Lesson 1: Fall Training Courses that Help Grow Your Business!
Are you or your staff prepared to meet growing customer demands when new standards and technologies are evolving faster than you can say, “training”? Begin the fall 2013 season by going back to school. We have a lineup of highly rated, hands-on training courses to give your company an upper hand on the competition. Fall 3013 Training Workshops September 26–27 G7® Offset Press Operator Training Program October 1–2 Safety Matters: OSHA Compliance for Printers October 8–9 G7® Digital Press Operator Training Program October 21–24 Orientation to the Graphic Arts November 5–7 Extreme Offset: Troubleshoot, Control, Optimize Why does it pay to send employees for quality off-site training at Printing Industries of America headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA? We have the skilled experts and trainers that attendees say are “engaging” and “extremely knowledgeable and consistent.” Attendees learn via classroom and hands-on instruction for a comprehensive understanding they can take back to their facility. Additionally, off-site training, away from their daily work, allows for complete focus and material absorption—which leads to greater ROI! Visit www.printing.org/training and look under “Public Workshops” for all of our 2013 training courses....
read moreRhapsody signs new business development exec
Pritchard took up his post at the London-based pre-media firm, owned by Walstead Investments, at the beginning of August. “I joined Rhapsody based on the client list they have built up and the legacy they have in terms of their product quality. They have fantastic technology and systems, and I can see those bringing added benefit to sectors they are not currently working with. I’m excited to be a part of that,” he said. Pritchard will focus on developing leads, particularly in the BPO market and in the finance and recruitment sectors, which the company does not currently serve. Pritchard was formerly European business consultant at Express KCS, where he focused on outsourcing creative production projects to India. Prior to this he spent 12 years as a recruitment specialist. Rhapsody managing director Les Pipe said: “It is a good time for David to be coming to the business. He had a good track record at Express KCS, and we hope to support him and make a success of him at this stage of his career.” The latest appointment follows the creation of a new head of digital role at the company, last month, as part of its ongoing expansion....
read moreRhapsody signs new business development exec
Pritchard took up his post at the London-based pre-media firm, owned by Walstead Investments, at the beginning of August. “I joined Rhapsody based on the client list they have built up and the legacy they have in terms of their product quality. They have fantastic technology and systems, and I can see those bringing added benefit to sectors they are not currently working with. I’m excited to be a part of that,” he said. Pritchard will focus on developing leads, particularly in the BPO market and in the finance and recruitment sectors, which the company does not currently serve. Pritchard was formerly European business consultant at Express KCS, where he focused on outsourcing creative production projects to India. Prior to this he spent 12 years as a recruitment specialist. Rhapsody managing director Les Pipe said: “It is a good time for David to be coming to the business. He had a good track record at Express KCS, and we hope to support him and make a success of him at this stage of his career.” The latest appointment follows the creation of a new head of digital role at the company, last month, as part of its ongoing expansion....
read moreLarge-format market down almost a quarter
Market researcher the International Data Corporation (IDC) said most of the region’s countries saw a decline in the number of machines installed, with the exception of a few markets in Scandinavia. The findings were included in the IDC’s latest Western European Quarterly Large-Format Printer Tracker, which stated that 15,500 units were sold across western Europe in the second quarter. Research manager Julio Vial said: “The main reason for the drop in the UK and the rest of western Europe is the economy, which is showing signs of recovery so figures could pick up.” New technology, spearheaded by companies such as HP, could also have an impact on how the market evolves this year and beyond, he added. The technical sector continues to be the largest market in western Europe, with more than a 65% share of the application type, although the market declined by 4.4% year-on-year in the second quarter. The graphics segment dropped by around 30% in the same quarter year-on-year. The top three vendors in western Europe in Q2 were HP, Canon, and Epson, accounting for 83.7% of total wide-format printer shipments. IDC tracks A2 to A0 and larger devices in the printer market, including single-function printers and multifunctional systems....
