Schawk, Inc.

DES PLAINES, Ill.—Schawk, Inc. , one of the world’s leading providers of knowledge-based brand image management solutions, announced that its Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, Mich. operations have been named one of the “101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” in Western Michigan by the National Association of Business Resources. Last year, Schawk’s Chicago metro area operations were honored by the same group. “We are deeply committed to attracting and retaining the finest talent in all areas of our business,” said David A. Schawk, president and chief executive officer. “Awards like these confirm that we offer the kind of workplace environment in which the

DES PLAINES, Ill.—Schawk, Inc., a world-leading provider of digital brand image management solutions to the consumer products packaging industry, announced today that it has been named a “Best Workplace in the Americas” by the Printing Industries Association of America (PIA) and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF). The Company has been recognized three previous times by the PIA and GATF. The Best Workplace awards program recognizes companies that commit to investing in their workforce by creating an environment in which employees thrive professionally through sound human relations practices. This is the second award Schawk received in 2006 recognizing the Company’s outstanding human relations practices.

Harper names new president; founders nominated for education awards CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Harper Corporation announced that Margaret Harper Kluttz accepted the position of president effective July 1, 2006. Daughter of founders Ron and Katherine Harper, Kluttz has served the company for 34 years, as production manager, administration manager, customer service manager, vice president of administration, and executive vice president. “We have a tremendous management group and an energetic, well-trained workforce,” said Kluttz. “Harper has spent an enormous amount of time, effort, and dollars on the training and education of our entire team, especially in the past few years. We feel confident and well prepared to

With digital assets representing a large investment by brand owners, organization and management are of critical importance. WHAT'S IN A package? Prior to the addition of cereal, hand cream, aspirin, or bug spray, the essential elements of a package or label include text; graphics; regulatory information; photos; CMYK, RGB, and 3D images; templates; line art; logos; layouts; and PDFs—to name just a few. The process of making that package involves every stage in the packaging supply chain, from engineering to marketing and legal to purchasing and production. Factor in additional legal requirements and regulatory information for food, pharmaceuticals, and other regulated industries, version

DES PLAINES—Schawk, Inc. announced today that it has donated $200,000 to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina disaster relief fund. Eighty-five thousand dollars came from the personal contributions made by Schawk, Inc. employees. This was matched dollar for dollar by the Clarence W. and Marilyn G. Schawk Family Foundation. An additional $30,000 was donated by the Foundation to bring the total Schawk contribution up to $200,000. "I am deeply moved by the generous response of our employees to the plight of the millions of people in the Louisiana Gulf Coast region who are faced with the heartbreaking task of rebuilding their lives," said Clarence

Pushing the limits of packaging graphics to help sell products on the store shelf has resulted in a new prepress art form. Today's package printers are, more often than not, required to be true creative design advisors, offering guidance and suggestions for crafting artwork out of packaging materials and pushing the limits of prepress delivery to enhance point-of-purchase appeal. The result: a new art of prepress, driven to deliver extravagant designs. Inland Paperboard and Packaging foresaw this renaissance—a change in the way its customers were expecting services such as mockups, design enhancements, and new ideas for delivering packaging. In the early '90s, these

by Michael Paeth, President, FlexoGrafix The one thing consistent in the world of prepress is change ... daily! If keeping up with new software, proofing, screening technology, plate exposure technology, direct-to-plate, and the myriad of other ever-changing facets of prepress isn't for you, you are not alone. But before you put your work into the hands of a trade shop, you should evaluate your needs, and then evaluate the trade shop that will be getting your work. Here are the "Top 10" criteria (in ascending order) to keep in mind when deciding on a trade shop to handle your work. Since everyone's needs

Part one of a two-part series exploring how some of the largest prepress companies achieve major-league technology initiatives. by Terri McConnell, Prepress Editor Here we are again. At the point in the grand American economic cycle where it seems that big companies just keep getting bigger, while small companies battle for survival among the giants. As consumers languishing on the other end of perpetual hold, we might wonder just what's so great about the race towards consolidation. Frustrated with the complicated, sometimes dehumanizing experience of doing business with a corporate Goliath, it's easy to believe that mega-companies are endless, faceless entities where nothing

With the Facilities Management approach to customer service, prepress providers and printers can forge mutually beneficial cohabitation arrangements. By Terri McConnell, Prepress Editor What's the best way to serve your customer? Up close and personal. That's the concept behind Facilities Management. It's a business model that extends service to the point of dedicating your own resources to meet your customer's needs—often by relocating them to your customer's site. According to Kevin Karstedt, a New York-based graphics industry workflow consultant, Facilities Management (FM) plays out in our industry in several ways. • Printers and converters provide FM services to consumer product companies (CPCs) by