August 28, 2008
Ryerson receives new gear
TORONTO—Students at Ryerson University’s School of Graphic Communications Management will begin the school year Tuesday with a slew of new equipment. Xerox donated a Docucolor 7000 to the program, the first digital press ever given to the school. Kodak chipped in with its MVP and Prinergy workflows, as did software provider Xinet Dam, which gave the school its WebNative Suite, set up by Toronto-based Syncron CyberKare. Heidelberg also provided Ryerson with some new equipment by donating a Printmaster 74 4-colour perfecting press. Chair of the School of Graphic Communications Management Dr. Abhay Sharma, called the amount of new donations, “unbelievable.”
“We’ve very much moved into a digital age at the school and we’re ready to offer real world skills,” he said.
Ryerson will hold a Press Dedication on Oct. 1 at the school, to showcase the new equipment.
With the new press from left to right are: Dr. Daniel Doz, Faculty of Communication and Design at Ryerson University; Dr. Abhay Sharma, chair, School of Graphic Communications Management; and Tom Oldfield, vice-president, graphics communications, Xerox Canada.

New from CPISC, a skills standard guide for press operators
MISSISSAUGA, ON—A new guide for national skills standards was released yesterday by the Canadian Printing Industry Sector Council during a press conference. Fit to Print: Your Guide to National press skill standards sets out the specific knowledge and skills required by press operators for offset presses—both sheet and web—digital presses and flexo presses. It’s divided into three basic areas: basic skills, core skills and operating skills. Employers and employees can use the standards to assess skills, set standards, and devise training programs. Teachers or training providers can structure courses geared to meeting the standards. Skills standards for prepress and finishing operators will be released over the coming months. The guide will be distributed to print shops, colleges and universities, and other industry bodies. A PDF of the guide can be downloaded at www.cpisc-csic.ca.

Winner chosen to represent Canada in international skills competition
MISSISSAUGA, ON—CPISC, in conjunction with Heidelberg Canada, announced that Simon Beauchamp, of Quebec, will represent Canada at the 2009 WorldSkills printing competition in Calgary, in September 2009. The WorldSkills competition is an international event for young people in skilled trades and technologies. More than 900 competitors from 49 countries participate. This is the first time that Canada will field a printing representative. Four finalists from across the country trained at the Heidelberg showroom in Mississauga for about a week and competed for the top spot.
The competitors from left: Matthew Joniec, Bronze winner; Simon Beauchamp, Gold winner; Scott Bairstow, Silver winner; and Eamonn Curran, fourth place finisher.

August 26, 2008
Transcontinental inks deal with Globe and Mail
MONTREAL—Transcontinental has signed a contract to print the Globe and Mail for most of Canada over the next 18 years, the company announced today. The deal, valued at $1.7 billion, will see Transcontinental start printing the paper for the provinces of Alta., and B.C., when the current contract expires in 2010. Transcontinental, which already prints the Globe and Mail for Ont., Que., and the Atlantic provinces, says it plans to open a new facility in the GTA to handle the new work and will spend about $200 million on new presses that will print full-colour on all pages. Currently, Central Web Colourpress of Calgary prints the Globe and Mail for Alta. and the work for B.C. is handled by Vancouver College Printers.

Major expansion for St. Joseph Communications
OTTAWA—St. Joseph Communications is expanding with a 51,000 sq. ft. distribution centre in Ottawa’s east end, the company announced late last week. Located in Orléans Industrial Park, the centre will handle thousands of shipments and mailings daily, and will create more employment in the region, the company says. The facility will process logistics and distribution business from commercial clients as well as the provincial and federal government.

August 21, 2008
Amanda Graphics seeks creditor protection
SCARBOROUGH, ON—Amanda Graphics has filed a notice of intention to make a proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act on Aug. 12, 2008, PrintCAN has learned. Owner and president Brian Phair said,  “I am going to survive. I’m going to try very hard to remain in business.” A receiver has been appointed and the shop has 30 days to file a proposal to its creditors. Amanda Graphics has 35 employees, and has been in business since 1980.

June shipments stumble
OTTAWA—June printing were down -7.7% after enjoying a good May, when they were up 7.1%, according to figures from Statistics Canada. Note that these numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

Shipments	2008	2007	Change
June	$752.2 million	$815.2 million	-7.7%
Year to date	$4.70 billion	$4.75 billion	-.97%

New HP Indigo for B.C. shop
BURNABY, B.C.—Total Graphics is the new owner of an HP Indigo 5000 7-colour press. The shop, which specializes in production, imaging, and pre-media services has been is business for more than 25 years.