read moreRhapsody appoints new business development director
Pritchard took up his post at the London-based pre-media firm, owned by Walstead Investments, at the beginning of August. “I joined Rhapsody based on the client list they have built up and the legacy they have in terms of their product quality. They have fantastic technology and systems, and I can see those bringing added benefit to sectors they are not currently working with. I’m excited to be a part of that,” he said. Pritchard will focus on developing leads, particularly in the BPO market and in the finance and recruitment sectors, which the company does not currently serve. Pritchard was formerly European business consultant at Express KCS, where he focused on outsourcing creative production projects to India. Prior to this he spent 12 years as a recruitment specialist. Rhapsody managing director Les Pipe said: “It is a good time for David to be coming to the business. He had a good track record at Express KCS, and we hope to support him and make a success of him at this stage of his career.” The latest appointment follows the creation of a new head of digital role at the company, last month, as part of its ongoing expansion....
read moreLarge-format market down almost a quarter
Market researcher the International Data Corporation (IDC) said most of the region’s countries saw a decline in the number of machines installed, with the exception of a few markets in Scandinavia. The findings were included in the IDC’s latest Western European Quarterly Large-Format Printer Tracker, which stated that 15,500 units were sold across western Europe in the second quarter. Research manager Julio Vial said: “The main reason for the drop in the UK and the rest of western Europe is the economy, which is showing signs of recovery so figures could pick up.” New technology, spearheaded by companies such as HP, could also have an impact on how the market evolves this year and beyond, he added. The technical sector continues to be the largest market in western Europe, with more than a 65% share of the application type, although the market declined by 4.4% year-on-year in the second quarter. The graphics segment dropped by around 30% in the same quarter year-on-year. The top three vendors in western Europe in Q2 were HP, Canon, and Epson, accounting for 83.7% of total wide-format printer shipments. IDC tracks A2 to A0 and larger devices in the printer market, including single-function printers and multifunctional systems....
read morePaperlinx reduces losses and targets profitability in 2014
“We’ve definitely turned a corner and all the blood sweat and tears of the past seven months have started to unravel all the bad work that was done before. It shows the market that our plan is starting to work; we’re paying down debt and the business is turning around,” said Paperlinx executive director Andrew Price. According to the merchanting group’s figures, profits across its operations in Asia, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand grew by more than a third, however the company continued to be hamstrung by its European operations, which account for just over 70% of its revenue. To the year ending 30 June 2013, sales at the firm’s European operations dipped by 16% to A$1.9bn, compared with A$2.3bn in the previous year, which the company blamed on declining demand. However, European losses ballooned from A$23.6m to A$34.3m. In the UK, which accounts for around 30% of Paperlinx’s global revenues, Price said the recovery was “full steam ahead”. “We’re bringing back some serious volume. Margin is key though and we’ve got to do some work on that – that’s going to be our focus going forward,” added Price. The company did manage to reduce its debt level from A$147.8m to A$122.7m, largely thanks to the sale of some of its European operations. It also confirmed that it had extended some of its “key lending arrangements” including “amended facilities” in the UK, which it said would give it greater flexibility. “We’ve got plenty of cash for the first time through our debt facilities, so we’ve got enough to do what we need to do and we’ve got a plan,” said Price. In a statement, the chief executive Dave Allen said that Paperlinx’s ongoing restructuring, which has been largely focused on its European operations and cost A$26m in the past year, was expected to deliver A$35m-A$40m of savings annually from next year. He added that the Australian group was confident that the business would be “marginally profitable” in its 2014 full-year results. “The big stuff is done now, but restructuring the business has to be ongoing, it has to be part of our DNA so there are a few more things to do, but not on the same scale,” said Price. Overall sales from for the global merchanting group’s continuing operations dipped by almost 15%, from A$3.2bn in its previous financial year to A$2.8bn in 2012/2013. Underlying losses, which factor in restructuring costs, and the write-downs of the group’s European operations (A$25.1m in 2012/2013 and A$119.3m in 2011/2012) fell year-on-year from A$54.4m to A$39m. In its results statement, the company also revealed that it had entered into preliminary discussions with the hybrid shareowners to simplify its capital structure and in essence explore a deal to swap the hybrid shares for ordinary shares. Paperlinx chairman Robert Kaye said: “The Board believes that the simplification of the capital structure is fundamental to unlocking value for both Paperlinx ordinary shareholders and hybrid security holders.”...
