May 29, 2008
Trade Watch—Another slow month on the trade front
OTTAWA—March data from Statistics Canada shows another slow month of trading activity, with both imports and exports falling, just as they did in February. Exports to the U.S. dropped to $82.69 million, from $108.33 million at the same time last year. Imports from the U.S. were way down, coming in at $68.58 million compared to $102.88 million in March 2007. Imports from China also dropped to $11.54 million, down from $16.58 million in the same period in 2007. The trade balance was $25,543, down from $34,392 in 2007. That’s a change of -25.7%.

Refurbished AB Dick 9810 for Calgary shop
CALGARY—Just months after installing a refurbished AB Dick 8810, Sharper Cards has added a second AB Dick, a 9810, to its pressroom. It was purchased from Pressdown Graphic Equipment, and installed by Calgary-based The Service Depot. The 20-year old shop employs more than 50 people.

David Thirkell, right, operations manager, stands with Mark Dyck, from The Service Depot

May 27, 2008
March shipments take a dip
OTTAWA—March printing shipments fell slightly from the previous month’s healthy numbers, according to figures from Statistics Canada. Note that these numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

Torstar buys Barrie’s Central Ontario Web
TORONTO—Torstar’s Metroland Media Group has purchased commercial printer Central Ontario Web, the company announced late last week. The Barrie, Ont.-based company has about 50 employees and provides cold and heat-set web printing, as well as offset and digital. “Strategically, it’s a perfect fit,” senior vice-president of printing for Metroland, Peter Marsh told newspaper The Barrie Advance. “We’ve had two plants—one in North York, one in Mississauga—that served the majority of the papers in the east and the west (of the GTA and areas beyond), and now we’ll have one that will service the papers to the north.”

Toronto shop shifts to CTP
TORONTO—Trade printer Canadian Printing Resources has recently gone processless and converted to CTP with Fujifilm. The shop has added a Javelin 8300S with Pro-T plates, an Epson 9880 proofer, and Trueflow workflow to its floor. According to Canadian Printing Resources, the conversion only took 30 days, and there are plans to add a new 40” press this summer. The FSC-certified printer has been in business since 1983 and has 27 full-time employees.

With the new Fujifilm gear from left to right are: Warren Fisher, prepress manager; Amy Wilson production manager, and Joe Fiorillo, owner, all from Canadian Printing Resources.

May 22, 2008
Canadian Geographic goes green for June issue
OTTAWA—Canadian Geographic’s June issue, which hit newsstands today, is the first magazine in North America to be printed with paper made from wheat straw waste. A joint effort by the magazine, the Alberta Research Council and environmental non-profit organization, Markets Initiative, it demonstrates that a magazine-grade paper can be made with something other than wood pulp. The June issue contains 20% wheat straw, which came from China since there are no straw-pulping mills in Canada, and 40% recycled fibre content, with the remaining balance from wood pulp. According to Markets Initiative executive director Nicole Rycroft, this idea was four years in the making and has so far garnered very strong interest and market support. The paper was made at a NewPage mill in the U.S. and printed at Ottawa-based Dollco Printing. 

OPIA looking for best Young Printer
OTTAWA—The CPIA is calling for nominations for it second annual Young Printer award, to be presented at the closing gala of Strategy 08 in Halifax in September. Candidates must be 35 years of age or under, and be working or own a shop that does printing on-site. The nominee must also demonstrate dedication, exceptional performance, and the promise of a long, successful career in the industry. The deadline for submissions in June 18. For more information and to obtain a nomination form, visit www.strategy08.ca

New Heidelberg for Sas Printing Graphics
TORONTO—Full-service commercial printer Sas Printing Graphics has installed a Heidelberg Printmaster PM 52-4. The owner-operated shop has been in business for more than 20 years. Some of its clients include TD Bank, the Ontario government and CIBC.

With the Heidelberg from left to right are: Albert Bizier, general manager; Said Mikhail, owner; and Tony Chikere, pressman, all from Sas Printing.

May 20, 2008
Transcontinental wins gold at Sappi awards
BOSTON—Transcontinental Yorkville was the sole Canadian gold medal winner at Sappi Fine Paper North America’s Printers of the Year awards held in Dallas on May 17. Transcontinental was one of eight gold winners, taking the prize in the magazine category for its Harry Spring/Summer 2007. About 2,000 entries were judged in the competition, which honoured innovative work printed on Sappi paper.
The gold medalists will compete for the title, International Printer of the Year in October in Cape Town, South Africa.

