april 2016 volume 1 issue 3 money matters - glga€¦ · don’t miss the opportunity to network...

MONEY MATTERS

April 2016Volume 1

Issue 3

PIA’s Dynamic Ratiospage 8

Is It Time to Invest?page 10

2 • Graphics Journal — April 2016

NEW DYNAMIC RATIOSTraditionally, business owners from graphic communications companies located all over the country used the Printing Industries of America Ratios reports to benchmark their organizations against profit leaders in the industry.

John Cockrell, President, Cockrell Enovation“The Ratios provide a useful map to show where you are high and low, where you are doing a good job, and where you need to improve. Whenever we set our budget figures and determine our direction, we always keep the PIA Ratios close.”

Evan James, President, James Printing Company“The Ratios are an extremely valuable tool. I can’t imagine not having them! We use them on a monthly basis to compare our financial numbers to those of the profit leaders. The comparison allows us to see what areas we need to work on to be at the profit-leader levels. We also utilize them to help us develop our annual budget, using the profit-leader numbers as a target.”

Jim Hopkins, CEO, Hopkins Printing“The Ratios studies are a road map to better financial management of a printing company. Without them, we would be lost as to how we are doing compared to the rest of the industry.”

Now, benchmarking your company is easier than ever with the new Printing Industries of America Dynamic Ratios survey!

New features this year in the Dynamic Ratios!Shorter Survey Option � 24/7 Secure Dashboard � Key Performance Metric Focus

Learn more at www.printing.org/ratios.

NEW! TRACK YOUR PROGRESS25% percentile median 50%percentile 75% percentile

Great Lakes Graphics Association — www.glga.info • 3

Website: www.glga.infoToll-Free Phone: (855) 522-2210

Joseph [email protected]

Bill GibsonIllinois [email protected]

Brent EckhartIndiana [email protected]

Sharon FlickCommunications ManagerEditorial [email protected]

Debra WarnerMembership Development and Engagement ManagerAdvertising [email protected]

Doris SaywrightIT [email protected]

Staff Contacts

Technical HotlineDo you have questions about a technical process? Call the PIA Technical Hotline at (800) 910-4283.

Free HR HotlineUse the free InfoNow line to get answers from MRA’s HR profes-sionals. Call toll-free 24/7 at (866) 275-6721, or email [email protected].

GLGA Hotlines

Member Questions

Events

State News

Announcing the Dynamic Ratios

Why Should You Do Financial Benchmarking?

Investing in Your Business: Is Now the Time?

Legislative

New Products and Services

Membership News

Calendar

The monthly membership magazine for the Great Lakes Graphics Association

Volume 1 / Number 3April 20164

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One of the most popular member benefits GLGA offers is advice from other members to questions you have. Do you have a challenge that you cannot find the answer to? Go ahead – ask a question! It is likely you will receive many different answers to solve your chal-lenge. This service is confidential for both the individual asking the question and those who respond with an answer.

Check out the archive of past Member Questions and their answer compilations in the Members Only section of our website at www.glga.info. Find more than 200 questions in 12 topic areas!

Here are two recent Member Questions and a sample of their answers. Download the complete compilation of answers from the Members Only area of the GLGA website. To ask your confidential question, please email Sharon Flick at [email protected].

MEMBER QUESTIONS

Get Confidential, Real-World Advice from Experts: Ask Your Question through our Member Questions Service

I am looking to see what type of policies others have in place regarding accounts receivable. Our standard terms are Net/30. On average we have approximately 25 percent of our AR that is paid 1-30 days late. Another 5-10 percent is paid 31-60 days late. What are others experiencing?

Are your customers paying finance charges? These just seem to be a negotiating tool for us, and are credited back more than they are paid.

Most of our offenders are long-term customers that have somehow become slow payers, and we seem reluctant to ask them to change. Any suggestions?

Summary: Net 30 was the mostly commonly mentioned. Some no longer believe Net 30 is feasible, especially with national accounts that dictate their own terms and older accounts that pay late out of habit.

