Web Press Corp. last week filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in the wake of slowing sales and high costs attributed to the development of a new commercial press.
The Kent, Wash., vendor also reshuffled its executive suite, naming Bernie Molinksi president, succeeding Ricky L. Guinn, who was named director of operations. Mark Ricca remains Web Press’ chairman and CEO.
Molinksi told News & Tech that the company expects to issue a new business plan within the next 60 days. “We are not going away,” he said. “We want all of our suppliers to know that we are a responsible company, and aware of our responsibilities, but we needed to take this step.”
Molinski said last fall’s economic free-fall, in combination with costs associated with developing a new commercial press, forced Web Press to reorganize. “It was a huge economic undertaking,” he said of the research and development required to design the new machine.
The press, he said, will be introduced later this year.
Molinski said Web Press is in the process of obtaining debtor-in-possession financing to ensure its continued operation, and that it doesn’t plan any layoffs or consolidation.
“There is no interruption of sales, service or parts,” he said. Installations will also continue to occur without interruption, he said, citing a Quad-Stack install that took place last week at Horizon Publications in Vancouver, B.C.
Web Press’ bankruptcy petition was filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Seattle.
Monday, August 3, 2009
DMN streamlines advertising with Atex
The Dallas Morning News went live on a 463-seat Atex AdBase advertising and business system. The app will allow the publisher to integrate every aspect of the advertising sales process, from ad order entry and placement to financial tracking and reporting, Atex said. AdBase also handles all invoicing and accounts receivable for the newspaper’s print and digital advertising business. AdBase will allow DMN to reduce the number of internal advertising systems from four to one, which will streamline operational expenses by approximately 50 percent, while increasing overall efficiency and sales capabilities, Atex said.
The migration to AdBase lays the foundation for what the publisher refers to as its Integrated Advertising System, which is an initiative designed to refocus its sales and marketing departments to enhance the quality of its customer service offerings.
“Our goal is to better understand our clients’ marketing objectives and develop recommendations that reach their target audiences and deliver results,” said Fran Wills, The Morning News’ senior vice president of marketing and interactive. “IAS and AdBase will help facilitate this change in the way we do business.”
Look for more information about the deployment in the September issue of News & Tech.
The migration to AdBase lays the foundation for what the publisher refers to as its Integrated Advertising System, which is an initiative designed to refocus its sales and marketing departments to enhance the quality of its customer service offerings.
“Our goal is to better understand our clients’ marketing objectives and develop recommendations that reach their target audiences and deliver results,” said Fran Wills, The Morning News’ senior vice president of marketing and interactive. “IAS and AdBase will help facilitate this change in the way we do business.”
Look for more information about the deployment in the September issue of News & Tech.
ABB gets controls upgrade
ABB said it will upgrade aging press controls across four Goss International Colorliner presses at Singapore Press Holdings’ plant in Jurong.
The vendor will install a centralized MPS Production press management system with a geo-cluster server and four clients, MPS Inform and a total of 16 control consoles, eight of which equipped with soft proof monitors.
SPH will also be the first user of ABB’s new graphical imposition generator.
ABB will begin upgrading the presses this fall, with completion expected in late 2010.
The vendor will install a centralized MPS Production press management system with a geo-cluster server and four clients, MPS Inform and a total of 16 control consoles, eight of which equipped with soft proof monitors.
SPH will also be the first user of ABB’s new graphical imposition generator.
ABB will begin upgrading the presses this fall, with completion expected in late 2010.
LA Times to deliver OC Register
The Orange County (Calif.) Register will be delivered to homes and vending machines by the Los Angeles Times starting in September, the two newspapers announced last week.
The distribution agreement is a bid to give the Register seven-figure savings in payroll and warehousing costs each year, said Larry Riley, vice president of circulation and distribution.
Through the deal, the Register will become the Times’ largest commercial delivery contract.
The change will impact 721 independent contractors who currently deliver The Register and approximately 55 full-time and 143 part-time workers, who will be laid off, Riley said.