Baldwin Fine Paper does some re-structuring
MISSISSAUGA, ON—Baldwin Fine Paper, the result of the recently merged Precision Fine Paper, Concept Papers and the commercial print division of Baldwin Paper, recently made some personnel announcements. Marck Bilodeau-London has been appointed vice-president of the company and Rob Anthony has been promoted to general manager. The sales team now includes several new members including, Ken Harris, Glenn Clifford, Bob Crone and Frank Ciraco.
On May 1 the new company began operating out of the old Precision plant in Concord, Ont., and offers paperboard, coated fine paper, and BRC among others, as well as converting.

Publication ink prices set to rise at Flint Group
PLYMOUTH, MI—Effective June 1, all publication inks from Flint Group North America will increase, the company announced today. Depending on the type, the inks will cost anywhere from 10% to 12% more. Flint Group says the price hikes are necessary to offset the high costs of energy, raw materials and freight costs.

May 15, 2008
Dollco and CJ Graphics big winners at OPIA Spring Gala
TORONTO—The OPIA has released the list of its “Excellence in Print” award winners, led by Ottawa’s Dollco Printing and Toronto’s CJ Graphics. The awards were handed out at OPIA’s spring gala earlier this month, recognize work in four categories: web, sheetfed, specialty and packaging. Dollco won six Best of Category awards, three for sheetfed and three for web printing. CJ Graphics took home eight Best of Category awards, as well as one of four Awards of Excellence in packaging for its NHL ’72 Complete Box entry. The other three Award of Excellence winners were:

Sheetfed: General Printers, Oshawa, Ont.
Entry—Firefly Books-2009 Calendars

Web: St.Joseph Print-Thorn Division, Concord, Ont.
Entry—Syd Silver Formals 2008 Style Guide

Specialty: Parker Pad and Printing Ltd., Markham, Ont.
Entry—Canadian Tire-Petroleum Invite

For a full list of all the Excellence in Print winners click here

AMPA Printing upgrades with Agfa
MARKHAM, ON—AMPA Printing has added an Agfa Avalon CTP and ApogeeX workflow with Azura chemistry-free plates to its shop floor. AMPA specializes in packaging, flyers, magazines and business cards, and has been in business for 20 years.

With the new Agfa gear from left are: AMPA's Raymond Chan, Henry Yeung, Andy Chiang, Pakin Lee and Agfa's Parker MacDonald.

New gear for Edmonton shop
EDMONTON—Specializing in screen printing, design and long-run commercial work, Elite Lithographers has recently installed a Prism 45” cutter and Baumann sheet-handling equipment purchased from Canadian Printing Equipment. The shop opened 29 years ago.

Standing with the Prism and Baumann are, left, Dace Chrapo and Ken Colwill, both from Elite.

May 13, 2008
First machine comes back to life at Thunder Bay mill
THUNDER BAY, ON—The #8 paper machine is back up and running at the newly opened Thunder Bay Fine Papers mill. Capable of producing 7, 8 and 9 pt. freesheet coated, #2 matte and Jenson Satin, the machine is not running at full capacity yet, but is fully capable of it, said president Andre Nicol. The mill’s two other paper machines, the #5 and #6, are expected to be operational by the end of June and September respectively. Nicol took over the former Cascades mill in January, after it was shuttered for two years.

The #8 machine making the #2 matte and Jenson Satin

Standing in from of the #8 machine are COO John Hitchman and CFO John Arnold

Toronto shop installs first web press
TORONTO—Trade Secret Printing has added its first web press, a Goss Sunday 2000, to its pressroom. The company revealed this week.  The 24-page, five-unit gapless Sunday 2000 is equipped with a sheeter and pinless combination folder and has a 57” web width. Trade Secret says the addition of a web press will help meet increasing demand and reduce makereadies and waste. The company employs 75 and opened in 2000.

May 8, 2008
Quebecor World renews contact with publisher
MONTREAL—Quebecor World has signed a multi-year contract extension with publishers Simon & Schuster, the company announced this week. The contract will see Quebecor World continue printing and binding soft and hard cover consumer books through 2015 at six plants in the U.S. Terms of the extension were not disclosed.

