Reprographics 101

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  • PAA RESEARCH JUST POSTED ITS LATEST ARTICLE ON AMERICAN REPROGRAPHICS (NYSE: ARC)

    HOT OFF THE PRESS!

    PAA RESEARCH JUST POSTED ITS LATEST ARTICLE ON AMERICAN REPROGRAPHICS (NYSE: ARC)

    PAA Research has posted a new item, “ARC: At Long Last Some Cyclical Tailwinds for the Reprographics Industry?”

    “After slogging through three brutal years of weak demand for non-residential construction services, it appears that ARC might finally start to benefit from a recovery in project activity in 2011. Suddenly signs of life in the commercial real estate industry are abundant. Absorption has been positive, lease rates have improved, and the shares of companies …..”

    You can access the article at:

    http://www.pleaseactaccordingly.com/?p=3804

    Note: you must be a subscriber to read the article. But, the subscription cost is minimal. Check it out.

    I have not yet read the article, but I will be doing so later this morning.

    ARC will be releasing its Q4 2010 and Full-year 2010 Results, after market close today.

  • OCE Recently Issued a Press Release about a Survey re: Companies Gaining Business Benefits but also Missing Opportunities with Document Imaging

    On October 28, 2010, John Cronin, owner of PLP Digital Systems, posted an article on his blog site; the title of that article was: “If It Can Be Digital…It Will Be Digital”.

    Here’s a link to that article, just in case you haven’t already seen it:

    http://theblueprint.typepad.com/theblueprint/2010/10/if-it-can-be-digitalit-will-be-digital.html

    As to what John said, I think one could easily put a slightly different spin on it, like…. “If it can be digital, then it will be digital, and, if it is digital, it may well remain digital”.

    The former, of course, refers to “analog” documents being converted to “digital” documents, and the latter, I think, refers to documents that were created digitally that may well remain digital …. and seldom, if ever, be printed on paper.

    Anyway, that’s what I was thinking about when I read OCE’s Press Release about a Survey OCE recently completed.

    OCE issues Press Release announcing the completion of a Survey re: Companies Gaining Business Benefits but also Missing Opportunities with Document Imaging

    Here is the title of that Press Release:

    Survey: Companies Gaining Business Benefits but also Missing Opportunities with Document Imaging

    Here are the first three paragraphs in that Press Release:

    New York, N.Y. (January 31, 2011) – A solid majority of records managers report that their company is gaining critical business benefits from document imaging (converting paper to digital) that include improving operational efficiency (77%) and enhancing customer service (72%). However, other potential gains are largely untapped: Only 50 percent of executives indicate that their organization uses document imaging to enhance regulatory compliance, while even fewer (21%) say their company leverages document imaging to increase competitive advantage.

    These are a few of the important findings highlighted in a comprehensive survey report issued today by Océ Business Services, a leader in document process management and electronic discovery. “A Winning Formula: Achieving Top Performance in Records Management,” spotlights the extent to which organizations across a variety of industries are leveraging some of the essential components of effective records management to meet today’s business challenges and win in their markets.

    The survey highlights industry issues such as growing compliance risks and how companies are using their current records programs to obtain important business benefits. The report also spotlights records management components, such as document imaging, that are underutilized by a significant number of respondents and thus represent untapped opportunities to gain a competitive edge.

    Later on in the Press Release, you’ll find this quote from Joe Marciano of OCE Business Services:

    “During the past four years our document management surveys have communicated a critical message,” said Joe Marciano, president and CEO of Océ Business Services. “While organizations are gaining solid business benefits from records management, electronic content management, digital workflow and other document management processes, there are unrealized opportunities and new approaches that have yet to be tapped by many enterprises.”

    To access the full Press Release on OCE’s web-site, click on this link:

    http://www.oceusa.com/main/news.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302070169&bmUID=1298383396356

  • Service Point Solutions announces successful renegotiation and extension of its debt

    Yesterday, we did a post to alert our blog visitors that Service Point Solutions (SPS) had just announced a successful renegotiation and extension of its debt/financing. The post we did yesterday was based on an e-mail we received from Service Point. The e-mail we received was very brief.

    This morning, we checked SPS’ web-site and found that a full Press Release was issued, sometime between yesterday afternoon and this morning, and, so, here’s the information about the Press Release SPS issued.

    PLEASE NOTE: AT THIS POINT, THE PRESS RELEASE IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN SPANISH. WE DID NOT FIND WHERE SPS HAS YET POSTED AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE VERSION OF THE PRESS RELEASE. WE EXPECT THAT SPS WILL, AT SOME POINT, ISSUE AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE VERSION OF THE PRESS RELEASE.