“We are facing challenges and we have to find efficiencies,” he said.
The Times will distribute the Register and its weekly publications to subscribers, Riley said. Separately, the Register contracts with a third-party firm to deliver the weeklies to non-subscriber households, and that arrangement will continue.
The deal comes on the heels of the publishers’ announcement of plans to launch OCSaver/Local Values, a joint advertising insert, beginning Aug. 27-29 (see Dateline, July 27, 2009).
The distribution agreement is a bid to give the Register seven-figure savings in payroll and warehousing costs each year, said Larry Riley, vice president of circulation and distribution.
Through the deal, the Register will become the Times’ largest commercial delivery contract.
The change will impact 721 independent contractors who currently deliver The Register and approximately 55 full-time and 143 part-time workers, who will be laid off, Riley said.
“We are facing challenges and we have to find efficiencies,” he said.
The Times will distribute the Register and its weekly publications to subscribers, Riley said. Separately, the Register contracts with a third-party firm to deliver the weeklies to non-subscriber households, and that arrangement will continue.
The deal comes on the heels of the publishers’ announcement of plans to launch OCSaver/Local Values, a joint advertising insert, beginning Aug. 27-29 (see Dateline, July 27, 2009).
New Mexican launches ink optimization app
The Santa Fe New Mexican installed ProImage’s OnColor Eco ink optimization software.
“It has brought us quantifiable ink savings in production of in-house and commercial productions on both our KBA Comet and commercial Didde press,” said Mike Campbell, systems administrator. “Over the past 60 days, since installation, we have processed 8,900 pages and are already averaging 15 percent ink savings.”
OnColor Eco converts RGB and CMYK pages containing pixel and vector data to correct color space for optimal printing, while preserving the original color appearance, ProImage said.
Look for more on ink optimization and The New Mexican’s installation in the September issue of News & Tech.
“It has brought us quantifiable ink savings in production of in-house and commercial productions on both our KBA Comet and commercial Didde press,” said Mike Campbell, systems administrator. “Over the past 60 days, since installation, we have processed 8,900 pages and are already averaging 15 percent ink savings.”
OnColor Eco converts RGB and CMYK pages containing pixel and vector data to correct color space for optimal printing, while preserving the original color appearance, ProImage said.
Look for more on ink optimization and The New Mexican’s installation in the September issue of News & Tech.
WaPo launches mobile site
The Washington Post launched a new mobile site built on a proprietary platform.
Users in the Washington, D.C.-area will have access to customized weather, breaking sports scores and regional news stories.
Amtrak has signed on as sponsor of the launch.
The new site sports five main sections and has two mobile editors dedicated to updating content and managing breaking news alerts.
“The newspaper and Web site have long been core to our business, but we are committed to reaching our audience whenever they want news and information, wherever they are,” said Goli Sheikholeslami, general manager of Washington Post Digital.
In the very near future, visitors to the site will be able to make a restaurant reservation, buy a movie ticket and conduct other advanced transactions directly from the site as well as receive real-time traffic routes integrating Google maps and GPS.
Users in the Washington, D.C.-area will have access to customized weather, breaking sports scores and regional news stories.
Amtrak has signed on as sponsor of the launch.
The new site sports five main sections and has two mobile editors dedicated to updating content and managing breaking news alerts.
“The newspaper and Web site have long been core to our business, but we are committed to reaching our audience whenever they want news and information, wherever they are,” said Goli Sheikholeslami, general manager of Washington Post Digital.
In the very near future, visitors to the site will be able to make a restaurant reservation, buy a movie ticket and conduct other advanced transactions directly from the site as well as receive real-time traffic routes integrating Google maps and GPS.
ABC to launch new community newspaper audit service
The board of the Audit Bureau of Circulations gave initial approval to launch a new ABC Community Newspaper Audit service that will feature streamlined, off-site audits that occur every other year. The initiative also simplifies rules and reporting requirements and will enable community papers’ circ data to be included in Fas-Fax and ABC's searchable online database.