Some of the suggestions:

• No finance charges

• Tie a discount to early payment within a set number of days

• Tie sales rep’s commission to customer payment

• Be very diligent with calls to the customer after a set number of days

• Provide a discount when the customer pays electronically

• Start sending statements every other week after 60-90 days out

• Require customers to use credit cards

• Receivables insurance

• Request prepayment on projects with large out-of-pocket expenses

• Some of our larger accounts have extended terms negoti-ated long ago. We work the other accounts hard and simply try to keep our over 90 day balances under 5 percent. Not much too offer, but thought misery might like company.

We are looking for ideas to revamp our new employee orientation (the very first day the employee reports to work). How do you handle yours? How long is it? What do you cover and who else is involved? Do you give your new hires any welcome gifts? Do you do anything interesting or fun? Do you have specific days when you onboard?

Some responses:

• We have learned that new hires love to be together so the brave ones can ask the questions for the quieter ones. They also enjoy the stories of the past of our company. We try to make it light, but yet get them to understand we are serious about the things we are teaching them. Group orientations are best. We then circle back to them individually for forms or other questions they may have.

• Employees spend at least a full day in orientation: two hours of paperwork and policy orientation, tours and introduc-tion; two hours in productivity training (classroom style); and three hours of safety videos. Depending on position a second day is spent job shadowing in various departments.

• Our orientation is 45-60 minutes, and covers benefits, PTO, a review of the company handbook, key assignment, non-disclosure agreement, and salary review. We onboard singly as hired.

• Employee orientation is done as a group for all new hires for the new pay period and consists of two days completed on a Monday and Tuesday.

• We give our new hires a bag with goodies that vary, but company pen, paper, stress ball, water bottle or coffee cup are some items. Office staff get a company t-shirt as well.

• Somewhat related to the onboarding question would be follow-up. I would always take a new employee to lunch after two weeks to see how they were feeling about their position and their choice of our company. These “chats” can be a good way to correct any concerns on the employee’s part, note issues that HR should be aware of or simply just let the new hire know the company cares about them.


Mark Your Calendar for the Next Quarterly HR Update Webinar

The next quarterly HR Update webinar in GLGA’s series will be on Wednesday, May 4, 2016. Tune in and get the latest HR news from Jim Kyger, Printing Industries of America’s national HR expert.

Jim will review key HR legislative, regulatory and case-law issues, and bring us up-to-date on any changes since our February webinar. Plus, he will review state issues for Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

This webinar is FREE for GLGA members. Register today at www.glga.info. All the webi-nars in the GLGA Quarterly HR Update series are approved for one recertification hour by the HR Certification Institute.

Celebrate Print at the GEA Celebrations

Don’t miss the opportunity to network with more than 400 industry professionals from 60+ companies by attending this year’s GEA Celebrations!

Join us on May 18, 2016, for a celebration of the excellence of the craft of printing. Once again, there will be simultaneous award ceremonies in two locations, the Medinah Shrine Center in Addison, IL, and the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee, WI.

The evenings will begin with registration opening at 4:30 p.m. and a reception with cash bar and hors d’oeuvres beginning at 5 p.m. The Best of Category and Best of Division winning pieces will be on display so that you can vote for your favorite for the People’s Choice Award. A delicious dinner with dessert begins at 6:30 p.m.

The awards ceremony will kick off at 7:15 p.m., with the awards for Best of Category and Best of Division presented locally. It all leads up to the announcement of the night’s top awards: Best of Show and Runners-Up, Best of State, and People’s Choice winners.

Celebration registration materials are available online at www.glga.info. For more information, contact Debra Warner toll-free at (855) 522-2210 or via email at [email protected]. Registration deadline is May 6, 2016.

EVENTS

The Great Lakes Graphics Association, the Illinois Press Associa-tion and the Advance Illinois Manufacturing (AIM) Coalition have been working hard to correct a loss of tax incentives that is costing Illinois graphic art producers hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes.

Now you have a powerful opportunity to Let Your Voice Be Heard! Come to our Annual Legislative Day in Springfield, IL, on May 4, 2016: meet with key legislators face to face and tell them in person what the loss of these tax incentives has cost your company. Help educate our state leaders about issues important to our industry and press for passage of critical tax incentives in HB 5717.

