Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging U.S.A.

Medifast, a portion-controlled, weight management program, is quickly becoming a leader in a competitive market. And according to Kent Hunter, supervisor at the company's Ridgely, Md.-based in-plant, MDC Printing, the various in-house services the shop provides are a key to the company's success. "The way this place is growing is incredible. The budget is open for the print shop and the management is very supportive."

NEW ORLEANS' devastation at the hands of Hurricane Katrina was witnessed on TV screens worldwide. But seeing the aftermath first hand, as attendees of the recent National Government Publishing Association conference did, left a far more poignant impression.

RIGHT NOW, somewhere in the world, a teacher is admonishing students: "Don't copy!" But within the Bethel School District, in Spanaway, Wash., educators and staff are applauding Diane Karl for nearly 26 years of consistent, finely executed copying (and printing). As the district's print shop manager, Karl oversees graphic design, production, reproduction and print distribution services for 17 elementary schools, six junior high schools, three high schools, an alternative school for grades eight through 12, an online academy and district administration.

Michigan State University is “very picky” about quality and registration, says Dennis Seybert, manager of Print and Digital Communications. So when the in-plant’s Konica Minolta bizhub PRO C500 left the shop a little unimpressed, it decided to upgrade. In January, the East Lansing, Mich.-based in-plant swapped the C500 for a new bizhub PRO 6501 color printer.

Folsom Lake College knows the value of having an in-plant. That’s why the Sacramento-area school created a new in-plant a few years back and spent thousands of dollars stocking it with the latest equipment. Now, fortified with Konica Minolta printers, a Heidelberg press and an assortment of bindery equipment, the two-employee in-plant has just unveiled its latest addition: an online job ordering system.

Sustainability starts at the corporate level. Several vendors are taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, use alternative energy sources, recycle and more.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—Sept 3, 2008—Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging has long been a leading supplier to the graphics arts industry. However the traditional silver-halide Graphic Arts film market is shrinking astonishingly fast due to the surge of worldwide digitization. Graphic Arts film consumption in the U.S. had declined by 85 % from its peak and will continue to decline by double digits in the future. Considering the decline of film consumption, the high cost of silver and the future growth of CTP, Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging has made the decision to phase out the manufacturing of silver based Graphic Arts film and concentrate

In-plant managers got a chance to see the technologies they've been reading about at the recent Graph Expo show. For the many in-plant managers in attendance, the recent Graph Expo and Converting Expo 2004 show in Chicago was a graphic arts fantasy land. "I felt like a kid in a candy store," observes Mike Renn, of Mellon Corporate Publishing, in Philadelphia. "I went to take a look at the latest direct-to-plate systems and software management packages and came away with numerous options." Attendance this year was pretty healthy, he adds: "I had to wedge myself between bodies to check out the latest gear." Other managers agreed. "I

After outsourcing its printing, the University of Central Florida endured a nightmare of inefficiency and expense. Now the in-plant's back and customers are happy again. Back in 1993, the higher-ups at the University of Central Florida, in Orlando, looked at the books one day and were shocked to discover their in-plant was running a deficit of more than $100,000. Even though they subsequently learned the print shop manager was pilfering funds—and driving up the negative numbers—upper management decided to bring in outside help. "The print shop's account was so far in the hole that outsourcing was the only way they saw of