Quebec shop takes top honours for second straight year
MONTREAL—For the second consecutive year, Imprimerie L’Empreinte took the Prix d’Excellence at the Gala Gutenberg in mid-April. The Prix d’Excellence is the top honour at the gala, and is presented by Craftsman Club of Montreal. The top prize is awarded to companies that win the most awards at the gala. The company took home 36 in total, including 10 gold medals. Imprimerie L’Empreinte specializes in high-end direct marketing, annual reports and brochures, and has been in business since 1985.

May 6, 2008
Big cutbacks at two Catalyst mills in B.C.
RICHMOND, B.C.—Catalyst Paper is making cuts at two of its B.C. mills, the Elk Mills facility in Campbell River and the Crofton mill in North Cowichan, the company announced last week. The Elk Mills PMI machine has been shut down since September, and will be decommissioned indefinitely, putting 145 employees out of work. About 80 employees will lose their jobs at Catalyst’s Crofton Mill as well. The company blames fibre shortages, rising input costs, and high tax rates paid by its coastal mills for the cutbacks.

Three companies merge to create Baldwin Fine Paper
MISSISSAUGA, ON—Precision Fine Paper, Concept Papers and the commercial print division of Baldwin Paper have merged to form a new company called Baldwin Fine Paper. As of May 1, it began operating out of the old Precision plant in Concord, Ont. More details will follow as they become available.

The Social Scene

Open house at Mississauga shop
MISSISSAUGA, ON—Holland & Crosby, Fujifilm Canada and Inca Digital invited printers and journalists from the U.S. and Canada to an open house to view its Inca Onset last week. Held at Holland & Crosby’s shop in Mississauga, Ont., the evening included an extensive tour of the plant, and a presentation by Inca CEO Bill Baxter, followed by a reception. Holland & Crosby installed the Onset in late February, and it is the first in North America.

Holland & Crosby co-owner Scott Crosby, left, with Inca CEO Bill Baxter.

Holland & Crosby’s Inca Onset.

May 1, 2008
Quebecor World to downsize two plants
MONTREAL—Quebecor World is reducing workforce at two plants, including one in Ont., as part of its three-year retooling program, the company announced today. The Islington facility in Etobicoke, which produces flyers, catalogues, and binds directories, will be greatly downsized, with only 60 full-time employees left. The North Haven facility in Conn., which prints general commercial products, will close by the end of the second quarter of 2008. In total, 700 jobs will be lost, but Quebecor World says it will help employees find work by means of outplacement services.

Canada Post amends Business Reply Mail
OTTAWA—Canada Post made changes to its Business Reply and International Business Reply Mail specifications, effective April 14. Under the new regulations, the current length #9 Canadian standard envelope size has been changed to 98mm x 225mm, from 102mm x 229 mm to reflect the U.S. standard #9 envelope. Customers are now permitted to reposition artwork up to 15mm from the right side of the envelope for both international and domestic Business Reply Mail, and the maximum specifications for Machineable International Business Reply Mail increased to 245 x 150 x 5 mm from 235 x 120 x 5 mm.
For more details visit http://www.canadapost.ca

CPIA presents Strategy ’08 in Halifax this September
OTTAWA—The CPIA will hold its annual Strategy conference in Halifax from September 18-20, the organization has announced. The 2008 theme is “Protecting Your Profits” and will include sessions on Lean Manufacturing, digital printing, and innovations from drupa.
Grafikom president and CEO Gord Griffiths will be the opening keynote speaker, and during the closing gala on the 20th industry award recipients will be honoured, including the second annual Young Printer Award and the winners of CPIA’s Awards of Merit. For more information, visit www.strategy08.ca or www.cpia-aci.ca

The Social Scene

Howard Graphic Equipment celebrates 40th anniversary
MISSISSAUGA—About 400-500 people celebrated Howard Graphic Equipment’s 40th and K-North’s 5th anniversary in Mississauga, Ont., last Friday night. During the event, branded “People, Passion & Print,” K-North gave the LSX29 press its Canadian debut, while performances by April Wine and Rick Mercer rounded out the night.

Special guests and customers take part in a traditional Japanese sake toast to Howard Graphic Equipment and K-North.

CBC personality Rick Mercer entertains the crowd at the event.

Look out for more PrintCAN coverage of parties, open houses and special events.