February 28, 2003
Private medical records slip into final print run
MARKHAM, Ont.—For Trayon Litho it seemed a simple print run of 10,000 real estate flyers for the Toronto market. Until, that is, a sheet with confidential medical information of a woman's mammogram and pelvic exam accidentally ended up in the final batch for distribution. According to owner Raymond Wau, Trayon Litho uses scrap and recycled paper to do test runs. Some of the recycled paper contained the medical test results on one side and a handful of these test sheets mistakenly were mixed with the final run. Wau says he was "shocked and embarrassed by this regrettable (accident)." He says the waste paper is dropped off in bulk from several sources and that "it was certainly not of (his) knowledge that any paper containing medical records would be mixed into the scrap paper." The woman was tested at an Ottawa hospital and requested her information be sent to a Toronto law office, so it is suspected that the recycled paper came from an office tower. Trayon Litho, which has been in business for more than 10 years and employs five, is taking serious action. Wau says the company is no longer accepting scrap paper from unknown sources and is upping its level of quality control.

Moore to raise funds for Wallace financing
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. & STAMFORD, Conn.—Moore hopes to raise $400 million through the sale of senior notes in order to finance its January acquisition of Wallace Computer Services. Moore offered its Illinois-based rival about US$606 million in cash and US$470 million in shares to come on board in a merger agreement. The notes will mature in 2013 and be issued by Moore North America Finance. Net proceeds from the sale will be placed in an escrow account until all negotiations regarding the acquisition are final.

February 25, 2003
Two printers lined up for Harry Potter printing
VANCOUVER—Raincoast Books is gearing up for the June 21st release of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the latest edition in the series. Friesens and Transcontinental have been selected to print the 768-page book. Both have printed books in the Harry Potter series before. According to Tessa Vanderkop, publicity manager for the Canadian publisher, the initial print run is expected to double the opening run of the last title. "With the last book (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) we opened with 400,000 and had another 200,000 ready to go. For this one, we're looking at around 800,000." The publisher is also printing two different covers, one that will appeal to a younger crowd and one that will interest a more mature reader. "This is the first time we are actually doing a simultaneous, hardcover release for adults," she says. The books have become a growing interest in the adult market, whether for reading enjoyment or collectors' purposes. Vanderkop says printing of the fifth installment will begin in the next couple of months. The series has sold more than six million copies in Canada.

Winpak shows increased sales
WINNIPEG—Winpak reported strong sales figures for its fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31. Revenue for the quarter exceeded that of the comparable 2001 quarter by 10.2%, excluding sales from its newly acquired business. Sales were $138.6 million, $11.5 million of that being sold by new division Webkote, which specializes in lidding products. In September, Winpak scooped up the company from Fleming Packaging and it now operates under Winpak Heat Seal Corporation (WHSC). Twelve-month sales for 2002 were up from $453.8 million in 2001 to $491.1 million. Not including sales from WHSC—it pulled in $14.5 million for Winpak since September—the company increased its annual sales by 5%.

February 21, 2003
Toronto-area printer declares bankruptcy
PICKERING, Ont.—PrintCan has learned that Champlain Graphics has filed for bankruptcy. According to industry sources, Champlain ran into trouble when one of its largest accounts, Stewart House, went under owing the shop about $1 million. Champlain is currently in negotiations to sell the business as a going concern to CDA Industries, a 49-year-old Pickering-based design and manufacturing company with international offices and around 400 employees worldwide. While the amount owing to creditors is unknown, sources say Champlain, which recorded sales of $9.6 million in 2001, owes about $750,000 to paper merchants alone—Buntin Reid being high on the list. Champlain was established in 1974 and employs about 40 people. When contacted, owner Alan Simmons said he couldn't comment.

Two Toronto-based printers release annual figures
TORONTO—Printera and CCL Label have released their 2002 numbers. Recording its lowest sales figures in five years, Printera's fiscal year-end figures were $46.7 million. Citing a decrease in volume, the company decided to discontinue the operations of its U.S. division of Aluglass Packaging in June. It only pulled in about $6 million, with Aluglass's Canadian division bringing in the bulk of revenues. CCL Label showed an increase in its sales for both the fourth quarter and year-end. Sales for the quarter increased $11.9 million to $99.6 million and 2002 figures were up by $28.3 million, rounding out the year at $414.3 million. The company plans to increase its presence in Europe and has just established an operation in Thailand, an investment worth about $6 million. This division will supply global customers in the personal and health care markets.

