Members of my staff and I will be at Graph Expo in Chicago October 3-6 meeting with old friends, making new ones, networking and learning all we can about what’s new in the printing and graphic arts industry. So far, we’ve heard some exciting news about new technology, clever marketing initiatives and great deals offered at the show. It never fails to amaze me how innovative companies can be as they adapt to an ever-changing industry landscape.
Two items that caught my eye: Ultimate Technographics Inc. of Montreal will showcase its 64-bit version of the world’s fastest imposition solution at the show. I also discovered that Goss International will be offering a discount of up to 20 percent off the regular price for any parts ordered at the show – on orders up to $50,000 for commercial and newspaper presses as well as finishing systems!
If we miss you at Chicago, you can visit our booth at Print World 2010 (North America’s largest show for shorter-run printing) in downtown Toronto November 20-22 at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place. The line-up of exhibitors and speakers is quite impressive, including 50-year industry veteran and Professor Emeritus at R.I.T., Frank Romano. However, why wait? You can check out Frank’s incisive comments right now in Kristen Read’s “For the record” feature (page 28). I’ll also be interested in seeing the show’s exclusive Chinese Pavilion and its new suppliers – and, of course, comparing prices and quality with their North American competitors.
The last couple of months have seen some notable facility and business expansions. Direct-mail and variable-data success story, Bassett Direct has moved into a new 35,000-square-foot home in Richmond Hill, Ontario, effectively doubling its previous production space in Markham. Transcontinental Media has also expanded its newspaper repertoire, adding Journal Le Nord, a weekly publication distributed in the Laurentians with a circulation of about 50,000.
On the people front, congratulations to Tom Lang who has been named manroland’s regional sales manager, sheetfed, for Western Canada. An industry veteran, he was formerly with Muller Martini Canada and Transcontinental.
Finally, remember that Monday, October 11 is Thanksgiving Day. Now I realize that for many people, this has been a very stressful and difficult year so far, but being negative accomplishes nothing. So, as you hopefully celebrate with your loved ones, remember that, in retrospect, we do indeed have a lot to be thankful for, especially when we see what’s happening in other countries.
As always, stay positive and stay focused.
joe@graphicartsmag.com