    1) Here is a click-on link to the Spanish-language version of the Press Release

    http://www.servicepoint.net/WebFiles/countries/sps/docs/es/Press/docs/NP-SPS-bancario-21-02-2011.pdf

    2) Here’s an unofficial English language version of the Press Release, as translated by using Google Translate. There are, quite obviously, words and phrases that do not translate very well. That’s why I’m suggesting that you look for the official English language version on SPS’ web-site.

    Press Release

    Service Point successfully closed debt renegotiation

    • The group does agree with 100% of their syndicated bank debt extension to the second half of 2013 and the establishment of new financial covenants in line with its business plan 2011 – 2013

    • The agreement strengthens the balance of Service Point and lets you have the necessary liquidity to develop the new Strategic Plan 2011-2013

    • In parallel, SPS has approved in General Meeting a capital increase amounting to 14.5 million for the acquisition of Holmbergs, finance the development of online business and strengthen its balance

    February 21, 2011 – Service Point Solutions SA has reached an agreement with its banks to extend and improve certain conditions of syndicated financing, strengthening the balance sheet Company and lets you have the necessary liquidity to meet the new development plan Strategy 2011-2013.

    The new agreement has been signed by all financial institutions that make up the accused and was obtained under the new Strategic Plan 2011-2013 of the Company, and capital increase approved at an Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting. The syndicate of seven banks Lloyds Banking Group led by appointed an independent external consultant which validated the plan Service Point business and its ability to generate resources.

    The new terms and conditions are following:

    • Extension of the expiry of one year, until July 2013.

    • Funding set to a maximum of 100 million euros, of which 89.9 million euros are ready to date. 97% of the syndicate is payable maturity and the remaining 3% in yearly installments.

    • Establishment of new financial covenants in line with current performance and the new Group’s Strategic Plan for the period 2011-2013.

    In parallel to the bank refinancing, Service Point has been approved in General Meeting a capital outstanding of 14.5 million euros for the acquisition of Holmbergs (leader in our sector in southern Sweden and northern Denmark), to finance development business lines and strengthen its balance online. The terms of this operation will be presented in the shareholders’ meeting of February 21, 2011.

    Service Point expects to end fiscal 2010 with a recurring EBITDA without special costs 14.5 million Euros. His goals for 2011 expected to exceed € 20m.

    Matteo Buzzi as CFO Service Point Solutions, “The banks have shown a significant support to our new strategic plan. Today, 21 February, we presented the main lines the main plan that advocates a return to organic growth, developing lines online activity (web to print, e-commerce or photo book) that are already getting some rates remarkable growth and strengthening our balance sheet in the short term with the addition of Holmbergs, whose acquisition was financed with own resources. “

    Service Point Solutions (www.servicepoint.net) is the leader in document management services and digital printing. Is present in various sectors such as architecture, engineering, construction, finance, government and education, which serves more than 30,000 B2B customers. It employs 2,207 people in 9 countries (UK, U.S., Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, France and Sweden), has a total of 133 points in its international network services, 816 facilities management, global presence through Grafix Net Global network and a growing online business that now accounts for 6% of its sales. With headquartered in Spain, SPS is quoted on the Stock Exchanges of Madrid and Barcelona (ticker: SPS.MC).

    For more information:

    Service Point Solutions, S.A.
    Pablo Divasson

    pablodivasson@servicepoint.net

    Tel +34 935082400 Fax +34 93 508 2442

    Deva

    Ana Linares

    alinares@deva.es

    Tel +34 91 3601669 Fax +34 91 360 16 70

  • Service Point Solutions just released an e-mail about the successful renegotiation and extension of its debt

    The e-mail was in Spanish, so, for those of you who can read Spanish, here’s what SP said in that e-mail:

    21 de Febrero 2011

    Service Point cierra con éxito la renegociación de su deuda

    El grupo logra acordar con el 100% de su sindicado bancario una extensión de su deuda hasta el segundo semestre de 2013 y el establecimiento de nuevos covenants financieros en línea con su plan de negocio 2011-2013

    El acuerdo refuerza el balance de Service Point y le permite disponer de la liquidez necesaria para desarrollar el nuevo Plan Estratégico 2011-2013

    En paralelo, SPS ha aprobado en Junta General de Accionista una ampliación de capital por importe de 14,5 millones de euros para la adquisición de Holmbergs, financiar el desarrollo del negocio online y reforzar su balance

    Here’s how Google Translate translated into English the Spanish-language press release:

    February 21, 2011

    Service Point completed, successfully, renegotiation of its debt

    The group manages to agree with 100% of their syndicated bank debt extension until the second half of 2013 and the establishment of new financial covenants in line with its 2011-2013 business plan

    The agreement strengthens the balance (sheet?) of Service Point and allows you (it?) to have the liquidity necessary to develop the new Strategic Plan 2011-2013

    In parallel, SPS has approved in General Meeting a capital increase amounting to 14.5 million Euros for the acquisition of Holmbergs, finance, business development and strengthen their balance online

  • PAA Research likely to issue pre-earnings-release report on American Reprographics (ARC)

    Tomorrow, February 22, 2011, after the stock market close, American Reprographics Company (NYSE: ARC) will be releasing its Q4 2010 and Full-year 2010 financial results.