February 18, 2003
Quebecor World brings in independent board members
MONTREAL—Quebecor World has adopted new corporate governance requirements, which will take effect following the annual shareholder's meeting in April. Topping the list are independent directors on its board. Earlier this month, the company nominated three executives for election to the board at the annual meeting. The new members, all considered independent of Quebecor World, are Richard Holbrooke, vice-chairman of a private equity firm and a member of former U.S. president Bill Clinton's cabinet; Derek Burney, president and CEO of CAE Inc.; and Charles Baillie, chairman of TD Financial Group. Other changes include: limiting the number of executives with interests in the company from sitting on various committees, like the compensation and audit committees; personal loans to executives will be prohibited; and the CEO will be put on a shorter leash with an annual review and recommendation.

Moore records profit in year-end sales
MISSISSAUGA, Ont., MONTREAL, DARTMOUTH, N.S.—Fourth quarter and year-end sales figures have started to trickle in and overall, numbers are down from 2001. At Moore, revenue for the fourth quarter was $522 million, compared to $537.2 million for the same period in 2001. The company ended out the year at $2.04 billion, down from $2.15 billion in 2001. Although sales were down this year, the company recorded a net loss of $73,258, as opposed to $373,383 from the year before. Quebecor World realized a 5% increase in sales for the quarter, recording $1.7 billion for 2002, while year-end figures slipped to $6.2 billion from $6.3 billion last year. Optipress released its numbers for its second quarter of operations. Revenue was $19.3 million, up $2.6 million from the first quarter and up $1.4 million recorded by the predecessor companies for the same period in 2001. The company has also completed its acquisition of Charlottetown-based Melmat Enterprises, which consists of two operations, Clarke Printing and Printing Express. The digital and offset operation had revenues of $800,000 in its 2002 fiscal year. This purchase increases Optipress' presence in the digital printing market and also in Atlantic Canada. Melmat is its first operation in P.E.I.

February 14, 2003
Employee theft hits Econoprint
ST. CATHARINES, Ont.—Econoprint has fallen victim to employee theft to the tune of $250,000. Rod Joanisse, president of Econoprint and recent president of OAQP, said the employee, who had been with the company for almost two decades and was a trusted member of his staff, made off with the money over a period of about two years. The company, which takes in about $1.5 million revenue per year on 14 employees, will be able to recover from the damage and has proposed to repay creditors, who are owed about $130,000, 10% per month until all invoices are paid, likely by November of this year. But Joanisse, who admits to having handed over signing authority, issued a cautionary warning to other printers: "It's great to have loyal, trusting people, but put things in place to check up and make sure the numbers are the way they should be. Let your employees know you are checking up on them from time to time."

PLM creates new Digital Services division
TORONTO—With the acquisition of Mailer Magic completed only days ago, PLM has created a new division, Digital Services, which will house that company along with PLM 1:1. President of the new division, Marc Fortier, says PLM's scope of digital services is driving a lot of fringe revenue at the company, and he hopes to expand on that and capture a greater market share in the U.S. and in its local market. Another goal Fortier has for the division is to build a "best in class" type of manufacturing process. "We're bringing together a lot of talent and there is a great opportunity for us to learn from each other in the two company's we are putting together." The division will operate out of PLM's main Markham facility with Mailer Magic moving over shortly. PLM isn't stopping here. Fortier said this is something that its clients have been looking for and PLM is responding with new acquisitions that will be added to the division to complete its digital product offerings.

February 11, 2003
Ryerson's GCM facility named Heidelberg Centre
TORONTO—The new graphic communications management building at Ryerson will officially be named the Heidelberg Centre. For putting its name on the 30,000-sq. ft. building, Heidelberg Canada is making a generous donation of equipment, services and funding to the school. Additionally, the press lab within the school will be recognized as the Heidelberg Press Lab. The donation will consist of prepress, direct imaging, sheetfed and finishing equipment. Brian Ellis, marketing manager at Heidelberg Canada, says the investment spans over a 10 year period. Late last year Heidelberg donated a slew of equipment, including two presses and a CTP system, to Algonquin College's print media program. The company has made an effort to contribute to education in the industry to ensure students are properly trained and become a key resource to employers. "We feel there is a need to help the education sector. Our customers are telling us that the biggest challenge is finding well-trained staff," Ellis says.

