June 30, 2005
Top 100 list and Estimators’ & Buyers’ Guide now available
MISSISSAUGA, ON—PrintCAN’s sister publication, Graphic Monthly, has released its Gold List. The Gold List is an annual ranking of the largest 100 printers in Canada, measured by revenue. Sales from 2003 to 2004 were relatively flat, a relief from the losses of previous years. Although the aggregate sales totaled $15.73 billion, down from $19.48 billion in 2003, the decline reflects the absence of Moore Wallace, which was absorbed by U.S. firm R.R. Donnelley, and Alcan Packaging, which no longer breaks out Canadian figures. Look for the Gold List in the June issue of Graphic Monthly, which also contains the latest issue of the Estimators’ & Buyers’ Guide.

The Printing House grows again
TORONTO—Quick printer, The Printing House (TPH) recently expanded into the Niagara region with the acquisition of Copyman Print Shops. The small chain which includes two branches in St.Catharines, one in Welland and one in Niagara falls had been owned and operated by Andrew Oullette who is retiring from the business. One more location in Fort Erie will continue under the Copyman name under license from TPH to the office supply company, Beatties Basics. With expansion into Niagara, TPH now has more than 60 networked branches across Canada. TPH ranks 24th in Graphic Monthly’s Gold List, with 2004 estimated revenues of $53 million, up from $51 million in 2003.

June 28, 2005
Rooney leaves The Howell Group
TORONTO—Amid swirling rumours in the industry about the fate of The Howell Group, PrintCAN has learned that Ed Rooney, president, left his post last week. He could not be reached for comment. Rooney joined Howell last November. In other developments at the company, several suppliers have told PrintCAN that they no longer deal with Howell because of unpaid debt. Howell’s phone line has been in perpetual voice mail mode for several days, and the company did not reply to PrintCAN’s query. Beaumont Chorny, director of the Howell, also could not be reached for comment.

Canadian print industry makes top 1000 list
TORONTO—Four commercial print companies have spots on Report On Business magazine’s list of Canada’s biggest 1000 publicly traded companies in 2004 ranked by profits. Quebecor World was 80th, up significantly from its 2003 rank of 960. Not far behind was Transcontinental, in 114th place, down from its number 84 position last year. Davis + Henderson came in at 203 and PLM Group was in 646th spot.

June 24, 2005
Nor Tri owner retires, sells business
TORONTO—Nor Tri, a publishing/printing business, formerly known as Norflex & Triform, which specialized in producing police memorandum books, has closed shop. Founder L. Bruce Pierce who owned and operated the business for 47 years has retired and sold most of the assets, including finishing equipment, inventories, and trademarks to Carswell, a division of Thomson Canada, which produces professional publications for legal, tax, finance, accounting and human resources markets. Now 82 years old, Pierce started Norflex in March of 1958 and Triform in 1976.

Transcontinental’s revenue up, profit down
MONTREAL—Transcontinental’s second quarter saw a dip in profits, but an increase in revenue. Profit dipped to $37.8 million from $39.2 million in the same period last year. The company attributed the decrease in profit to costs that included the upcoming closure of the Peterborough plant, consolidating its Winnipeg flyer printing business, and reorganization of its operations in Mexico. Quarterly revenue, however, increased 7% to $558 million from $520 million in 2004, partly due to acquisitions such as the U.S.-based direct-mail firm, JDM, which added $20 million in revenue. In a recent conference call with analysts, Transcontinental CEO Luc Desjardins said the company is always looking for new acquisitions.

June 22, 2005
Howard Flint dies, age 66
Ann Arbour, MI—H. Howard Flint, grandson of Flint Ink’s founder and 40-year veteran of the ink industry, passed away last week after a brief illness. A native of Detroit, Flint started his career at the family company in 1964 and worked his way up through human resources, purchasing, operations, and sales to the board of directors. He was elected president and COO in 1988 and chairman and CEO in 1992. He retired this year, assuming position of non-executive chairman of the board of directors. Under Flint’s leadership, the corporation expanded into the international marketplace and moved into digital and electronics technologies. Flint was also a respected leader in the ink and printing industry trade associations.

June 17, 2005
Boucher leaves CPIA
OTTAWA—Pierre Boucher, president of CPIA, is leaving his post. He has accepted a position as CEO of the Canadian Construction Association. Today is his last day. Boucher joined the association in January 2001. After four years at the helm he describes the environment in the industry as a challenging one, but urges that the level of pessimism permeating the industry should change. The industry, he says, will undergo changes, but it’s here to stay and its future is brighter than most realize. A search committee, headed by Jeff Ekstein, chairman of CPIA and president of Willow Printing Group, has begun looking for a replacement and is in the initial interviewing stage. Ekstein says CPIA is primarily looking for a candidate with strong association management experience because such an individual understands lobbying and has contacts in government. In the meantime Neil Fitzmaurice, formerly a senior director with CPIA, has re-joined the office on a part-time basis to keep the association functioning smoothly.