Pending final approval, the service will be available to all U.S. and Canadian newspapers with paid circulation under 25,000, beginning Jan. 1, 2010.
Meantime, the board agreed to extend for one year the testing of an optional consolidated report that allows newspapers to display a variety of print, online and other audience data.
In June, ABC released the first such report for the Chicago Tribune and Tribune Media Group.
The ABC board also gave final approval to a rule modification that allows U.S. and Canadian newspapers with average weekday paid circulation under 50,000 to break out "power days" if they opt not to report their circulation each day of the week.
Pending final approval, the service will be available to all U.S. and Canadian newspapers with paid circulation under 25,000, beginning Jan. 1, 2010.
Meantime, the board agreed to extend for one year the testing of an optional consolidated report that allows newspapers to display a variety of print, online and other audience data.
In June, ABC released the first such report for the Chicago Tribune and Tribune Media Group.
The ABC board also gave final approval to a rule modification that allows U.S. and Canadian newspapers with average weekday paid circulation under 50,000 to break out "power days" if they opt not to report their circulation each day of the week.
Vietnam newspaper to install Tensor press
Tensor Group Inc. said it sold a two-tower, one-folder T-400BE press to Can Tho General Printing Joint Stock Co. of Cantho City, Vietnam. The singlewide press, which features an H-50 folder, will be installed in the fourth quarter.
The towers will be fed by four splicers, giving the printer up to 32 pages of 2-color tab production. Can Tho General Printing currently plans to run 24 tabloid pages with 8 pages of 4-color and 16 pages of 2-color. A number of dailies and weeklies will be printed on the press, Tensor said.
The towers will be fed by four splicers, giving the printer up to 32 pages of 2-color tab production. Can Tho General Printing currently plans to run 24 tabloid pages with 8 pages of 4-color and 16 pages of 2-color. A number of dailies and weeklies will be printed on the press, Tensor said.
Australian publisher picks DTI for circ management
Digital Technology International said it has signed a multimillion-dollar agreement with News Ltd. to provide all of the publisher’s Australian newspaper divisions with DTI Circulation, its suite of newspaper circulation, distribution, marketing and reporting software.
The deal covers News Ltd.’s 11 major operating divisions in Australia, with a total circulation of more than 12 million copies each week, and includes The Australian, the country's only national broadsheet.
"The software will allow us to manage circulation across all divisions in the same way, and therefore, enable News Ltd. to interface with our customers in a common manner nationally,” said Catherine Woodside, the publisher’s circulation director.
The deal covers News Ltd.’s 11 major operating divisions in Australia, with a total circulation of more than 12 million copies each week, and includes The Australian, the country's only national broadsheet.
"The software will allow us to manage circulation across all divisions in the same way, and therefore, enable News Ltd. to interface with our customers in a common manner nationally,” said Catherine Woodside, the publisher’s circulation director.
Day Publishing beefing up online with Saxotech
The Day Publishing Co. of New London, Conn., said it will use Saxotech Inc.’s Mediaware Center software to support its online publishing.
The deployment includes the Saxotech Digital Center, an interface for managing news content across multiple digital channels.
The single online publishing platform will integrate directly into Day’s existing systems and workflow.
“Our new site will be more user-friendly, allowing us to build a closer relationship with our readers,” said Timothy Dwyer, executive editor.
The deployment includes the Saxotech Digital Center, an interface for managing news content across multiple digital channels.
The single online publishing platform will integrate directly into Day’s existing systems and workflow.
“Our new site will be more user-friendly, allowing us to build a closer relationship with our readers,” said Timothy Dwyer, executive editor.
French publisher buys WIFAG 4-by-1
French media group Ouest purchased a WIFAG OF 375 S press for its SIGL printing plant in La Ceveroliere, near Nantes.
