Print industry news
4over launches Strategic Print
Advisory Program
Leading trade printer 4over (Glendale, CA)
is aiming to help commercial printers gen-
erate revenue growth and expand their
customer base without overhead costs via
their new initiative. By adding new 4over
technology, products and services, print-
ers will be able to reduce labour and equipment costs.
Heading the program as Lead – Strategic Print Relations, is
Joe Stramel, an industry veteran with 40-plus years of experi-
ence. His team of Print Advisory Reps will provide guidance
in managing operational costs while keeping pace with
changing technology. The objective is to determine growth
strategies for printers which don’t require additional debt.
Stramel will work closely with printers to identify new revenue
streams with products and services such as EDDM, Printer
Bridge (W2P), large format and more. In-depth consultation
will also be provided in the buying and selling of equipment,
print-to-broker conversions, merger and acquisition solutions,
and succession planning. 4over’s Canadian production facility
is located in Mississauga, ON.
Konica Minolta introduces Transformed
MarketPlace for Applications
Konica Minolta Business Solutions
U.S.A. and Europe have unveiled a
new version of its MarketPlace for
users around the world, offering
apps and licenses “that transform
the way work gets done.” Formerly known as the bizhub
MarketPlace, Transformed MarketPlace for Applications pro-
vides “an unprecedented platform for leading-edge
applications, customization tools, and centralized device
management features.” The MarketPlace’s wide variety of
cloud, scan, productivity, information and security apps allow
users to easily increase the power of their Konica Minolta
multifunction printers. With its web-based design tool, cus-
tom-designed MFP User Interfaces (UIs) can be created and
tailored to display only those functions most needed. Featured
apps can be sorted based on category or filtered based on
keywords.
Innovative Design & Print enters photo
book market with Kodak Nexpress
Innovative Design & Print (Millbank, ON) recently installed a
Kodak NexPress Digital Production Colour Press. “We were
looking for a new digital press with long sheet capabilities and
@graphicarts
From left, beside the Kodak NexPress, are Ray Gerber (Press
Operator), Mike Halliwell (Kodak Sales Representative)
and Calvin Frey (Innovative Design & Print President).
high-resolution imaging for photo products,” said Calvin Frey,
President. Frey added that his company recently partnered
with a local retailer to market photo books through the retailer’s
online bookstore. “This press is ideal for photo books, cards,
calendars and other high-end materials, where a larger sheet
size and high image quality is a must. In particular, its CMYK +
Light Black capabilities can enhance image quality – especially
in smoothing facial tones.” The company specializes in digital
and offset, wide format, finishing, creative and web design,
hosting and security, signage, vehicle graphics and more. The
120-ppm 5-colour Kodak NexPress can handle over 800 sub-
strates and sheets up to 1 m long. Its NexPress HD Dry Inks
work with its improved imaging unit and intelligent software to
deliver “offset-class” smooth and flat tints, richer deeper blacks
and photo-quality images.
Cascades makes multi-million-dollar acquisitions
Cascades is acquiring four plants in Ontario, purchasing an
ownership position in Tencorr Holdings, and increasing its
equity in the Greenpac Mill (Niagara Falls, NY). “We’re very
pleased to expand our presence in Ontario and increase our
stake in Greenpac. These transactions
align perfectly with our vision and strat-
egy for our containerboard activities,”
said Cascades President and CEO
Mario Plourde. The four plants special-
ize in manufacturing boxes and
specialty products and include McLeish
Corr-a-Box Packaging & Design (Etobi-
coke), Brown Packaging (Burlington),
Coyle Corrugated Containers (Scarbor-
o u g h) a n d C o y l e P a c k a g i n g Mario Plourde
(Peterborough). The transaction will
expand Cascades’ presence in Ontario
and increase production capacity by 500 million sq ft per year.
Cascades also acquired a 33% stake in Tencorr, a company
that manufactures sheet stock for box producers, plus an inter-
est in Containerboard Partners, one of Greenpac’s shareholders.
The cost of the transaction totals $49 million. The container-
board packaging plants were acquired for $28 million.
GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | February 2018 | 11