Last year’s Legislative Day had a persuasive effect to coalesce legislators in support of our position. Showing our concerns by face-to-face meetings keeps our industry front and center for the General Assembly to consider.

Register online at www.glga.info, and see you in Springfield!

(For more about the AIM Coalition and HB 5717, see page 11.)

From the 2015 GEA Celebration: Blooming Color’s Melna Langham and Mikal Martzel accept the Best of Show plaque from then-GLGA Chairman of the Board Steve VanderVeen, ABS Graphics, and Steve Rosenbeck, Press Color, Best of Show Sponsor.

2016 ILLINOIS LEGISLATIVE DAY -

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Springfield, Illinois


IllinoisUpdate on Illinois Tax Incentives

Exciting and challenging times developed last month at the statehouse over legislative issues in Illinois, and the Great Lakes Graphics Association is now on state legislators’ radar as an association that is very serious about doing business in Illinois with a competitive edge. Border state printers and finishers have tax advan-tages that Illinois no longer has, and business is beginning to feel that effect to the bottom line. As I stated in last month’s column, some of our members are looking at alternative ways to be competitive including a move out of state. But before you decide to pull up stakes and roll the wagons, consider the state’s excellent logistic opportunities, a good talent pool and outstanding schools that produce leaders for our trade as well as others.

This uphill legislative battle is not over; as a matter of fact it has fantastic momentum. As you may be aware GLGA formed an alliance with Illinois partners and was the first to join Advance Illinois Manufacturing (AIM). As a member of the AIM Coalition we support:

• A Permanent Research and Development Tax Credit

• Reform of the Manufacturers Purchase Credit

• Modification to Graphic Arts Sales Tax Exemption

• Permanent Coal, Aggregate Exploration, Mining and Off-Highway Sales Tax Exemption.

Illinois manufacturers contributed $101 billion in total manufacturing output and exported more than $64 billion worth of goods. It’s no secret that manufacturing is vital to Illinois — and consequently, equally as vital to manufacturing is a secure business environment that includes the passage of modern and perma-nent tax solutions. That’s why AIM-IL is a coalition committed to advocating for just that: modernization and permanent extensions of these four critical tax incentives, outlined above, to provide stability and predictability for job creators in our industry.

I invite you to take a close look at www.aim-il.org to get a complete understanding of our combined efforts to reinstate our lost tax incentives. I champion this position and thank GLGA member companies for your continued energy to make Illinois a competitive print/finishing manufacturing state. Take action: submit your comments at www.aim-il.org/take-action/ to show your support of HB 5717, and join the delegation to Springfield on our Annual Legislative Day on May 4, 2016, to talk face-to-face with your legislators.

Celebrate with Your Peers

WOW is a good word to begin an explanation of the fantastic entries that the Graphic Excellence Awards judges had to say! Illinois printers pulled out all the stops this year and the effort produced some outstand-ing winners! Visiting many of your shops throughout the year I can see why it is hard to select entries for this event as you guys produce some great stuff!

NOW the judging is over and the awards are ready to be presented, gather with your clients, management and production team and make a celebration night of it in Addison. Register today at www.glga.info. The evening also will feature Scholarship presentations and recognition of Illinois Advisory and GLGA Board of Directors members.

See you on May 18 for the 17th Annual GEA Celebrations!

STATE NEWS

By Bill GibsonIllinois Director


WisconsinGrowth! Now that’s a word we have not used a lot in the past few years. In fact, it has almost been a decade since any of us have uttered the word. But, it is becoming a reality in our industry.

According to the US. Bureau of the Census, the seasonally adjusted value of printing shipments (NAICS 323) has increased almost 8.5 percent from the lowest value of seasonally adjusted printing shipments that occurred in 2009. Additionally, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System has estimated that capacity utilization in our industry is at the highest point it has been since the recession; 2016 so far has seen an 11.8 percent increase compared to the lowest point in 2009.