The 4-by-1 press is slated for commissioning by the end of 2010, with a maximum production speed of 92,000 copies per hour. The press will produce 48 pages, of which 32 will be full color. The press is equipped with automated cutoff register and color register controls. Ouest will also install six fully automatic A50 autopasters, one KF 140 2:5:5 jaw folder, an ABB control system and an ink metering system from CGI.
The 4-by-1 press is slated for commissioning by the end of 2010, with a maximum production speed of 92,000 copies per hour. The press will produce 48 pages, of which 32 will be full color. The press is equipped with automated cutoff register and color register controls. Ouest will also install six fully automatic A50 autopasters, one KF 140 2:5:5 jaw folder, an ABB control system and an ink metering system from CGI.
Transcon secures funding
Transcontinental said it signed two new financing agreements, totaling $135 million. One is a five-year loan of $50 million through the Societe Generale de Financement du Quebec, and the other is a six-year loan for $85 million through European bank HypoVereinsbank, which Transcontinental said will be used to buy production equipment over the next two years.
Transcontinental also obtained an additional $25 million in the one-year credit facilities recently arranged with its bank syndicate. This amount is in addition to the $125 million previously announced on May 5, 2009.
Transcontinental last week said it would purchase four Commander CT presses from Koenig & Bauer AG to support production of The (Toronto) Globe and Mail (see Dateline, July 29, 2009).
Transcontinental also obtained an additional $25 million in the one-year credit facilities recently arranged with its bank syndicate. This amount is in addition to the $125 million previously announced on May 5, 2009.
Transcontinental last week said it would purchase four Commander CT presses from Koenig & Bauer AG to support production of The (Toronto) Globe and Mail (see Dateline, July 29, 2009).
Star Tribune reorg close to finish line
The (Minneapolis) Star Tribune said a bankruptcy court approved plans to put the paper’s reorganization plan to a vote among creditors.
If approved, the company could emerge from bankruptcy as early as Sept. 17 with new owners and only $100 million in debt, according to the Star Tribune.
The newspaper is also expected to identify a new publisher and board of directors. Current publisher Chris Harte said he would step down before the paper emerges from bankruptcy. Current owner, Avista Capital Partners, purchased the Star Tribune for $530 million in 2007. Its equity will be wiped out as a result of the reorganization.
If approved, the company could emerge from bankruptcy as early as Sept. 17 with new owners and only $100 million in debt, according to the Star Tribune.
The newspaper is also expected to identify a new publisher and board of directors. Current publisher Chris Harte said he would step down before the paper emerges from bankruptcy. Current owner, Avista Capital Partners, purchased the Star Tribune for $530 million in 2007. Its equity will be wiped out as a result of the reorganization.
Venezuelan pub picks Goss
Diario Panorama of Maracaibo, Venezuela, chose Goss International for a web-width reduction, Digital Page Pack and controls upgrade on its existing Metroliner and MetroColor presses. The publisher produces 150,000 copies Monday-Saturday of Panorama and Mi Diario newspapers and 170,000 copies on Sundays.
“The reduction in web width and digital inking system on our Metroliner and MetroColor presses will enable us to reduce our costs at a time when newsprint has seen large price increases,” said Luis Enrique Ramirez, production manager at Diario Panorama.
“The reduction in web width and digital inking system on our Metroliner and MetroColor presses will enable us to reduce our costs at a time when newsprint has seen large price increases,” said Luis Enrique Ramirez, production manager at Diario Panorama.
Peru publisher taps QTI
El Comercio in Lima, Peru, installed QuadTech’s Icon integrated platform in a bid to increase efficiency and reduce waste, QTI said.
The publisher is installing the technology on a 48-page manroland Lithoman press to automate and meet the high-quality demands of its commercial customers.
Meantime, QTI changed the name of its Irish subsidiary Vigitek to QuadTech Ireland. QTI purchased the firm, which designs and manufactures print inspection technology, in May 2008.
The publisher is installing the technology on a 48-page manroland Lithoman press to automate and meet the high-quality demands of its commercial customers.
