News Archives
October 2002
October 01, 2002
Sears Canada reduces catalogue distribution
TORONTO—Sears Canada is cutting back the production of its hefty catalogue to 59 million copies, down from 75 million in 2002. The company is also reducing the size of the catalogue and spending less on flyers and print ads. The amount spent on radio and television ads will be doubled and the Internet will play a larger role in the ordering process. Vincent Power, director of corporate communications at Sears Canada, says that the company will continue to print 70% of its weekly flyers and ads, but will save about $37 million from the catalogues alone. The number of books produced per year, the page counts and the number of households that receive the catalogue has been reduced. He says broadcast ads convey a "stronger message" to enhance Sears' brands. Instead, Sears is planning to sift through its customer database to better target its core audience.

Transcontinental restructures into three divisions
MONTREAL—Transcontinental Group is re-organizing its operation into three divisions—Transcontinental Printing - Information Products; Transcontinental Printing - Marketing Products; and Transcontinental Media—effective November 1. Information Products combines the company's newspaper, magazine and book printing activities, while Marketing Products covers its direct-mail sector. Transcontinental Media remains the same with Andre Prefontaine continuing on as president. Serge Bragdon, who currently serves as president of the Interactive Marketing division, will become president of the Information Products group and the process of finding a president for the Marketing division is currently underway.
October 29, 2002
Sales remain stable at Quebecor
MONTREAL—Quebecor World released its third quarter earnings for the period ended September 30. Revenue is holding steady showing comparable results from the year earlier. Sales were down to $1.62 billion from $1.63 billion in 2001. The company says its cost containment efforts and its specialized plants have helped it remain stable and competitive in a tough economic environment. Meanwhile, earnings per share for the quarter showed an increase with a 12% jump to $0.64, compared to $0.46 last year.

Winpak's sales up in third quarter
WINNIPEG—Winpak saw its sales increase 13.6% in the third quarter ended September 30. Revenue was up to $123.2 million for the quarter from $108.4 million for the same period last year. Earnings per share also showed an increase, rising from $3.16 to $4.95. Late in the quarter, Winpak acquired the net assets and die cut lid business of Webkote, a division of Fleming Packaging. The division is now operating under Winpak Heat Seal Corporation.

October 25, 2002
Transcontinental expands plant in Halifax
HALIFAX—Transcontinental is investing $4.8 million to expand its Web Atlantic facilities in Halifax from 28,000 sq. ft. to around 60,000 sq. ft. It will print The Halifax Daily News, The New Glasco Evening News, and The Truro Daily News under one roof. This means the presses at each newspapers' location will stop rolling, affecting about 15 people. "We certainly hope that everyone can be absorbed (by the expanded plant)," says Catherine Moxsom, business development manager at Transcontinental Web Atlantic. The company is still assessing the needs of the new facility, leaving job security and total plant size unknown for the time being. Along with the existing press line, which will be dismantled and reinstalled with some new units once the expansion is complete, Moxsom says, "At this stage, we're looking at putting in a whole separate press line with 16 units, giving us two total press lines." The expansion is expected to be completed by May 2003.

Moore announces improved third quarter results
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. & STAMFORD, Conn.—Moore exceeded third quarter predictions for the period ended September 30, 2002. CEO Robert Burton, along with analysts' estimates, expected the company to report earnings per share of at least US$0.12. Actual earnings for the quarter were US$0.15 per share—that's up considerably from last year's normalized net earnings of US$0.02 per share. Sales declined in the third quarter from US$510.6 million in 2001 to US$486.8 million. Moore cited volume decreases in the prepaid phone card market, fourth quarter 2001 divestitures and unprofitable customer contracts in the forms and label business for the decline in sales.

October 22, 2002
CPIA releases technology study
OTTAWA—The CPIA has released a benchmark study that president Pierre Boucher says outlines current printing technologies and the technologies that printers will adopt over the next five years. Responses from a nation-wide survey were tabulated to produce the report. "There have been several of these type of studies done in the U.S., and we felt it was time to have our own Canadian one," he says. "It gives us a better appreciation of what printers are doing in terms of usage of technology and it helps printers assess where and how they fit in terms of that technology so they can better strategize in the future." The report is available now for CPIA members ($45 + GST) and non-members ($75 + GST). For more information, phone (613) 236-7208.

St. Joseph takes part in tree planting ceremony
COLLINGWOOD, Ont.—Two senior representatives from St. Joseph Corp. took part in a tree planting ceremony at the opening of the LCBO branch in Collingwood, Ont. this morning. Along with a one-year print contract for its Food & Drink magazine, the LCBO signed on as a participant in St. Joseph's Partners in Growth program. Ray D'Antonio, executive vice president and general manager of St. Joseph Print Group, Concord Division, attended the event along with Bill Duron, St. Joseph Corp.'s vice president of business development. D'Antonio says for every ton of paper the company prints, St. Joseph donates three seedlings to Scouts Canada on behalf of its print client. "It's a great cause that all our customers participate in and because of the recent contract with the LCBO, it was a great opportunity to tag it on to their opening ceremony," he says. Over the next year of the contract, the LCBO will be responsible for planting more than 7,400 seedlings across Canada.

October 18, 2002
AdlerTech completes currency printing for Salt Spring Island
TORONTO—AdlerTech, a Toronto-based security printer, has just completed the production of Salt Spring Island's $50 and $100 currency. The Salt Spring Island Monetary Foundation created the Island's proprietary dollars—also available in $10 and $20 denominations that were printed this summer—as gift certificates for local merchandise or as souvenirs. Accumulated funds will go towards an environmentally friendly transit system for the B.C. island. The Salt Spring currency features the work of local artists: the $50 displays Carol Evans's work and the $100 showcases Robert Bateman. Ten thousand copies of the $50s and 5,000 copies of the $100s were produced. Not only are the bills a showpiece, says Andrew McTaggart, managing director of AdlerTech, but they are embedded with a security feature known as HALO. "It has multiple hidden images within the different colours of the bill that cannot be scanned out or copied."