With the new press from left to right; Murray Todd, president, Total Graphics; David Lamb, vice president, Total Graphics; and Jeff Mesina, manager, integrated digital solutions at Total Graphics.

August 19, 2008
Trade Watch: Surplus evaporates
OTTAWA—Canada’s trade surplus in print has evaporated and we are now running a deficit, according to the latest figures from Statistics Canada. The year-to-date deficit sits at $8.3 million, compared to a $52.32 million surplus in June 2007. That’s a change of -115%. In general, trading activity in June saw exports take a dip and imports rise only slightly. Exports to the U.S. dropped to $80.57 million, from $90.28 million at the same time last year. Imports from the U.S. were down a bit, coming in at $65.35 million compared to $65.49 million in June 2007. Imports from China also grew to $20.97 million, up from $19.49 million in the same period in 2007.

EXPORTS	2008	2007	Change
June	$ 96.56 million	$107.36 million	-11%
Year to date	$599.63 million	$721.44 million	-16.9%

IMPORTS	2008	2007	Change
June	$101.55 million	$100.99 million	-0.6%
Year to date	$607.90 million	$669.12 million	-9.2%

14 Bennys coming home to Canada
MISSISSAUGA, ON—Canadian printers did extremely well in the 2008 PIA/GATF Premier Print Awards, otherwise known as the Bennys. Toronto’s C.J. Graphics garnered four Best in Category awards and B.C.-based Hemlock Printers and Metropolitan Fine Printers won three and two Bennys, respectively. PIA/GATF received more than 4,000 entries from all over the world, and will present the awards to the winners at the Premier Print Awards Gala in Chicago on Oct. 26. The Canadian winners are listed below:

Best of Category
Internal Communication Pieces—C.J. Graphics, Toronto
(4 or more colours)
Programs (1,2, or 3 colours)—C.J. Graphics, Toronto
Direct Mail Campaigns, business-to-business—C.J. Graphics, Toronto
Single Promotional Self-Mailer— C.J. Graphics, Toronto
Magazines (printers with fewer than 250 employees)—Colour Innovations, Toronto
Miscellaneous Specialties—Friesens Corp., Altona, Man.
School Yearbooks—Friesens Corp., Altona, Man.
Magazine Series—Hemlock Printers, Burnaby, B.C.
Business and Annual Reports (4 or more colours throughout with 101-250 employees)—Hemlock Printers, Burnaby, B.C.
Environmentally Sound Materials—Hemlock Printers, Burnaby, B.C.
Product/Service Catalogs (1,2 or 3 colours)—Metropolitan Fine Printers, Vancouver
Direct Mail Campaigns, consumer—Metropolitan Fine Printers, Vancouver
Art Books (1,2 or 3 colours)—Rhino Print Solutions, Richmond, B.C.
Business Forms—The DATA Group of Companies, Brampton, Ont.

Look for more information on the Premier Print Awards in an upcoming issue of Graphic Monthly Canada.

Quebecor World renews, extends Parade contract
MONTREAL—Quebecor World has renewed and extended its contract with Parade Publications, the company announced yesterday. The deal will see Quebecor World continue to print U.S.-based Parade Magazine, a weekly publication distributed in hundreds on Sunday newspapers. The relationship between Parade and Quebecor World goes back 35 years.

August 14, 2008
International kudos for Toronto shop

Eye Candy magazine, printed at Colour Innovations in Toronto.

TORONTO—Colour Innovations has won a Best in Category Benny for printing Montreal-based Eye Candy magazine. Earlier this year, the shop learned it had also earned a Highly Commended mention in the international MetalFX Awards for the same job. A winner in the Benny category, Fashion/Popular Culture Magazines for printers with fewer than 250 employees, Eye Candy was printed on an 11-colour Heidelberg, with 70 lb. stock. Almost each page of the magazine was done in MetalFX, Colour Innovations president Matthew Alexander told PrintCAN. He didn’t use any varnishes, except for on the cover. Alexander says his shop has been working with MetalFX since 2003, the first in Canada to experiment with the process.