Meantime, QTI changed the name of its Irish subsidiary Vigitek to QuadTech Ireland. QTI purchased the firm, which designs and manufactures print inspection technology, in May 2008.
Print 09 to present sneak preview Webcast
The Graphic Arts Show Co. said it will present an advance preview of Print 09’s “Must See ‘Ems” nominees, encompassing some of the most innovative technologies to be demonstrated during the upcoming show.
The free Webcast will be presented on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 1 p.m. EDT.
To register for the free webinar visit: http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=O9w8eUEt4MmT7wYil9CNUwc6b3%2f65UdENeq7xyF5YjQ%3d&digest=z8xf1SEsfjvDG2dnEBVz9Q.
News & Tech will present a special Print 09 seminar covering newspaper production trends on Monday, Sept. 14, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 502 A/B in the South Hall of McCormick Place. The 90-minute seminar will be moderated by News & Tech editor-in-chief Chuck Moozakis. Print 09 is being held Sept. 11-16.
The free Webcast will be presented on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 1 p.m. EDT.
To register for the free webinar visit: http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=O9w8eUEt4MmT7wYil9CNUwc6b3%2f65UdENeq7xyF5YjQ%3d&digest=z8xf1SEsfjvDG2dnEBVz9Q.
News & Tech will present a special Print 09 seminar covering newspaper production trends on Monday, Sept. 14, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 502 A/B in the South Hall of McCormick Place. The 90-minute seminar will be moderated by News & Tech editor-in-chief Chuck Moozakis. Print 09 is being held Sept. 11-16.
Rima sets sales
Rima-System said it sold an RS-610 log stacker and RS-650 log palletizer to Dartmouth Printing in Hanover, N.H., while Transcontinental Printing in Mexico City purchased two 610 log stackers and an RS 400 articulated arm robotic palletizer and associated floor and overhead conveying systems.
Finally, Universal Printing in St. Louis purchased a Rima-System inline rotary trimmer to be installed on its Goss International Sunday 2000 press. The trimmer, and an accompanying RS-34 indexing stacker, will let the printer press-finish a wide variety of work, Rima-System said.
Finally, Universal Printing in St. Louis purchased a Rima-System inline rotary trimmer to be installed on its Goss International Sunday 2000 press. The trimmer, and an accompanying RS-34 indexing stacker, will let the printer press-finish a wide variety of work, Rima-System said.
In Brief
ArcWest Architects named Rick Ruffino a partner. Prior to joining ArcWest, Ruffino served as director of manufacturing for the U.S. outsourcing group at Transcontinental Inc. and continues to serve as a consultant at the printer’s newly opened Fremont, Calif., production facility.
The Los Angeles Times Media Group named Bill Nagel executive vice president of business services, a newly created position.
Catherine J. Mathis, who has served as chief of communications for The New York Times Co. for 12 years, is leaving the company at the end of the month to take a similar position with Standard & Poor’s.
Ethan Riegelhaupt, vice president for speechwriting and internal communications, will take Mathis’ place on an interim basis.
Amerikal Products Corp. promoted Nick Buettner senior technician.
Local.com Corp. named Michael Plonski chief technology officer.
Advanced Vision Technology named Juan Da Silva sales director for Latin and South America.
Verve Wireless named Bill Ganon chief revenue officer.
(New York) Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman will use money raised from stock sales to pay for the new Koenig & Bauer presses that will be used to print the paper. Bloomberg said Zuckerman has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to sell 1 million shares of stock, worth some $51 million, to finance the purchase of the machines.