Kodak proud new owner of Creo
VANCOUVER—Sooner than originally expected, the acquisition of Creo by Eastman Kodak, valued at US$988 million is a done deal. On Tuesday, the final approval from regulatory authorities in South Africa came in and on Wednesday Creo common stock was delisted from the TSE and NASDAQ after close of the market. All assets and operations of Creo are now part of Kodak, which plans to push more aggressively into the graphics communication industry.

June 13, 2005
Print industry loses Jack Hazeldine
SURREY, B.C.—Jack Hazeldine passed away last Friday, June 9 after a brave battle with cancer. Jack is fondly remembered from his days as President of Hazeldine Press. In November 2003 he became the first Honorary Life Member of the BCPIA after his retirement from Hemlock Printers where he was a mentor in the sales department. In 1994 Jack received the CPIA Distinguised Service Award. In 1992-93 he was chairman of the CPIA and served as president of the BCPIA in 1982-83.
During his retirement, Jack was active in the Association on the Government Affairs committee and the Education Task Force. Education was extremely important to Jack. He served for many years on the CPIA Education Trust Fund Committee ensuring that deserving students received assistance in their training for the printing industry. When BCPIA established its Education Task Force in 2003, following the suspension of the program at Vancouver Community College, Jack was one of the first to volunteer. He worked along with other Education Task Force members to develop the proposed Graphic Communications Technology Program slated to start in January 2006 at the BC Institute of Technology.
The funeral service will be held Friday, June 17, at Ryerson United Church, 2195 West 45th St., Vancouver, at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jack Hazeldine Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o the CPIA Scholarship Trust Fund, at 906-75 Albert St., Ottawa, K1P 5E7.

Crown merges with Clark
HAMILTON—Dundas, Ont.-based Crown Printing has merged with Clark Productions and will no longer operate as Crown. Clark Productions, a large silk-screen printer has bought out Crown’s equipment including a six-colour press and cutters. Crown’s business and five employees are operating out of the Clark location. Gary Hamilton, former co-owner of Crown is also working at Clark Productions on a contract basis.

June 10, 2005
Ryerson Graphic Communications school names new Chair
TORONTO—Ryerson’s Graphic Communications Management program has named its new Chair: Abhay Sharma, associate professor in the Department of Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Imaging at the University of Western Michigan since 2001, has signed on for a five-year contract. Sharma’s previous positions include senior lecturer in Imaging Science for the School of Communication, University of Westminster, UK and senior engineer in color and imaging technology for Fujifilm Electronic Imaging, UK. He hold a B.S. in Photographic Sciences from the University of Westminster and a Ph.D. in Physics from King’s College, University of London. His involvement in the graphic arts industry also include his recent book, Understanding Color Management, a monthly column in Phototechniques Magazine, and research in the area of imaging and visualization for which he is a co-recipient of a US$236,000 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation. Sharma is also active as a presenter for organizations such as the International Graphic Arts Education Association, the Gravure Association of America, the International Prepress Association and the International Color Consortium.

Graphic Monthly wins journalism award for fourth year straight
MISSISSAUGA, Ont.—Graphic Monthly won a silver award at the prestigious Kenneth R. Wilson Awards for excellence in business writing. The article, Rémi Marcoux, Printer of the Year (October, 2004) by Editor Filomena Tamburri, took the prize in the Best Profile of a Person category. In the Best Industrial/Manufacturing Article category, Graphic Monthly placed in the top five for Hype vs. Reality: the truth about winning in the short run market (August, 2004) by Nancy Clark. The KRW awards are handed out by the Canadian Business Press, the national association of business publications. More than 750 entries were submitted.

June 7, 2005
DIA shuts down merger talks with OAQP
TORONTO—The Board of Directors of the Digital Imaging Association (DIA) has opted to discontinue merger discussions with the Ontario Association of Quick Printers (OAQP). DIA president Lesley Hepditch said that although there are synergies between the two organizations, the DIA doesn’t see a merger as a financially viable move. The DIA plans an aggressive membership drive in August.

CPIA reduces loss
OTTAWA—Recent financial statements from CPIA reveal the association ended fiscal 2004 with a $33,798 loss, even as revenue grew by about $30,000. Last year’s loss totaled $76,450. According to the financial documents, the losses are attributable to an allowance for bad debt set up to deal with revenue the association has not received from the Quebec association totaling $41,108. CPIA was able to reduce its total expenses to $343,284 in 2004 from $350,362 in 2003. “CPIA cannot trim any further its budget and discussion will need to take place to ensure we can increase our revenue to appropriately fund our national association,” says treasurer Jamie Barbieri.