September 27, 2007
Transcontinental appoints new director of marketing
MONTREAL-Tamara Pope is the new director of marketing for Trancontinental’s printing, marketing products and services sector, the company announced today.

Effective immediately, Pope will work on further developing the sector, with a number of customer-focused initiatives and new, competitive strategies. “I am excited by the opportunity to work with this dynamic team at Transcontinental. Together, we’ll continue driving results and work to make this division at Transcontinental Printing the best it has ever been,” Pope said in a statement. Before joining Transcontinental, Pope worked for Xerox in the supplies business group, where she served as manager of worldwide product planning and marketing strategy. She has also worked at Avenor Inc., Fine Paper Group and wrote the book, A Guide to Paper and Digital Printing.

Production on hold at Ottawa’s CR Printing following accident
OTTAWA- Stop work orders have been issued on three presses at CR Printing in Ottawa, the shop where a man was severely injured after his arm was caught in a press. According to the Ontario Ministry of Labour, which is investigating the incident, the orders affect two Multy machines and one larger press. They cannot be operated until an engineer determines they are safe, and then a Ministry representative can remove the orders. The Ministry issued the stop work orders September 18, the day after the accident. Paramedics were able to free the man’s arm after about two hours, narrowly escaping an amputation.

September 25, 2007
NewPage buys Stora Enso North America
MIAMISBURG, OH—Stora Enso has signed an agreement to sell its North American subsidiary, Stora Enso North America (SENA) to NewPage Holding Corporation, specialists in coated one- and two-sided paper, the companies announced last week. The deal would see the two operate under the name NewPage with headquarters in Miamisburg, OH. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2008. "We believe that by combining Stora Enso's North American operations with those of NewPage, owned by Cerberus Capital, a leading private investment firm, we are contributing to the formation of a highly attractive player in the North American paper industry," CEO Jouko Karvinen told the Associated Press. The transaction is valued at US$1.5 billion in cash, US$200 million in vendor notes and 19.9% of the shares, valued at US$370 million. SENA which manufactures coated one and two-sided, super calender, lightweight-coated, magazine and newsprint paper, generated $2 billion in revenue in 2006 and the merger is expected to generate an annual $256 million in cost savings. Stora Enso will also divest eight publication, fine paper and specialty paper mills reducing the group's annual production capacity by 2.75 million tonnes and the number of personnel by about 4,350. The deal will give NewPage about 28%  of the coated-paper business and 28% of the super calendered paper business, as well as a specialty business that sells paper for bottles and cans, the Associated Press reported.

Canadian printer wins big at CIPPI awards in Japan
TOKYO− Ampersand Printing has become the first Canadian company to win one of the top prizes at the prestigious International Cooperation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIPPI) awards in Tokyo. The Guelph, Ont.-based company won second place in the “Biggest Improvement in Efficiency and Customer Responsiveness as a Result of Process Automation” category. Ampersand just integrated a Hilflex MIS, including digital planning board, Kodak Prinergy Workflow System, Heidelberg Polar Compucut and Hilflex Shop Floor Data Collection and saw a 1,815% ROI calculated on a five-year basis. Another Canadian company, McCallum Printing of Edmonton, received an honourable mention for “achieving outstanding customer responsiveness as a result of process automation."

September 20, 2007
Print imports flatten in July
The latest trade figures from Industry Canada show that for the first seven months of the year, exports to all our trading partners fell 6.6%. The most worrying factor may be the state of our trading surplus. Last year, we exported $184.2 million more than we imported. That figure has dropped to $47.7 million this year.

On the import side, the number of shipments coming into Canada from the U.S. rose 7.5% to $563.4 million from $524.1 million during the timeframe. Imports from China climbed 22.6% to $119.3 million, up from $97.3 million during the same time in 2006.

September 18, 2007
Man in hospital after arm caught in press at Ottawa printer
OTTAWA—A man is in serious but stable condition following an accident last night in which his arm was caught in a printing press at CR Printing in Ottawa. According to the Ottawa Citizen, emergency services were called to 411 Mcarthur Avenue shortly after 6 p.m. on a call reporting that a man’s arm was trapped in a press. A surgeon was brought along in case an amputation was necessary, but at about 8:30 p.m. paramedics were able to free his arm, and he was taken to the Ottawa Hospital’s Civic campus with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The Ontario Ministry of Labour is investigating and phone calls to CR Printing were not returned.

