In-plant Events

I’M GETTING ready to leave Germany as I write this, having just completed a grueling four days at Drupa, the international print show held every four years in Düsseldorf. It was a hot time—and I mean that literally. Thanks to the mugginess, and a somewhat different interpretation of air conditioning in Germany, I spent most of my time sweating and fruitlessly fanning the air with whatever press literature I picked up. It didn’t help that each day was filled with extremely long walks—miles of back and forth trudges between the hot meeting rooms where press conferences were held and the 19 exhibit halls.

WHEN YOU combine a vibrant, amiable group like the Association of College and University Printers (ACUP) with a beautiful setting like Clearwater Beach, Fla., you have the recipe for an excellent event. Last month’s ACUP conference was exactly that. It brought together 130 in-plant managers from all over the world for four days of discussions, educational sessions and fun in the Florida sun.

Drupa will begin in less than two weeks. IPG Editor Bob Neubauer will be there, in Düsseldorf, Germany, checking out all the latest technologies. To give you a peek at what’s ahead, here are just a couple of the latest pre-Drupa announcements: • ECRM will feature three new platesetters: MAKO 2x, a 2-page platesetter offering a full resolution range of 1200 to 3556 dpi; MAKO 4x, using next-generation optical technology that, with ECRM e-circuitry, delivers high quality imaging; MAKO 8x, an 8-page device that covers all formats for 2, 4, 6 and 8-page signatures with resolutions from 1800 dpi to 3556 dpi. ECRM

Public Printer Robert C. Tapella met with representatives from paper companies and associations on Monday in a two-hour open forum designed to educate GPO staff about paper sustainability. Paper industry leaders brought products and explained the challenges facing their industry in creating more sustainable paper. GPO wanted to learn what those challenges are so it can provide its customers with green paper options. “Our federal customers have asked for more sustainable paper choices,” said Tapella. “GPO is one of the largest providers of copier paper to federal agencies in the National Capital Region. I believe GPO has the obligation to be good stewards of

With its conference just 47 days away, the In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) has just launched its redesigned Web site. The new site is much easier to navigate and provides up-to-date information on the association’s many benefits. Look for quick links to IPMA chapter news, In-Print contest results, conference information and more. Check it out for yourself at www.ipma.org .

Océ is holding VIP events in several cities to familiarize printers with its new equipment and educate them on the advantages of “green” initiatives. After the event, attendees are invited to join Oce at a major league baseball game, while tickets last. An Océ VIP event was held last week in Alexandria, Va. Attendees watched the Florida Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 10-4. The events will feature a preview of new Océ production color products, as well as the Océ VarioPrint 6000 series, which is reportedly 45 percent more energy efficient than comparable devices. Each event features former in-plant manager (and frequent IPG writer)

Spiral Binding Co. will host its annual New York Open House Thursday, May 8, at the Manhattan Penthouse (80 Fifth Avenue, 17th floor). Guests are welcome to visit from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. This year’s theme is Jazz Fest, and Spiral hopes to get users jazzed about the great document finishing equipment and business presentation solutions on display. In addition, the open house will provide visitors the opportunity to consult with experts in custom business presentation solutions, experience Spiral’s procurement automation capabilities and speak with Spiral representatives about national equipment service needs. This year’s location will feature a lounge where guests can enjoy

ACUP is just three weeks away. The 44th annual Association of College and University Printers conference will take place in Clearwater, Fla., from May 4-8. Already 120 in-plant managers have signed up. In addition to an excellent lineup of speakers, and an exhibit area boasting more than 30 vendors, ACUP will feature a green theme on Wednesday. Attendees will ride a bus that morning to the famed Sunken Gardens (www.stpete.org/sunken), a 100-year-old botanical garden that is home to some of the oldest tropical plants in the region. There, consultant Vic Barkin—IPG’s “green writer”—will talk about various green initiatives that are being adopted by the

Ricoh Americas Corp. will be offering Smart Business Seminars through its Production Printing Business Group (PPBG). The company will cover critical production printing topics. PPBG developed the seminars to better meet the specific business needs of those working in in-plants and data centers. Designed as an educational forum, these seminars offer segment-focused information that includes national industry speakers, hands-on exercises, technology demonstrations and take-away operational assessment tools for real-life applications. Smart Business Seminars have been held in Atlanta and Philadelphia and will tour across the country in six additional cities. Here’s the schedule: • New York; May 14 • Washington, D.C.; June 11 •

THE COUNTRY’S largest gathering of in-plant managers is about to assemble in Tunica, Miss., just south of Memphis. The In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) Conference will be taking place June 4-7 at the Veranda Hotel, part of the Grand Casino Resort, in Tunica. Any manager interested in improving his or her in-plant should make plans to attend. This will be the association’s 49th conference, and the agenda is packed with educational sessions that get right to the heart of the issues most important to in-plants. Topics include variable data, mail piece design, customer service, Web-based job submission, going green and much more.