Although the economy is performing much better than it was in 2009 and accounting for some of this growth, we also are experiencing the return of clients who have found that the sole use of digital commu-nications is not nearly as effective as when there is a significant print component included in the campaign. We all know that less expensive does not always provide equal benefit or return on investment. Now our clients are starting to realize it, too.

As you begin to grow again, consider utilizing GLGA’s and Printing Industries of America’s resources to help alleviate the pain of growing. Both Associations provide member companies with outstanding tools and resources to help find employees (GLGA’s JobBoard), benchmark your success (PIA’s Dynamic Ratios), control wages and benefits (GLGA’s Wage and Benefit Survey), find the answer to that tough question (Member Questions Service), reduce spoilage and waste (Continuous Improvement programs) as well as a whole host of other programs that will help to improve your business. Next time you experience a growing pain, contact GLGA toll-free at (855) 522-2210.

IndianaThomas A. Edison famously said, “Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” That may be true when it comes to being a genius; however, when it comes to running a successful business I think the percentages even out a little more. This balance of inspiration and perspiration is in full view with two significant Association programs.

First, I want to thank and congratulate those companies who so inspiringly participated in the Graphic Excellence Awards competition. This year’s judging was very competitive. As always though, I think the main take away is how ingenious and professional the products are that get submitted for the competition. You have a chance to view the submissions at the GEA Celebrations on May 18. To see them will make you both proud to be part of the industry and inspired to put your own shop to the test of seeing just how good you can be! To see what happens when creativity, planning and execution come together take a look at the 2016 Graphic Excellence Awards.

Second, I want to challenge you to take the time and effort (I promise you won’t perspire too much) to complete and submit the Ratio Studies. The 2016 Ratio Studies have been extensively redone and are 1) Reflective of the current state of the industry vis a vis offset, digital and other manufacturing techniques; and 2) Cross referenced so that you may compare your firm to similar companies in terms of product mix, operation size and geographical situation. During my own years of operating a print finishing company I found the Ratios to be an invaluable source of comparative information. I can think of no reason for any company not to participate in this program. Simply put, it costs nothing but a little time and effort and the payback is huge.

It’s a great time to exercise your left brain and right brain. Inspire yourself and your company at GEA Celebrations and then challenge yourself to put the pencil (or keystrokes) to work and do some serious number crunching with the Ratio Studies.

By Joe LymanPresident

By Brent EckhartIndiana Director


Announcing a New, Easy-to-Use Financial Benchmarking Tool—the Dynamic Ratios

If you’ve ever been curious to see how your firm stacks up against similar businesses, the Printing Industries of America Ratios studies are a tried-and-true resource for comparing similar printers and helping companies determine what parts of their operation are most in need of a tune-up.

The Ratios have long been a compilation of accurate financial information from hundreds of print-ing and related graphic arts firms. They can be a valuable financial benchmarking tool and include information about assets, liabilities, working capital, salaries, sales and profits.

In cooperation with Margolis Partners, LLC, PIA’s Center for Print Economics and Management is thrilled to announce the new financial benchmark-ing tool, the Dynamic Ratios.

In addition to the look-under-the-hood financial details we have provided for 94 years, the new Dynamic Ratios provide an online, interactive version of our Ratios study.

According to PIA’s Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Dr. Ron Davis, “the Dynamic Ratios combine the reliability, confidentiality and detailed reports of the legacy system with a new

streamlined data collection process, an interactive dashboard, and new key performance metrics analysis allowing members instant analysis of their strengths and weaknesses.”

The new Dynamic Ratios’ central features include the following:

New Shorter Survey Option

While we will still offer members the option to fill out the traditional 114-line survey, we are now offering a condensed version. This new shorter version offers a 70 percent reduction in required information. Now printers need only provide 31 line items to participate.

New Secure Interactive Dashboard

Printers will have instant access from any device to industry financial and operating averages and profit-leader benchmarks. Access to this informa-tion will be available 24/7.

New Peer Group Report

The online tool will allow members to create customized peer group reports—by printing processes, products and market segments, firm size, and other variables. In addition, printers will have the option to choose which printers they would like to sync with. The online dashboard also will show this information 24/7. It is recommended that those printing companies that are looking to sync up fill out the longer survey form in order to get the most out of the new Dynamic Ratios.