read morePaperlinx reduces losses and targets profitability in 2014
“We’ve definitely turned a corner and all the blood sweat and tears of the past seven months have started to unravel all the bad work that was done before. It shows the market that our plan is starting to work; we’re paying down debt and the business is turning around,” said Paperlinx executive director Andrew Price. According to the merchanting group’s figures, profits across its operations in Asia, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand grew by more than a third, however the company continued to be hamstrung by its European operations, which account for just over 70% of its revenue. To the year ending 30 June 2013, sales at the firm’s European operations dipped by 16% to A$1.9bn, compared with A$2.3bn in the previous year, which the company blamed on declining demand. However, European losses ballooned from A$23.6m to A$34.3m. In the UK, which accounts for around 30% of Paperlinx’s global revenues, Price said the recovery was “full steam ahead”. “We’re bringing back some serious volume. Margin is key though and we’ve got to do some work on that – that’s going to be our focus going forward,” added Price. The company did manage to reduce its debt level from A$147.8m to A$122.7m, largely thanks to the sale of some of its European operations. It also confirmed that it had extended some of its “key lending arrangements” including “amended facilities” in the UK, which it said would give it greater flexibility. “We’ve got plenty of cash for the first time through our debt facilities, so we’ve got enough to do what we need to do and we’ve got a plan,” said Price. In a statement, the chief executive Dave Allen said that Paperlinx’s ongoing restructuring, which has been largely focused on its European operations and cost A$26m in the past year, was expected to deliver A$35m-A$40m of savings annually from next year. He added that the Australian group was confident that the business would be “marginally profitable” in its 2014 full-year results. “The big stuff is done now, but restructuring the business has to be ongoing, it has to be part of our DNA so there are a few more things to do, but not on the same scale,” said Price. Overall sales from for the global merchanting group’s continuing operations dipped by almost 15%, from A$3.2bn in its previous financial year to A$2.8bn in 2012/2013. Underlying losses, which factor in restructuring costs, and the write-downs of the group’s European operations (A$25.1m in 2012/2013 and A$119.3m in 2011/2012) fell year-on-year from A$54.4m to A$39m. In its results statement, the company also revealed that it had entered into preliminary discussions with the hybrid shareowners to simplify its capital structure and in essence explore a deal to swap the hybrid shares for ordinary shares. Paperlinx chairman Robert Kaye said: “The Board believes that the simplification of the capital structure is fundamental to unlocking value for both Paperlinx ordinary shareholders and hybrid security holders.”...
read morePrintWeek Power 100 goes live online
The listing, which was published in the 19 August issue of PrintWeek, remains one of our most popular annual features and invariably provokes lively debate, both before and after publication. The ranking was ultimately decided by the PrintWeek team, but with the invaluable input of the 2,500 people who contributed to the public vote. This year, Chris Ingram of York Mailing claimed the number-one spot, jumping 37 places in recognition of the fact that his company has increased turnover by around £60m over the past five years. It recently secured £10m of Business Growth Fund lending to enable it to acquire the Lettershop Group and push turnover to nearly £100m. Ingram himself is a passionate advocate for print and full of confidence for the industry’s future. “It’s easy for people to think the printing industry is in decline. The reality is, if you’re focused on very specific markets, it’s actually quite the reverse,” he commented earlier this year. For the full listing, please click here. Numbers 100 to 91 Numbers 90 to 81 Numbers 80 to 71 Numbers 70 to 61 Numbers 60 to 51 Numbers 50 to 41 Numbers 40 to 31 Numbers 30 to 21 Numbers 20 to 11 Numbers 10 to 2 Number 1...
read morePrintWeek Power 100 goes live online
The listing, which was published in the 19 August issue of PrintWeek, remains one of our most popular annual features and invariably provokes lively debate, both before and after publication. The ranking was ultimately decided by the PrintWeek team, but with the invaluable input of the 2,500 people who contributed to the public vote. This year, Chris Ingram of York Mailing claimed the number-one spot, jumping 37 places in recognition of the fact that his company has increased turnover by around £60m over the past five years. It recently secured £10m of Business Growth Fund lending to enable it to acquire the Lettershop Group and push turnover to nearly £100m. Ingram himself is a passionate advocate for print and full of confidence for the industry’s future. “It’s easy for people to think the printing industry is in decline. The reality is, if you’re focused on very specific markets, it’s actually quite the reverse,” he commented earlier this year. For the full listing, please click here. Numbers 100 to 91 Numbers 90 to 81 Numbers 80 to 71 Numbers 70 to 61 Numbers 60 to 51 Numbers 50 to 41 Numbers 40 to 31 Numbers 30 to 21 Numbers 20 to 11 Numbers 10 to 2 Number 1...
read more