July shipments up
OTTAWA—Statistics Canada’s latest data for domestic print shipments indicate that the industry’s performance in July is outpacing shipments from the same time last year. Much of that growth came from Quebec and Alberta, and for the first time in months, year-to-date shipments have outstripped 2006 results. Note that these numbers are not seasonally adjusted

September 13, 2007
Transcontinental sales flat; new CEO appointed
MONTREAL—Transcontinental reports an increase in overall consolidated revenues but a slight decrease in its two printing divisions, according to the company’s third quarter results ended July 31, released today. Total revenues rose to $546.5 million up from $528.9 million during the same period last year but revenues in the printing and marketing products and services sectors were a combined $415.9 million, down slightly from $416.4 in 2006. Transcontinental also identifies exchange rate fluctuations which cost the company $7.6 million in foregone revenues. Both the book and newspaper groups reported relatively stable revenues, which the company attributes to pushed-back book orders and a decline in the page count, width and circulation of newspapers.
In other Transcontinental news, the board of directors today unanimously recommended the appointment of Francois Olivier as CEO and president. Olivier will take over from current president and CEO Luc Desjardins, on February 20, 2008, the date of the next shareholders meeting. Olivier has been with the company since 1993 and is currently president of the printing products and services sector. He now becomes chief operating officer and will be responsible for Transcontinental’s three divisions.

Hemlock Printers to be honoured by local board of trade
BURNABY, B.C.—Hemlock Printers will be inducted into the Burnaby business hall of fame next month, as this year’s Burnaby Excellence Awards Hall of Fame recipient, the company reported yesterday. The award, which recognizes local businesses that have made great contributions to the community, will be given to Hemlock for its  “outstanding business success and commitment to the triple bottom line,” said the CEO of the Burnaby board of trade, Darlene Gering, in a prepared statement. Hemlock will receive its award at a ceremony on October 4.

September 11, 2007
Transcontinental offer and takeover bid circular sent to PLM shareholders
MONTREAL and TORONTO—Transcontinental and PLM Group have mailed PLM shareholders Transcontinental’s offer and takeover bid circular, the companies announced yesterday. It was reported on Aug. 21 that Transcontinental offered PLM shareholders a takeover bid worth $3.50 per share. The all-cash offer would see Transcontinental acquire all PLM’s 29.5 million shares outstanding, for $130 million, including debt.  Founder, CEO and chairman of the board of PLM, Barry N. Pike, has, along with a holding company under his control, agreed to tender their shares signifying 51.2% of the outstanding shares. This offer will remain open until October 16, unless extended or withdrawn by Transcontinental. The board of directors has consulted with financial advisors and is encouraging shareholders to accept the offer.

Canadians shine at international competition
CHICAGO—Two Canadian print shops took top honours at the Printing Innovation with Xerox Imaging Awards (PIXI) on Sunday at Graph Expo in Chicago. Imprimerie L’Empreinte of Quebec was the winner in the best use of Xerox supplies category for its “Red Bull Flug Tag,” a logbook designed for a contest promotion and printed on a Xerox DocuColor 8000 digital press. Calgary-based Blitzprint took second place in the digital books and manuals category for its “Blanket Full of Love,” designed by Starrytime Keepsakes. There were more than 500 entries from countries around the world. Keiger Printing from the U.S. won best in show with its “Digital Imaging Sample Book,” printed on an iGen3 press.

September 6, 2007
Catalyst Paper curtails production in wake of ongoing forestry strike
VANCOUVER—With the B.C. forestry strike now dragging into its seventh week, Catalyst Paper announced last week it would curtail most of its production at the Campbell River Elk Falls pulp and paper mill on Vancouver Island, effective Aug. 31. “The situation with respect to the coastal forest industry strike and its impact on Catalyst Paper is growing more difficult,” the company said in a statement reported by the Vancouver Sun. The temporary closure will affect 600 employees and eliminate about 1,100 tonnes of paper production and 900 tonnes of pulp products each day. About 7,000 sawmilling and logging workers walked off the job on July 21, affecting 34 companies. With no end in sight, Catalyst said it will continue to run its #2 machine at the Elk Falls mill, to serve key customers, but added that may have to be curtailed if the strike drags into mid-September.

September 4, 2007
June shipments up
OTTAWA—Statistics Canada’s latest data for domestic print shipments indicate that the industry’s performance for June was up significantly over the monthly performance a year earlier. But the industry’s year-to-date result remains flat. Note that these numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

New president and CEO at KBA North America
WILLISTON, VT—KBA North America announced Friday that Holger Garbrecht has been named president and CEO. He will replace Ralf Sammeck, who has been promoted to executive vice president of worldwide sheetfed sales and is now a member of KBA’s management board. “Holger brings tremendous value to KBA North America’s customers as he has a history of working consultatively on each printer’s individual needs in all industry segments, such as commercial sheetfed and web, packaging, and newspapers,” said Sammeck in a statement.  Garbrecht comes to KBA from Heidelberg, where he was responsible for business in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.