Graphical Arts Technical Foundation

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Printing industry profits decreased slightly over the last year, according to the 2008 PIA/GATF Ratios reports. The sluggish economy and slowing print markets pulled down printers’ profitability during the last year (2007-08). The average printer’s before-tax profit on sales was 3.1 percent during this past year. This was a decrease compared to 3.4 percent in the 2007 survey; it also is within the 3.0-3.4 percent range experienced from 1995 to 2001. This is the first decrease in profits in the last six years; at this rate the industry will earn approximately $5.4 billion in total profits over the course of the year. Profit

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Industry interest in and programming on sustainability helped increase attendance at the 2008 National Environmental Health & Safety Conference by 53 percent. About 225 people attended the March event at the Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel, a number the 13-year-old conference hasn’t experienced since 2002. The keynote presentation by Mark DiVito, “The State of Sustainability in Graphic Communications,” was based on a survey by Reed Business Information. This survey identified how different printing stakeholders are addressing green issues. The results included: • Companies that felt the emphasis on sustainability in printing had increased in the past year: 75 percent. • Companies with a

SEWICKLEY, Pa.—Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) has named Robert Birkland, president of Cirrus Consulting Group LLC in Dallas, Pennsylvania, the recipient of its 2007 William D. Schaeffer Environmental Award. Birkland’s involvement in the printing industry spans more than 25 years. He started his career as a mechanical engineer, installing and troubleshooting web offset presses. His success as an engineer resulted in his recruitment to become vice president of engineering for Arcata Graphics in Baltimore, Maryland. During his time at Arcata Graphics, Birkland participated in a committee that wrote regulations for the printing industry; these regulations were the basis for the Clean

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—The Ben Franklin Society, honor society to the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF), is proud to announce that Eugene Langlais II, an independent consultant and retired chief technology officer of Presstek, Inc., is the recipient of the 2007 Robert F. Reed Technology Medal. Langlais, who began his career as chief chemist for a government research company, has dedicated over 40 years to the development of products and processes that advanced the science of printing. Not only does he possess substantial technical expertise, but he is also recognized as an experienced manager, businessman, and mentor. In recent positions at Polaroid Graphics

For the last several years, Lean Manufacturing has been growing in the printing and packaging industries. PIA/GATF started presenting Quick Changeover training to printers and packaging companies starting in 1993 and implementing Total Production Maintenance starting in 1998. The problem printers have had with Lean is they have felt there are too many variables and that Lean applies to manufacturers that make widgets or automobiles. However, appeals for improving process efficiency in the printing industry date back to 1914 in articles in local printing trade publications. Lean Manufacturing is all about cost and money, so printing and packaging managers must first understand Lean’s perspective

PITTSBURGH—The Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership held its first stakeholders meeting on Nov. 27, 2007 in Arlington, Va. Representatives from the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF), the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA), the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), environmental groups, and key government agencies were in attendance to take the first steps towards a national registry program for green and sustainable printing practices. The SGP Partnership was formed in June 2007 as a collaboration between PIA/GATF, FTA, and SGIA with the primary goals of defining sustainable green printing and identifying steps that help the printing industry establish sustainable (or green) manufacturing and

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Printing managers from companies across the country recently traveled to the Pittsburgh, Pa. headquarters of PIA/GATF to attend the inaugural presentation of Lean Manufacturing for Print Managers. This three-day program, one of the industry’s first on the topic, showed printers how to apply the fundamental concepts of lean for faster turnaround, fewer defects, and lower costs. Attendees learned the eight sources of waste, the use of various lean tools, strategies for overcoming barriers, and what “living lean” means for management. It also gave attendees the unique opportunity to participate in a simulated printing plant and measure productivity increases from lean tools such as

PITTSBURGH—The Board of Directors of the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) passed a major key initiative concerning sustainability during its last board meeting. As a result, PIA/GATF has joined with the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) and the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) to establish the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP Partnership). Recently within the printing industry, the importance placed on companies’ “environmental friendliness” has increased dramatically. Many printers are facing a growing number of inquires regarding sustainable printing practices, and according to a recent survey conducted by PIA/GATF, more than 90 percent of printers believe that their customers will require “green”

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—The Board of Directors of the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) passed a major Key Initiative concerning sustainability during its last board meeting. As a result, PIA/GATF has joined with the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) and the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) to establish the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP Partnership). Recently within the printing industry, the importance placed on companies’ “environmental friendliness” has increased dramatically. Many printers are facing a growing number of inquires regarding sustainable printing practices, and according to a recent survey conducted by PIA/GATF, more than 90 percent of printers believe that their customers will require

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Steven S. Little, consultant and writer on the subject of business growth, and John Moore, marketing guru that helped Starbucks and Whole Foods create their brand, lead off the 2008 Presidents Conference, March 2–6, 2008 at the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Hotel in Cancun, Mexico. The three-and-a-half-day conference gathers industry notables, experts, practitioners, and profit leaders to share their Action Plans for Success, the theme of this year’s program. Little will identify the macro-changes taking place in our world, while Moore highlights the need to capture business through exceptional brand marketing. Patrick Sweeney, executive vice president of Caliper Corporation in New Jersey,