New Instant Graphics

These will provide easy-to-understand information. The new quartile graphics allow every company to see graphically their company’s status compared to their peer group or to the industry financial and operating averages.

New Focus on Key Performance Metrics

This will help printers simplify management deci-sions. For example, we will now focus on items such as gross profit as a percentage of sales, sales per employee, value added per factory employee and other important variables.

Legacy Reports and Database

Printers will still have access to the traditional reports (PDF or printed) and will be able to receive them if they so choose.

A Web-Based Survey

In the past we also have used this as a collection process. There will be a new focus this year on the online portion. However, we will still have Excel versions and PDF versions of the short and long forms that can be downloaded and filled out.

“Participating in the new

Dynamic Ratios can lead to the

possibility for greater sales and

profit growth.”

By Tai McNaughtonEconomistCenter for Print Economics and Management Printing Industries of America

Source: 2015 PIA Ratios


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Trend Analysis between Years

For every year that a printer participated in the survey in the past, you will be able to receive a trend analysis via graphics. If you have ever been curious as to how your firm does from year to year in one metric, especially after implementing new changes, we can provide you with the graphics needed to easily understand if the direction your company has taken has made a difference.

The new Dynamic Ratios program will be implemented with the 2016 Ratios survey cycle. Members will be sent the survey materi-als in April, and the survey process will be open until June 30, 2016. Margolis Partners will continue as a strategic partner for the Dynamic Ratios and ensure data integrity, confidentiality, analysis and report preparation.

Choosing to participate in the new Dynamic Ratios can lead to the possibility for greater sales and profit growth. Even if the Dynamic Ratios allow you to increase in profits by a minimum of 1 percent, this equates to $10,000 for a $1-million-per-year printer.

Financial benchmarking through use of the Dynamic Ratios provides YOU with the business intelligence needed to make YOUR business more profitable.

For more information about the Dynamic Ratios, please contact Tai McNaughton at [email protected] or (412) 259-1756 or Dr. Ron Davis at [email protected] or (434) 591-0527.

Why Should You Do Financial Benchmarking?Why should you do financial benchmarking and how can the Printing Industries of America’s Ratios Reports help your company achieve greater profitability?

Ratio analysis of financial statements is critical to the management of any company, especially graphic arts companies and other manufacturing firms. It allows management to evaluate company operations, and by the use of these ratio studies compare their firm to industry standards.

Management has much to gain by using the Ratios studies. Management’s job is to continuously monitor the state of their company. Although no single ratio by itself is enough to change management policies or operating procedures, analysis and comparison to other financial indicators may point to deviations from management’s goals or expectations.

Others may be interested in the Ratios studies. Bankers may want to compare their customers to industry stan-dards. Economists may look at the studies for profit or growth trends. Accountants can use the ratios to do the analytical review required in the preparation of financial statements. Vendors who supply the industry with goods and services can judge markets and opportunities available to their companies.

The objective of the manager is to make good, reasoned business decisions; the goal is to increase the company’s profit. Analysis of a firm’s financial ratios is a vital manage-ment tool that gives management the ability to understand their company. It gives management the opportunity to learn more about the company’s past, present, and project-ed future operations. Comparing your financial ratios to industry profit leaders can add even greater insight.

Source: 2015 PIA Ratios


Investing in Your Business:Is Now The Time?

Changing production technology is a fact of life in today’s economy. For Graphic Arts firms that are just returning to financial stability after the Great Recession, these challenges are common. New capabilities and new technology to existing capabilities continue to present themselves. Those presenting these options promise greatly improved financial results and success for those firms that invest in these options. But all too often, the actual results may not be what had been hoped for.

Capital Budgeting offers a framework for evaluating these situations. Although it can be complicated in some cases, it ultimately comes down to a simple question:

Is now the right time for my company to make a significant investment to acquire new technology, and if so, what return can we realistically expect?

While the question is simple, the answer is not. Too often decisions such as this use the wrong data and are based on unrealistic assumptions. Companies tend to place too much emphasis on potential benefits or technological improvements rather than the results the specific company should expect. This is misleading, which leads to bad decisions and bad results in most cases.