    For those of you who like to read reports about ARC, issued by financial analysts and investment research people, I’d suggest that you visit, tomorrow during the day and before ARC releases its results, the web-site of this company (PAA Research), since it is highly likely that PAA Research will be issuing a “pre-earnings-release” report before ARC announces its results.

    http://www.pleaseactaccordingly.com/

    Access to PAA Research is by subscription only.

    I’m a subscriber to this company’s web-site. A couple of weeks ago, I did a day trade, based on a report PAA Research issued on KNOT, and made a nice tidy profit – one that well exceeded the cost of my subscription to PAA Research!

  • An absolutely AMAZING house !!!

    On the topic of “Architecture” …. here’s an AMAZING house.

    Owned by the richest guy in India.

    Check it out ….

    http://alagukanthavel.blogspot.com/2010/09/mukesh-ambani-house-photosprice-antilla.html

  • City of Cambridge, MA – Bid for Reprographics Services – December 2010

    We recently shared with our blog-site visitors the “bid document” issued by the City of St Pete, FL for “reprographics services”, and, several days later, we posted the “bid results.” (In other words, there were two separate articles on our blog-site about that bid. Also, we posted the documents in Google Docs so that anyone who wanted to look at the bid document and the bid results could do so.)

    This morning, I came across another fairly recent government agency bid for reprographics services. This one was issued by the City of Cambridge, MA; this bid competition was held in December 2010.

    I guess I was wrong to criticize the City of St Pete FL for issuing a bid document that listed services that have long been obsolete! Evidently, the City of Cambridge MA is just as “behind the times” as the City of St Pete FL.

    Below, you will find links that you can click on to access the bid document and the bid results. But, before you do that, just a couple of comments about the services the City of Cambridge MA listed in its bid document for reprographics services:

    Well, well, well … the City of Cambridge MA bid calls for a few “older” services. When’s the last time that your company got an order for “wash-off” mylars? How often does your company get orders for plots on “vellum”, instead of just “bond” prints?

    · Photographic mylar w/wash off emulsion

    · Diazo Blackline Prints

    · Large Format Printer, Vellum, Large format prints

    The City of Cambridge MA bid requires bidders to price this line item with only one unit price, ignoring the difference between “bond” and “vellum”.

    · Output from electronic Macintosh file to bond/vellum Lg. format max. width dimension 36″

    And, look at the difference here, in terms of “unit of measure”. For “photocopying” large-format b/w bond, the unit of measure is “per print”, but for digital printing b/w bond, the unit of measure is “per sq ft.” I wonder if the City’s purchasing department knows anything about the services listed in the bid.

    · Photocopying plain paper 30 x 36

    · recycled paper (bidders to bid “per print”)

    · Photocopying plain paper 30 x42

    · recycled paper (bidders to bid “per print”)

    · Large Format Printer, Bond, Large format prints

    · recycled paper (bidders to bid “per sq ft”)

    Here’s a link to the bid document:

    https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B81al4kFAU9JOTEwM2NlN2ItZGI0Yy00ZGNlLTlkN2MtNTk2OWE5ZmE0ZjJm&hl=en&authkey=CM6WrtcP

    And, here’s a link to the bid results. Unfortunately, the City did not post a “detailed line item” abstract of the bids; the City only posted “total bids.” Curious as to why there were only 3 bidders. Note that one of the bidders was disqualified because it did not bid on all line items. (Sarcastically speaking, I wonder why that was?)

    https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0As1al4kFAU9JdElEbzJBSDhzNjF3c2JlWUU0WWVuWmc&hl=en&authkey=CLKhg_oP

    Maybe “someday”, the IRgA will develop a standard suggested format for Government Agencies to use for bids and RFP’s for reprographics services? Wishful thinking?

  • IRgA selects Association Laboratory to Guide Strategic Planning

    (Note: this Press Release was issued on Nov 1, 2010, so this is not “new” news; we are posting this for Reprographers who may have not seen this)

    For Immediate Release

    For more information contact:

    Association Laboratory Inc.

