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:32:19 +0000

Printing Industries of America, which formed in 1887, is pleased to announce that 2012 marks its 125th anniversary as an association. To help celebrate this milestone, a new logo and webpage have been created. The webpage will highlight not only the history of the organization but also the future of print and Printing Industries. Video and audio pieces featuring industry experts will be developed to capture their view of print’s past and its future. Celebrations will take place throughout the year, including one at Printing Industries of America’s booth at GRAPH EXPO 2012.

"It's important to look at our history to not only see what we've accomplished, but to learn from our past," Michael Makin, CEO of Printing Industries of America, said, "This association has grown and evolved over the years to nurture printers as they've embraced change in the industry, and we're excited to look back and explore our rich history. There’s certainly a lot of information to glean from the past 125 years."

Printing Industries of America was born out of a constitutional convention held in Apollo Hall in Chicago, Illinois, to help assuage the printing industry's competition and labor problems. Then known as United Typothetae of America, the association defined a mission that it still carries to this day: exchanging information and assisting each other where necessary.

All of the 125th anniversary content will be available at www.printing.org/125years. Click here for an audio interview with Lisa Rawa, vice president of marketing, Printing Industries of America, about the anniversary celebration.

Over the last 125 years, Printing Industries of America has grown to provide state-of-the-art research, hands-on training, and economic insight and helped spread the value of print. This anniversary celebration will look at those facets and educate members of the industry with key insights and a storied history of how Printing Industries of America has evolved to what it is today as well as what it will be in the future. If you have a memory or comment you want to share with Printing Industries of America, contact Dan Tallarico at dtallarico@printing.org, leave a comment on this blog post, or include the hashtag #PIA125 on social media. For more information about the anniversary, visit www.printing.org/125years.

Printing Industries of America Celebrates 125 Years

dtallarico@printing.org — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:52:40 +0000

"It's important to look at our history to not only see what we've accomplished, but to learn from our past," Michael Makin, CEO of Printing Industries of America, said, "This association has grown and evolved over the years to nurture printers as they've embraced change in the industry, and we're excited to look back and explore our rich history. There’s certainly a lot of information to glean from the past 125 years."

Printing Industries of America was born out of a constitutional convention held in Apollo Hall in Chicago, Illinois, to help assuage the printing industry's competition and labor problems. Then known as United Typothetae of America, the association defined a mission that it still carries to this day: exchanging information and assisting each other where necessary.

All of the 125th anniversary content will be available at www.printing.org/125years. Click here for an audio interview with Lisa Rawa, vice president of marketing, Printing Industries of America, about the anniversary celebration.

Over the last 125 years, Printing Industries of America has grown to provide state-of-the-art research, hands-on training, and economic insight and helped spread the value of print. This anniversary celebration will look at those facets and educate members of the industry with key insights and a storied history of how Printing Industries of America has evolved to what it is today as well as what it will be in the future. If you have a memory or comment you want to share with Printing Industries of America, contact Dan Tallarico at dtallarico@printing.org, leave a comment on this post, or include the hashtag #PIA125 on social media. For more information about the anniversary, visit www.printing.org/125years.