The correct analysis should use the actual financial benefits that a company expects to realize. All such investments must ultimately be paid for by improved cash flows to the business, which

means that either your customers must decide to pay you for the investments by spending more on products and services, or you must be able to maintain revenues while reducing total operating costs. So, what matters is what changes, and this is called “Marginal Analysis.”

There may be many other elements in the analysis, but in its most basic form, the only real question that matters is this:

Will the net cash flow produced by this new invest-ment, over its expected useful life, be more than the total cost of the investment, after considering the time value of the benefits and costs?

Key concepts here include the following:

• What is the total initial cost or investment? This is not as easy as it appears. For instance, will the new technology require changes in other parts of the business, and what will those cost? Will your existing workflow support this change? Will staff training, or even possible staff replacements, be required? How will the investment in this technology increase investment in inven-tory? Will you need to inventory supplies or other consumables to support this invest-ment? These are all costs that need to be included.

• Is our sales/marketing staff knowledgeable enough to bring it to market? Will that involve additional costs or staffing?

• What does “net cash flow” mean here? Is it total cash flow, or just the difference that will result from this investment? Does it include growth in demand that we have no plans to create, beyond the investment itself? How will that growth be generated? Is this a “if we build it, they will come” strategy?

• What will the marginal costs of new sales be, if that is the goal for the investment? This cost is not the same as what you use for estimating or costing…in fact, it’s something you probably don’t have anywhere in your current information system. How will you estimate this?

• Are there ongoing indirect costs that will change as a result of this investment?

• What about the effects of how we finance this investment? Do they matter?

• What are the tax effects of this investment?

• How do we evaluate the benefits we expect to receive in the future with costs we incur today? Is there a way to estimate the present value of all cash flows, regardless of when they occur?

• Finally, how should we factor in risk when evaluating this investment? What risks will be involved?

Very few decisions are more critical to the success of your business than a decision about capital expenditures. Be sure when you face such a choice, that you use “best practices” when evaluating both the costs and the benefits.

By Gerry MichaelPartnerCarlson Advisors

“The correct analysis uses the actual financial benefits that a company expects to realize.”


A diverse group of business industries across the state of Illinois has launched a coalition committed to advocating for modern and permanent extensions of four critical tax incentives that will provide stability and predictability for job creators.

Advance Illinois Manufacturing includes members in the manu-facturing, agriculture, printing, biotech and other important sectors of the state’s economy. The AIM Coalition is advocating for permanent tax solutions to ensure that a wide variety of indus-tries in Illinois remain competitive in the marketplace. AIM is hoping the legislature will support a series of legislative measures that must be adopted to create a secure business environment to further existing manufacturing interests as well as future investment.

“We need to do more in Illinois to embrace the compromising spirit and attract business growth and development here,” said state Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside, the bill’s chief sponsor. “These tax credits will provide targeted incentives with measur-able benefits for employers large and small. My hope is we can use this package to build consensus on innovative ways to grow our state.”

Among the four key points of AIM’s Legislative Agenda – HB 5717 sponsored by Rep. Zalewski are reforming the Manufacturers Purchase Credit to make it permanent by merging it into the Manufacturing Machinery & Equipment exemption; and reform-ing the Graphic Arts Sales Tax Exemption to make it permanent. Both tax incentives sunsetted in August 2014, significantly affect-ing the printing industry in the state.

“Presently 49 other states offer some kind of economic incentive to commercial printers engaged in manufacturing activity,” said GLGA’s Bill Gibson. “So the renewal of these incentives is critical to the survival of the commercial printing industry in Illinois. Unfortunately, due to gridlock in Springfield and the expiration of serval pro-business credits, companies are at disadvantage in the marketplace. When lawmakers talk about making Illinois more competitive, about more small business opportunities and about stopping job losses to other states – this is exactly the type of legislation they should be supporting.”