Quebecor World profit plummets
MONTREAL—Quebecor World reported revenue of $US976 million in the second quarter of 2008, ending June 30, compared to $US1.1 billion in the same period last year. The company also had a net loss of $US77.7 million, down from a lprofit of $US10.8 million in the second quarter of 2007. For the six-month period ended June 30, Quebecor World reported a net loss of $US226.3 million, compared to a profit of $US20.5 million in the same period last year.
The company also has until Sept. 30, 2008, to submit its restructuring plan in Canada, and until July of 2009 in the U.S.

August 12, 2008
Macomb Printing buys Ontario shop
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI—Macomb Printing bought Windsor, Ont.-based North American Printing in mid-June, the company announced last week. According to Michelle Bracali, vice-president of sales at Macomb Printing, the decision to purchase North American was based on Macomb’s desire to enter the web heatset market and enhance its roster of full-colour capabilities. The Windsor shop is also only 56 km from Macomb’s Mich., plant, and will remain where it is, under the Macomb name.  Bracali says most North American staff has been retained, but there were several losses. Macomb Printing has been in business since 1989 and specializes in coldset web work.

VistaPrint revenue soars in fourth quarter
HAMILTON, BERMUDA—VistaPrint reported revenue of $US 110.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, for the period ending June 30, 2008. That’s a 52% increase from the same quarter a year ago, when revenue was $US 72.5 million. Net income was $US 10.3 million, compared to $US 5.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. VistaPrint is also expanding some of its plants, including its Windsor, Ont. facility. That renovation is expected to be finished in the third quarter of 2009.

B.C. shop upgrades with manroland
BURNABY, B.C.—Nathen Printing Services had recently added a 41” Roland 710P press with Prindor in-line foiling to its pressroom. The shop went with the manroland press because of its flexibility, UV capabilities and cold fusion foiling abilities.  Nathen Printing Services is a family-run shop, and specializes in printing magazines, annual reports and direct mail. 

August 7, 2008
Beneco Packaging expands, gets new KBA Rapida
WOODBRIDGE, ON—Beneco Packaging purchased a Rapida 106 41” 6-colour plus coater press from KBA at drupa, for installation in a new, larger location in early 2009. The shop, which caters to the sports, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, will now be able to print on more substrates, as well as plastic, due to the Rapida’s UV capabilities. According to Beneco owner Carol Jiang who founded the company three years ago, the move is necessary to accommodate the Rapida and to keep up with new business. She says Beneco will double in size, from 18,000 sq. ft. to 36, 000 sq. ft., and the new shop will likely be in Mississauga, Ont.

Carol Jiang, owner of Beneco Packaging, stands with members of the KBA North American management team, and KBA crew.

Quebecor World inks new deal
MONTREAL—Quebecor World has signed a new seven-year deal with Vancouver-based publisher Canada Wide Media to print its periodicals and magazines, the company announced today.  The agreement, valued at $45 million, includes renewal work for Quebecor World on six publications, including BC Business, Alberta Home and Gardenwise.

August 5, 2008
Gold for letterhead printed at Springfield Graphics
MISSISSAUGA, ON—Bretenic Limited Identity, a job printed at Springfield Graphics, has taken the gold in the Mohawk Fine Papers Second Quarter Strathmore Letterhead Contest. The contest, which printers, designers and merchants can enter, accepts entries of letterheads, business cards, envelopes and mailing labels, all printed on Strathmore writing paper. Bretenic Limited Identity was done on Strathmore Writing, Wove, Ultimate White, 70 text, 110 cb and designed by Toronto-based Zync Communications. The project was debossed with match green, match yellow and teal, with an overall satin varnish.

Bretenic Limited Identity printed by Springfield Graphics.

Shop first in country to install new Kodak technology
LONDON, ON—Autumn Graphics is the first in Canada to install the Kodak Flexcel NX Digital Flexographic System. The winner of a 2008 InterTech Award, the system works on everything from paper to foil, and includes plates, a laminator and a thermal imaging layer. The shop, which provides plate and prepress production to converters, printers and consumer companies, has been in business since 1982 and employs 30.

Ontario shop invests in a Jeti
BURLINGTON, ON—Fastsigns has added a new Jeti 1224 True UV flatbed press from Gandinnovations to its pressroom. The 6-colour press prints at 1,200 dpi and handles materials up to 2” thick. Fastsigns, which specializes in custom signs, vehicle wraps and POP, has been in business for 12 years.