Hearst Newspapers said it will deploy Flyerboard ad software from PaperG across 15 newspaper Web sites.
www.paperg.com
Lancaster (Pa.) Newspapers said it will use software from CommunitySportsDesk for local sports coverage.
www.communitysportsdesk.com
Kodak said the JDF Interoperability Matrix identified Creo Color Servers as having the greatest number of connections to third-party workflow apps. The Matrix is produced by CIP4, the International Cooperation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress.
http://www.cip4.org/matrix/
WoodWing Software rolled out Brand Station, its Web-to-print app, designed to help ensure brand consistency. Brand Station integrates with WoodWing’s Enterprise content publishing platform. The vendor also announced the availability of its Adobe CS4-compatible SmartLayout plug-in.
www.woodwing.com
Baldwin Technology Co. Inc. said Gulf Printing and Publishing Co. purchased blanket washers for its manroland Cromoman semi-commercial presses in an order valued at approximately $1.3 million.
www.baldwintech.com
UV vendor GEW unveiled C3, a new reflector design for its range of UV curing systems. Based on the vendor’s retractable cassette system, this third-generation reflector cartridge was developed as a replacement to the existing XC (extreme cure) reflector system used on its VCP and eCP product platforms, GEW said.
www.gewuv.com
Printing Press Services International is supplying a two-tower shaftless press extension and controls system upgrade at Trinity Mirror’s Newcastle plant in the United Kingdom. It also just completed a web-width reduction project at Newsquest’s U.K. facilities.
www.printing-press-services.co.uk
Hearst Corp. leased the printing facility formerly used to produce the San Francisco Chronicle to a construction company that’s building the nearby San Francisco General Hospital. The lease for the 7.9-acre property on Cesar Chaves Street is for five years.
The Los Angeles Times Media Group named Bill Nagel executive vice president of business services, a newly created position.
Catherine J. Mathis, who has served as chief of communications for The New York Times Co. for 12 years, is leaving the company at the end of the month to take a similar position with Standard & Poor’s.
Ethan Riegelhaupt, vice president for speechwriting and internal communications, will take Mathis’ place on an interim basis.
Amerikal Products Corp. promoted Nick Buettner senior technician.
Local.com Corp. named Michael Plonski chief technology officer.
Advanced Vision Technology named Juan Da Silva sales director for Latin and South America.
Verve Wireless named Bill Ganon chief revenue officer.
(New York) Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman will use money raised from stock sales to pay for the new Koenig & Bauer presses that will be used to print the paper. Bloomberg said Zuckerman has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to sell 1 million shares of stock, worth some $51 million, to finance the purchase of the machines.
Hearst Newspapers said it will deploy Flyerboard ad software from PaperG across 15 newspaper Web sites.
www.paperg.com
Lancaster (Pa.) Newspapers said it will use software from CommunitySportsDesk for local sports coverage.
www.communitysportsdesk.com
Kodak said the JDF Interoperability Matrix identified Creo Color Servers as having the greatest number of connections to third-party workflow apps. The Matrix is produced by CIP4, the International Cooperation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress.
http://www.cip4.org/matrix/
WoodWing Software rolled out Brand Station, its Web-to-print app, designed to help ensure brand consistency. Brand Station integrates with WoodWing’s Enterprise content publishing platform. The vendor also announced the availability of its Adobe CS4-compatible SmartLayout plug-in.
www.woodwing.com
Baldwin Technology Co. Inc. said Gulf Printing and Publishing Co. purchased blanket washers for its manroland Cromoman semi-commercial presses in an order valued at approximately $1.3 million.
www.baldwintech.com
UV vendor GEW unveiled C3, a new reflector design for its range of UV curing systems. Based on the vendor’s retractable cassette system, this third-generation reflector cartridge was developed as a replacement to the existing XC (extreme cure) reflector system used on its VCP and eCP product platforms, GEW said.
www.gewuv.com
Printing Press Services International is supplying a two-tower shaftless press extension and controls system upgrade at Trinity Mirror’s Newcastle plant in the United Kingdom. It also just completed a web-width reduction project at Newsquest’s U.K. facilities.
www.printing-press-services.co.uk
Hearst Corp. leased the printing facility formerly used to produce the San Francisco Chronicle to a construction company that’s building the nearby San Francisco General Hospital. The lease for the 7.9-acre property on Cesar Chaves Street is for five years.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)