“Illinois needs a stable tax code that will lead to new job creation and increase our position of strength in technology and innovation,” said Mark Denzler, Vice President/COO, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “It’s imperative that we advance these four critical tax incentives to keep Illinois manufacturing competi-tive and to effectively advocate for an industry that employs 570,000 workers in Illinois and contributes $101 billion in total manufacturing output.”

Coalition Members include Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Illinois Science & Technology, Great Lakes Graphics Association, iBio, Southwestern Illinois Employers Association, Illinois Petroleum Council, Illinois Press Association, Taxpayers Federation of Illinois, Illinois Coal Association, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and Choose Du Page Economic Development Alliance.

LEGISLATIVE

Diverse Illinois Coalition Supports Permanent Tax Solutions to Provide Stability and Strengthen Job Creators

GLGA Illinois Director Bill Gibson announces the Advance Illinois Manufacturing Coalition (AIM) and support of House Bill 5717 at a press conference held on March 3, 2016, in Springfield, IL. Joining him are (from left) Illinois Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside), the bill sponsor; Phil Gonet, President of the Illinois Coal Association; and Mark Denzler, Vice President and COO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.


To have your company, product or service featured in Member News, contact Sharon Flick toll-free at (855) 522-2210 or via email at [email protected]. News will be published as space allows. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.

MEMBER NEWS

HP Inc. Unveils Industry’s Most Productive Label Press for Converters and BrandsHP Inc. has announced the HP Indigo 8000 Digital Press, the industry’s most productive digital narrow web press, offering end-to-end label production at double the speed previously available.

Setting a new productivity benchmark in digital narrow web printing, the HP Indigo 8000 Digital Press offers high-volume converters end-to-end label production at doubled speeds up to 80 meters per minute or 262 feet per minute. Working in-line or off-line with an ABG FAST Track semi-rotary die cut unit, the press provides an efficient all-digital workflow as well as real-time quality assurance, using AVT inspection technology. Read more at www.hp.com.

New INX Digital Alternative Inks Offer High Performance on Vutek Series PrintersINX Digital recently introduced a new pair of TRIANGLE alternative inkjet inks for the wide format and outdoor markets. The GRR and GSP UV Curable high performance inks are designed to run on Vutek GS series hybrid flatbed roll-fed printers or dedicated roll-to-roll (RTR) printers. Early results indicate the inks offer many significant benefits while producing high quality graphics.

GRR produces excellent adhesion with a faster cure rate than the OEM GSLXr series inks. GSP provides better adhesion to a wide variety of media - especially Coroplast - and is a more flexible ink that reduces chipping and peeling when cutting rigid media. Learn more at www.inxinterna-tional.com.

Konica Minolta Launches New Light Production Monochrome Print System bizhub PRO 1100Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. is pleased to announce the bizhub PRO 1100. With a rated output of 100-pages per minute and high performance image capture, the bizhub PRO 1100 meets the needs of central in-house printing facilities and external print-for-pay services.

“The affordable and powerful bizhub PRO 1100 offers smart features, excellent productivity, durability, halftone quality with the flexibility our customers need,” says Kevin Kern, senior vice president, Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc. Read more by visiting kmbs.konicaminolta.us/kmbs.

RBP Helps Printers Control Piling to Improve Print Quality and Reduce WasteFrom poor print quality, the need for more frequent blanket washes, trouble printing solids and “smashed” blankets – piling is one of the more common challenges in today’s pressroom. In fact, many printers today have come to accept piling as a problem that is inherent to offset printing. However, understanding the causes of piling and implementing quick and effective solutions can go a long way in improving print quality and reducing paper waste and press downtime.

RBP Chemical Technology, Inc. offers knowledgeable experts and a wide range of fountain solu-tions that have been proven to control piling for companies worldwide. Contact your RBP Sales or Technical Representative at (800) 558-0747 for a free consultation. Learn more at www.rbpchemi-cal.com.

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MEMBERSHIP NEWS

In Memoriam

Robert Stormowski, 70, chairman of Imperial Visual Communications of New Berlin, WI, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to many, passed away on Friday, February 5, 2016, after his courageous 11-year battle with prostate cancer. The Stormowski family would like to express a very special thank you to Dr. Bylow and Froedtert Hospital’s caring staff that gave Robert the extra strength to fight this horrible disease and to extend his life. A celebration honoring Robert was held on Sunday, February 14, 2016, at Krause Funeral Home, Brookfield, WI.