    312.466.5702

    marketing@associationlaboratory.com

    www.associationlaboratory.com

    IRgA selects Association Laboratory

    to Guide Strategic Planning

    Chicago, Illinois, November 1, 2010 – Association Laboratory Inc. today announced their selection by the International Reprographic Association (IRgA) to lead the association’s strategic planning process. Association Laboratory’s methodology will include environmental scanning, competitive analysis, and market analysis and assess the role of the association in the industry and to member companies. The company will use qualitative, quantitative research and develop a customized Board Retreat.

    “Association Laboratory’s strategic planning process provides the essential information necessary to develop business strategy,” said Dean West, President, Association Laboratory Inc. “When we combine this information with the experience and insight of staff and volunteer leadership, opportunities are readily identified.”

    The International Reprographic Association was formed in Boston, MA in 1927 and currently represents several hundred specialty printers and allied suppliers. The IRgA continues to be the only independent association serving the reprographics industry and the AEC community. Members specialize in

    • Reprographic Services

    • Large-format Printing

    • Construction Document Management

    • Facility Management/On-site Services

    • Finishing Services

    • Digital Reproductions

    • Small-format Printing

    • Scanning

    The IRgA is a client of SmithBucklin, the world’s largest association management company.

    Association Laboratory Inc. specializes in the research and development of business strategy for association. The company serves a nationwide client base of trade, professional, credentialing and philanthropic organizations. Note: For more information, visit www.associationlaboratory.com.

  • AIIM – Association for Information and Image Management

    With all the talk, the past several years, about “document management” and the fact that Reprographers have long been offering document management services (even well before documents were digital), one would think that Reprographers would have an interest in being members of AIIM, along with their membership in the IRgA. Every little bit of information can help Reprographers be successful. There is that old saying, something like, “the more you know, the better prepared you will be….”

    When I was very young in the reprographics industry, my company (the first reprographics company I was with) became a member of the IRgA. Our first location was in Silver Spring, MD. The HQ’s office of the National Microfilm Association (NMA) was located within walking distance of our store/production center. Since we did not offer “microfilming services,” we were not members of that association. Almost all of the members of the NMA were companies who offered “microfilming services” companies. So, in that sense, the IRgA of 40 years ago, like the NMA of 40 years ago, was populated by members who were “imaging” companies (reprographics services – – – microfilming services). At some point in time, and I do not recall exactly when this happened – I think it was in the early 1980’s – the NMA changed its name to the Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM.)

    That was 40 years ago! Wow, how time flies!

    Over time, these two different associations, the IRgA and AIIM, have developed differently; for that matter, lot differently.

    Today, many AIIM members are from the AIIM “customer” community. There are probably more members from the “customer” community than there are members from the “imaging services business” community. Basic membership in AIIM is free. Premium membership costs only $135.00 per year. AIIM’s web-site is chock-full of information about the “information and imaging” business, imaging hardware and software, cloud solutions, etc., etc. AIIM’s membership has increased a lot over the past 10 years.

    Just to the opposite of how AIIM developed, the IRgA is still pretty much populated by members who are in the reprographics business. Unfortunately, IRgA membership has been in a declining mode the past several years. Perhaps the IRgA should consider opening up membership to people and/or firms who are in the “customer” community?

    Here’s some information about AIIM:

    About AIIM (the Association for Information and Image Management):

    AIIM is the community that provides education, research, and best practices to help organizations find, control, and optimize their information.

    For over 60 years, AIIM has been the leading non-profit organization focused on helping users to understand the challenges associated with managing documents, content, records, and business processes. AIIM was founded in 1943 as the National Microfilm Association and later became the Association for Information and Image Management. AIIM is also known as the enterprise content management (ECM) association.

    Today, AIIM is international in scope, independent, and implementation-focused. As the industry’s intermediary, AIIM represents the entire industry – including users, suppliers, and the channel.

    As a neutral and unbiased source of information, AIIM serves the needs of its members and the industry. Get up-to-date industry news from AIIM and our members.

    Here’s a link to AIIM’s web-site:

    http://www.aiim.org/

    Note: Some 40 years later, AIIM’s Headquarters is still located within walking distance of my first company’s first location.

  • Great web-site (Precision Document Systems) for learning about the Managed Print Services business…..

    In the not so distant past, ARC and others in the reprographics industry began to promote “MPS” (Managed Print Services) as a product/service line. Some refer to this particular business segment as “fleet management” (and, no, I’m not talking about a fleet of ships, but a fleet of copier/printers.)

    Below, I’ve placed a link to the web-site of “Precision Document Solutions (PDS),” a company focused squarely on the business of “managed print services.”

    http://www.pdsnow.com/

    For Reprographers who are interested in learning more about the “managed print services” business, reviewing, in detail, all of the information shared on PDS’ web-site most certainly helps one better understand the total scope of what MPS is all about.

    If you are considering entering the managed print services business, PDS’ web-site is a “must read” web-site.