KODAK & XEROX TARGET IN-HOUSE PRINT SHOPS

[Anonymous]

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090610/BUSINESS/906100339
Kodak, Xerox target in-house print shops
The
In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association is fairly modest in size —
650 members nationwide.But the trade group, holding its annual
convention this week at Perinton’s Woodcliff Hotel and Spa, carries a
big stick in the local economy. And the 125 attendees of the trade show
and conference are getting VIP tours of Xerox Corp. and Eastman Kodak
Co. amid talk about digital technology and choosing between inkjet and
toner.AdvertisementIn-plant printing — work done by the in-house print
shops at universities, businesses and government offices — is as big
and important a market to such makers of digital printing presses as
Xerox and Kodak as commercial printing, said Frank Romano, professor
emeritus with Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Print
Media.”It’s a small (trade show), but the members represent a very big
contingent of the industry,” Romano said.

Companies trying to
pitch their products with displays and tables at IPMA range from Kodak,
Xerox and such competitors as Hewlett-Packard Co. to Rochester Software
Associates.With three Heidelberg offset presses and a variety of
digital equipment, including a Xerox iGen4 on the way, Cincinnati-based
Western & Southern Financial Group’s in-house print shop does
everything from forums and brochures to business cards and
prospectuses, said manager Ron Barth.

And in-house print shops
will only grow in importance at Kodak and Xerox, which combined employ
more than 15,000 Rochester-area residents, Romano said.New digital
technology will allow in-house print operations to expand from
bread-and-butter work to areas such as transactional printing — meaning
monthly bills and statements.Also, as the commercial print industry
goes through closings and consolidations, in-plant print shops are
doing higher and higher volumes, Romano said.While trade show and
convention attendance overall is down 20 percent to 30 percent in the
recession, IPMA attendance is about the same as past years, said Debbie
Pavletich, IPMA president.

[Author]

June 16, 2009 at 3:42 PM