Young Media Alliance On the Move

Bowling Up A Perfect Evening

It was a near sell-out at our first-ever Bowling & Pizza MIXer, held on February 11, 2016, at Pinstripes in Oak Brook, IL. Members enjoyed bowling, a delicious pizza and flatbread buffet, and prizes. No word on who won the coveted turkey cookies for rolling ... of course ... a turkey (three strikes in a row). Participants also had the chance to vote for their favorites in the best dressed bowler, best pick-up of a spare, and fastest/slowest ball categories. We’ll be doing this again - mark your calendar for February 9, 2017!

The Young Media Alliance has been busy with outreach activities. In February, YMA Chairman Peter Fioretti of Western States Envelope and Label spoke to a Press Operations class at Harper College, Palatine, IL. The class theme was web printing, and Peter talked about envelope converting, industry opportunities and the Illinois scholarship program.

Also in February, Peter and Liz Rodriguez of WSEL presented to the marketing class at Waukesha West High School, Waukesha, WI. They shared their perspective on the industry’s strong connection to marketing. Peter said, “This was really fun; you can see they are all holding envelope samples with varying degrees of enthusiasm.”

For more information about the Young Media Alliance, email Peter at [email protected] or visit ymaprint.org.

Peter Fioretti (seated in the Laz-E-Boy, front row center) and and Liz Rodriguez (standing, front row center, in red shirt) of Western States Envelope and Label at Waukesha West High School, Waukesha, WI.


CALENDAR

Upcoming GLGA Events and ActivitiesTo learn more or to register for any of these programs, visit GLGA’s website at glga.info.

Illinois Legislative DayMay 4, 2016, Sangamo Club, Springfield, IL. We are returning to the Capitol to educate legislators about issues important to the printing industry and to press for passage of critical tax incentives.

Webinar: Quarterly HR UpdateMay 4, 2016. Jim Kyger, PIA National’s HR Guru, reviews key HR legislative, regulatory and case-law issues. This program has been approved for 1 General Credit Hour by the HR Certification Institute (HRCI).

GEA CelebrationsMay 18, 2016, The Wisconsin Club, Milwaukee, WI, and Medinah Shrine Center, Addison, IL. Celebrate the winning entries in the 2016 Graphics Excellence Awards competition.

Indiana State Golf OutingJune 22, 2016, Plum Creek Golf Club, Carmel, IN. Enjoy a day of fun, food, prizes and camaraderie.

Fourth Annual Chicagoland Printers Scholarship Golf OutingJuly 20, 2016, White Pines Golf Club, Bensenville, IL. Co-hosted by GLGA, the Graphics Communications Guild and the Lithographers Club of Chicago. Enjoy an afternoon on the links, lunch dinner and prizes; proceeds will fund scholarships for students pursuing graphics commu-nication education.

Wisconsin State Golf OutingAugust 10, 2016, Lake Ripley Golf Club, Cambridge, WI. Golf, putting contest, cocktail hour, the traditional steak cook-out, prizes, and networking.

Upcoming PIA EventsTo learn more or to register for any of these programs, visit PIA’s website at www.printing.org.

Print’s Voice 16June 7-8, 2016, Washington, DC

Upcoming MRA WebinarsTo learn more about these free HR webinars, visit MRA’s website at www.mranet.org. For access, reg-ister for a user log-in to MRA’s website at www.mranet.org. Once you have a log-in, you can view the recordings whenever it is convenient for your schedule.

Survey Says...Tips for Increasing Employee EngagementAvailable on or after April 21, 2016

ACA Hot TopicsAvailable on or after May 19, 2016


851 Expressway Dr - Itasca, IL 60143 - P 630.227.0400 - www.platinumconverting.com

Platinum Converting is a full-service graphic finishing company offering an expansive menu of services and some of the fastest turnaround times in the industry. We do

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april 2016 volume 1 issue 3 money matters - glga€¦ · don’t miss the opportunity to network...

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