Rochester Software Associates

Here's a look at some of the new printing and binding equipment and software that will be shown at PRINT 13, taking place in Chicago, September 8-12.

As Print Shop Manager for Richland School District, Rachelle Palmer knew there was room for improvement in the way her Richland, Wash., district was handling printing. "The current system was just not keeping up with increasing volumes and the changing needs of the staff," remarks Palmer.

Suddenly it’s cool to be an in-plant. Over the past couple of years, graphic arts trade shows have made an extra effort to attract in-plant managers, and next month’s PRINT 13 show will continue that trend. The seminar program at the Chicago show (September 8-12) will feature a whole track just for in-plants, and several lunches and receptions will provide managers with additional opportunities to get informed, network and eat.

In-plants attending the upcoming PRINT 13 show will once again be pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome they get. The Chicago trade show is providing numerous sessions and events specifically for in-plants.

Sure, it's the middle of summer and September seems like ages away, but PRINT 13 is a mere 58 days from today. And like at Graph Expo last year, in-plants will be a major focus of the Chicago trade show. One of the many sessions directed at in-plants will feature a panel of four in-plant managers relating their success stories.

To stay in business, it's crucial for your in-plant to keep costs low, but also to add new services to stay relevant. Many in-plants are finding that workflow automation software is the key to driving down their costs, freeing up staff for more important tasks and facilitating significant increases in business.

In the Hall of Fame of great conferences (if there were such a thing) it would be tough to beat last month's In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) conference. The location, on the outskirts of San Francisco, was excellent; the weather was sunny and pleasant throughout; the lineup of speakers and topics was among the best ever, with a nearly overwhelming amount of useful, timely information presented; and the evening boat cruise on the San Francisco Bay provided that combination of stunning views and friendly fraternization often sought but rarely achieved.

Xerox recently honored several of its partners with its annual Business Innovation Partner of the Year awards. The awards acknowledge leading partners that help the company and its customers capture new opportunities and achieve business success.

To help in-plant managers share information and learn from one another, Rochester Software Associates has started an informal chat session called "In-Plant Print Leader Chat." This bi-monthly 45-minute call is led by a different in-plant leader each session, and is designed to be a quick way to share information with other in-plants in an intimate setting.

Chelle Palmer was going about her day at the Richland School District Print Shop, in Richland, Wash., last month when the phone rang. It was local TV station KNDO. They wanted to send over a TV crew to do a story about her in-plant—in 15 minutes.