C.J. Graphics scores five gold for superb printing
TORONTO—C.J. Graphics was the big winner on Saturday night at the International Gallery of Superb Printing awards gala with five gold, six silver and two bronze awards. Other multiple gold winners include Kingsweb Inc. with three gold, Metro Label Co., Bowne of Toronto, Beach Communications & Design and St. Joseph Print Group with two gold each. In all, 22 printing companies were recognized for superb printing. AIIM received a total of 12 awards including one gold, two silver, four bronze and five honourable mentions; Kingsweb also took home five silver; and Grenville Management & Printing took home seven plaques including one gold, three silver, one bronze and two honourable mentions. The awards are handed out by The Toronto Club of Printing House Craftsmen.

February 07, 2003
Print West Show comes to Calgary in April
CALGARY—The fourth edition of the largest trade show in Western Canada has moved from Vancouver to Calgary for the first time. Print West will take place in a new hall at the Roundup Centre on April 12, 13 and 14. North Island Trade Shows Ltd., organizer of the successful Print Ontario event, will bring exhibitors and seminar leaders to Calgary to help western print industry personnel exchange ideas and explore new business opportunities. Exhibitors include Xerox, which has the largest booth at the show, A.B. Dick, GBC, Treck-Hall, Robert Thistle (CP Bourg), Southwest Binding, Bell & Howell, Quantum (Hamada, Standard), Adast and others. The seminar and workshop schedule includes sessions on sales, production and exporting to the United States. Session leaders include Duncan McGregor, retired president of the former Arthurs-Jones and now one of Canada's most noted industry consultants; Mike Stevens, one of the most successful quick-print shop owners in North America, and Tom Quinn from the Canadian Consulate General. Discounted hotel and airfare rates are available. Sponsors of the show include the Vancouver and Calgary chapters of the Printing House Craftsmen, Xplor International, Graphic Monthly magazine and PrintCAN. For more information go to www.printwestshow.com or call 1-800-331-7408.

Grenville creates new PDF-based consulting division
TORONTO—Grenville Printing and Management has extended its management division with a new PDF-based consulting arm. The new division will operate out of Grenville's Toronto location. Services include electronic document management, training and content repurposing using PDF. Frank Falcone, vice president of the division, says "we are one of the first to offer PDF-based publishing services on an enterprise level and have developed a business model that will allow Grenville to generate revenue from PDF technology." There has never been a price tag associated with PDF-related services before, he says. "Everybody's talking about it but no one is actually doing it." Falcone says printers generally think of PDF as only a means to streamline internal production workflows, when in fact, "it can be used to offer new revenue-generating services."

February 04, 2003
Quebecor appoints CEO, CFO
MONTREAL—Quebecor World has named two new executives to head the company. Michel Desbiens will take over as CEO and Claude Hélie will assume the role of CFO, bringing together again the two senior executives that led Montreal-based forest industry firm Donohue, once owned by Quebecor. Late last year, Charles Cavell announced his intention to retire from his duties as CEO and Christian Paupe announced he was leaving to pursue other opportunities. About a month before Cavell released the news of his retirement, Desbiens was hired as CEO of international operations at the printing giant. This announcement stirred much industry speculation that Cavell was grooming Desbiens as his successor. Desbiens duties will begin immediately while Hélie's appointment is effective Feb. 17. Cavell has also decided to remain on the board as deputy chairman.

Humber updates its graphic arts program
TORONTO—Humber College has revamped its one-year postgraduate graphic arts program. Over the past year, the name has changed from Electronic Publishing to Graphic Arts and Prepress Technology, the location has moved from Humber's North Campus to the Lakeshore Campus, which houses state-of-the-art presentation facilities and labs with brand new computers and networks, and the curriculum has been revised to include programs such as portfolio development and design and digital prepress. "The changes in the program really address the changes in the industry. There is a widening gap between desktop publishing and design-for-print," says David Barkworth, the acting program co-ordinator, adding that this program is ideal for those in the industry looking to update their skills. "It has more to do with output than input," he says, with more emphasis placed on topics like typography, colour separation and getting files ready for the press. For more information contact David at 416-675-6622 ext. 3011, david.barkworth@humber.ca or visit Humber's Web site at www.sms.humberc.on.ca.