Pittsburgh, Pa.—Markzware has donated to The Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) a 30-seat license of Flightcheck Professional––a preflight tool for professional designers and prepress production departments within the print and publishing industries. Joseph Marin, senior prepress technologist at PIA/GATF, said, “Flightcheck Professional is an important component to both PIA/GATF production and training programs. Flightcheck Professional is a tool used to efficiently preflight both native application files and PDF files. The software’s user-friendly interface and short learning curve is a perfect fit for our training programs.” PIA/GATF expects that this latest donation from Markzware will continue to keep the graphic arts trade
Graphical Arts Technical Foundation
PITTSBURGH, Pa.—The Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) has formed a Center for Lean Practices to help members implement lean manufacturing practices. The center will provide consulting, training, publications, and a speaker’s bureau. The association reports that printers are increasingly recognizing the power of applying quality systems to their operations in an effort to reduce defects, expose wasted resources, and improve throughput. Lean manufacturing is one way for members to meet client demands for faster turnaround, and stay cost competitive while protecting profit margins, according to PIA/GATF. Lean’s focus on driving out waste is also seen as critical for companies competing globally.
PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Responding to the fast-paced electronic environment of today’s students, PIA/GATF, its educational services office, and the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) have created a Student’s Guide to Careers in Graphic Communications page on the association’s Web site (www.gain.net). Students interested in careers in the industry, those who want information on colleges with graphic communications programs, and those searching for scholarship information can click on the word Students in the Quick Links section of GAIN. The student landing page opens to a quick-paced, two-minute video, Introduction to Graphic Communications. PIA/GATF worked with Printing Industry of Minnesota (PIM) to bring this video
PITTSBURGH, Pa.—The Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) announced the formation of a Center for Lean Practices to assist members with the implementation of lean manufacturing practices. The center will provide consulting, training, publications, and a speaker’s bureau. The association reports that printers are increasingly recognizing the power of applying quality systems to their operations in an effort to reduce defects, expose wasted resources, and improve throughput. Lean manufacturing is one way for members to meet client demands for faster turnaround, and stay cost competitive while protecting profit margins, according to PIA/GATF. Lean’s focus on driving out waste is also seen as
ENCINO, Calif.—Enfocus, the Artwork Systems brand and the leader in PDF and production automation technology, announced that it is donating a full version of its PitStop Automate PDF technology, worth $5,999, to the Graphic Arts industry’s largest association, PIA/GATF (Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation) based in Sewickley, Pa. PitStop Automate is an advanced and affordable workflow automation solution that allows design studios, ad agencies, printers and publishers to easily and automatically control graphic arts file movement and processing through production. Built to streamline graphic arts processes, PitStop Automate extends the power of Enfocus’ automation-enabling technologies such as PDF preflight and editing, and
Pittsburgh, Pa.—Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) is seeking to honor a dedicated teacher and an industry trainer from the graphic communications field. Nominations for the Education Awards of Excellence are due June 1, 2007. The Education Awards of Excellence were established by PIA/GATF in 1984 as a way to recognize that the success of graphic arts education and training programs depends heavily on the motivation, enthusiasm, and leadership of those dedicated to teaching. Nominations for both academic educators and industry trainers are often merited by the following selection criteria: 1. A distinguished educational service provided as a direct result of
SEWICKLEY, Pa.—The Label Printing Industries of America (LPIA) kicks off its 2nd annual Technical Institute, May 6–8, at the PIA/GATF headquarters. With the new applications of technology, the industry finds itself at the forefront of exciting and dynamic change. The LPIA Technical Institute is designed to bring together the industry’s leading technical experts in the areas of label converting, packaging, and box wraps. Attendees will meet face-to-face with experts who will share their knowledge and provide insight into practical, real-world applications, best practices, and solid solutions. Last year’s conference was standing room only, and this year promises the same. Topics include: • Container &
SEWICKLEY, Pa.—The Web Offset Association (WOA) and PIA/GATF have partnered to offer Offset and Beyond 07 management and technical conference—bringing together the coldset, heatset, and sheetfed offset communities. This conference builds on the history of the WOA conference and adds the resources of PIA (Printing Industries of America)/GATF (Graphical Arts Technical Foundation). This showcase event is scheduled for April 29-May 2, 2007 at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto, Canada. Offset & Beyond offers an array of targeted tracks covering business trends and opportunities, production and operations, and it will feature some of the most successful leaders in the industry. It will bring the audience
CHICAGO, Ill.—On Feb. 6, the Graphics Arts Show Company (GASC) reported that about 85 percent of GRAPH EXPO’s exhibit space has been sold, positioning this year’s show to exceed the size of its 2006 predecessor. This year’s show will take place September 9-12 in the South Building of the McCormick Place Complex in Chicago, Ill. This is a significant trend since the 2006 show was the largest GRAPH EXPO since 2000. Based on the increasing momentum, GRAPH EXPO is looking to be a sellout, filling the South Building of McCormick Place. While the total number of companies reserving space is slightly fewer compared to
ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Managing last minute changes with PDF technology is the focus of a Kodak presentation at the Annual Flexographic Pre-Press Platemakers Association (FPPA) convention. Bob Dalton, product manager, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group (GCG), will present “Save Time and Expedite Orders with Revolutionary PDF Production Tools” on Monday, Feb. 19 at the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz. Kodak is a sponsor of the event, which runs Feb. 18-20. Dalton’s presentation will explore the benefits of KODAK PRINERGY PDF Compare and PDF Merge Software. These PDF plug-in production tools provide an automated way for prepress operators to incorporate last minute changes when preparing files for