PGIA becomes partner in health, safety
CALGARY—At a recent health and safety seminar and mini trade show held by the PGIA, Hon. Clint Dunford, Alberta's minister of human resources and employment, named the association a partner in health and safety. This formalizes the PGIA's goal of assisting members in developing a health and safety program in their workplaces, says PGIA president Gary Evans. With that, the association is developing a Health and Safety Management System for members that consists of two manuals: The Process Guide, a how-to guide for developing a program at the workplace, and The Health and Safety Corporate Manual, an outline of company goals, objectives, rules and regulations. Both manuals are customizable to fit each company. The Health and Safety Management System is expected to be available by mid-November. For more information, e-mail: info@pgia.ca.

October 16, 2002
Williams and Crue consolidates into $4-million plant
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I.—Williams and Crue is consolidating the printing operations of P.E.I.'s two daily papers—The Journal-Pioneer and The Guardian—in an expanded plant in Borden-Carleton. Transcontinental recently purchased the printer and the newpapers as part of its acquisition of Canwest Global's Atlantic newspapers. The $4-million, 28,000 sq. ft. plant, expected to be completed in April, will replace the existing presses at the current Summerside and Charlottetown facilities. Williams and Crue's consolidated operations will reflect other Transcontinental locations with the media and printing divisions functioning as separate entities of the company.

Transcontinental acquires remaining shares of Mexican operation
MONTREAL—Transcontinental now holds full ownership of its Mexican operation, Impresora Transcontinental de México. It has acquired the remaining 33% interest held by the minority shareholder, positioning the company to move forward with its plans for development. The Mexican division includes three plants—one in Toluca and two in Mexico City—with combined annual revenues of about $130 million.

October 11, 2002
Entire Imaging Solutions scoops up some of IKON's divestitures
MISSISSAUGA—IKON Office Solutions recently cleared out a number of its non-strategic print centres. This enabled Andy Chiodo, president of Entire Imaging Solutions, to re-acquire his Toronto location, as well as pick up another location in Vancouver. Chiodo previously owned the Toronto location until 1997 when IKON purchased the facility naming it IKON Business Document Services. Judy Pietrantonio, sales and marketing coordinator at Entire Imaging Solutions, says the Toronto location is a better fit with its business strategy. "One of IKON's business strategies for the document services group is print-on-demand. Although we do offer those services, Entire's focus is on the reprographics industry." Now that ownership has converted back to Chiodo, the company plans to place a greater focus on the architectural, engineering and construction industry sectors. The company now has four locations, all under the Entire Imaging Solutions banner—Toronto, Markham, Vancouver, and its headquarters in Mississauga. Pietrantonio says the staff, office locations and services have remained the same throughout. With combined sales of about $10 million, the company offers digital printing, copying, image conversion and finishing services.

October 08, 2002
Best Copy clerk recounts night of RCMP raid
TORONTO—"I just don't want to think about it anymore. I want to get on with my life," says Trevor Pines. The 34-year-old, originally from Kitchener, Ont., was closing up at Best Copy on September 26, 2001 when the RCMP raided the Toronto shop after it was linked to terrorist activities. He recalls 30 to 40 officers bursting into the shop with machine guns telling him to freeze. Pines, along with owner Ahmed Shehab's 16-year-old son, was handcuffed and questioned for an hour and a half while the RCMP searched the building. He said he was asked about Nabil Al-Marabh, Shehab's nephew who was connected with the terrorist attacks but was later cleared of that charge. The RCMP also had questions about other Arabic-speaking men, the Al Qaeda network and the activities that took place at the shop. "I don't speak Arabic, I don't understand it. I was just working [at the shop]. I was just an employee with no relation to Shehab or anyone." Pines, who took the print technician course at George Brown college, began working at Best Copy in June before the attacks and was laid off in December 2001. He has since found employment at a marketing agency that prints promotional material.

AAGQ to meet with CPIA president
MONTREAL—The AAGQ held a general meeting on October 5 to gain feedback from members about whether to withdraw from the CPIA. The provincial association has been facing hard times financially and would like to renegotiate membership dues. Daniel Lafond, AAGQ president, says members shared their concerns at the meeting and he will take those to CPIA president Pierre Boucher at the end of this week to further discuss the situation in hopes of a resolution. Check back with PrintCan for further updates.

October 04, 2002
Quebecor announces management shuffle
MONTREAL—Quebecor World has recently realigned its senior management to include co-chief operating officers. John Paloian, president of its magazine/catalogue division, and David Boles, president of its retail and Sunday magazines, will share the combined role. Both will now report to Charles Cavell, president and CEO. This appointment follows the announcement of Marc Reisch's resignation from his post as president and CEO of Quebecor World North America. He has left to pursue other opportunities.

The Phoenix Print Shop is gaining strength
TORONTO—The Phoenix Print Shop, an extension of Eva's Phoenix—a transitional housing unit for homeless youths—has been underway for about a year and is off to a good start, says productive enterprises coordinator Andrew Macdonald. The print shop trains and employs youths from Eva's Phoenix. The program has had about 10 young people go through the program. Although not all successful, two participants in particular, whose last names are withheld for confidentiality reasons, are headed in the right direction. Dave has started training within the Graphics Communications Management program at Ryerson and Marla has started a co-op position at Sutton Graphics in Toronto. Macdonald says the program has also started a three-week pilot workshop at Heidelberg for digital print training. Stay tuned for more updates.

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