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    Today, I was informed that
    ABC has acquired a reprographics company in Tampa.  I don’t know if what I heard is true, or not
    true, so I have to ask the question, “fact or fiction”, has ABC, in fact,
    acquired a Tampa reprographer?  And, if
    so, which one?
    I was also informed that ABC
    will soon be opening a location – a production center location – in Orlando.  I’ve been expecting ABC to open in Orlando
    for quite some time by now.  I don’t know
    if ABC is, in fact, soon to open in Orlando; it’s just what I heard.

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    Several days ago, I heard
    from one of my blog visitors that Service Point’s Washington DC location had
    closed.  I’m speaking about the location
    at 1300 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., which, to the best of my knowledge was the
    only SP location in Washington, DC.
    After heard that, I
    contacted, via e-mail, a Service Point facility manager in Boston – to ask
    where SP’s Washington, DC location had been relocated, but did not receive any
    reply.
    This morning, after
    hearing from another DC area reprographer that the windows at SP’s location on
    Connecticut Avenue are all papered over, I sent this e-mail to another SP
    facility manager:
    “Can you tell
    me where the Service Point Washington DC location has been relocated to?”
    “The store at
    1300 Connecticut Avenue appears to be closed!”
    And, here’s the reply I
    received from that SP facility manager (located in another city where SP has
    operations):
    “DC is suspended indefinitely and has not
    been re-located locally.”
    “I’m the Facility Manager in ________ and
    can do printing from here as long as it can be shipped to you.”
    – – – – – – – – –
    If anyone hears that SP has reopened in
    Washington, DC (or in the DC suburbs), please kindly let me know.

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    from Bloomberg News
    By Vince Golle on June 06, 2012
    Summary of Economic Reports by
    Federal Reserve District Banks
    Following is a summary of U.S. economic
    conditions as reported by the 12 Federal Reserve district banks in the central
    bank’s latest regional survey
    , also known as the Beige
    Book
    .
    The
    Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas prepared the latest report. Information was collected on or before May 25.
    Boston: “Economic activity in the First
    District continues to expand, with contacts in most sectors citing steady
    growth. Commercial real estate markets
    show slight improvement and residential real estate contacts are finally
    mentioning recovery, albeit fragile.
    Respondents in this round rarely
    mention prices or pricing. Except for software and IT services where growth
    continues to be relatively strong, few firms are doing substantial hiring. The
    outlook is generally for more of the same, although a couple of manufacturers
    mention making contingency plans for a potential slowdown.”
    New York: “The Second District’s economy has
    continued to expand at a moderate pace since the last report. Labor market
    conditions have generally improved, and, on balance, contacts indicate they
    plan to add workers in the months ahead. Business contacts in a number of
    industries note a slowing pace of cost increases and mostly stable selling
    prices. Manufacturers report a pickup in business conditions. Tourism activity
    has been strong since the last report, while retailers and auto dealers
    indicate steady sales activity in April and May. Home sales activity has
    continued to increase gradually.”
    Philadelphia: “Overall, business activity in the
    Third District continues to improve, but the pace has slowed slightly in most
    sectors since the previous Beige Book. Manufacturing activity has eased
    slightly, but most major manufacturing sectors continue to grow. After a strong
    first quarter, partially due to the unseasonably mild weather, retail sales
    slowed somewhat in April but appear to be gaining strength based on customer
    traffic in May.
    “Although
    sales remain strong overall, motor vehicle dealers also reported softer sales
    in April. Third District banks report steadier growth in lending and continued
    strong credit quality since the last Beige Book. Demand for new home
    construction has eased off a bit, but brokers report stronger sales of existing
    homes. Several signs of improvement were cited by commercial real estate
    contacts. The outlook remains optimistic, but more firms readily noted the slow
    pace of the recovery relative to the sunnier views expressed in the last Beige
    Book.”
    Cleveland: “Business activity in the Fourth
    District has grown at a moderate pace since the beginning of April.
    Manufacturers reported stable production, while residential and nonresidential
    construction showed moderate growth. Retail sales held steady, and auto dealers
    described April sales as generally good. Exploration and production in shale
    gas expanded, even as the demand for coal has slowed. Freight transport volume
    moved higher. And the market for business credit has strengthened.
    “Hiring
    continued at a modest pace across most industry sectors, although staffing-firm
    representatives reported that the number of job openings had increased for
    information technology and healthcare workers. Wage pressures are contained.
    Input prices were stable, apart from increases in building materials.”
    Richmond: “Economic activity in the Fifth
    District improved modestly since our last assessment. Retail sales were
    sluggish, held back in part by weak big-ticket sales. Growth at services firms
    slowed, although tourism businesses reported strong demand. Bankers said that
    lending grew slowly, and much of the activity was refinancing. Residential real
    estate agents noted encouraging signs of improvement in housing sales, while
    commercial Realtors described leasing and construction activity as mostly flat
    to moderately up. Manufacturing reports were mixed, with auto and other
    transportation equipment-related producers continuing to do well, while other
    producers faced unchanged or weakening demand. District hiring activity varied,
    with some businesses reluctant to hire or unable to find qualified workers.
    Recent rainfall aided newly planted fields, but excess moisture in some areas
    delayed planting.”
    Atlanta: “Reports from Sixth District business
    contacts indicated that economic activity continued to expand at a moderate
    pace in April and May. Reports were somewhat more positive than the previous
    report, and expectations remained generally optimistic across most sectors.
    However, uncertainties surrounding the potential impact of developments in
    Europe weighed on the outlook. Most retailers noted a modest increase in sales
    activity, and auto sales remained strong. Manufacturers cited modest growth in
    new orders and production. Bankers asserted that the demand for refinancing
    mortgages continued to increase slowly. Hiring activity was positive, but
    muted. Firms continued to note difficulty filling specialized positions. Most
    businesses indicated having little pricing power.”
    Chicago: “Economic activity in the Seventh
    District continued to expand at a moderate pace in April and May, although at a
    touch slower rate than during the prior reporting period. Many contacts
    remained cautiously optimistic in their outlook for the U.S. economy. Several,
    however, also noted an increase in economic uncertainty, pointing to weaker
    business conditions in Europe and Asia and the upcoming elections in the U.S.
    Growth in consumer spending slowed, while business spending continued to
    increase at a steady pace. Manufacturing production also rose at a steady pace,
    and construction activity increased as well. Credit conditions were little
    changed on balance. Commodity prices moved lower, and wage increases remained
    moderate. Planting of corn and soybeans was well ahead of the normal pace and
    that of a year ago.”
    St. Louis: “The economy of the Eighth District
    has continued to grow at a modest pace since our previous survey. Residential
    real estate market conditions have improved moderately. Similarly, commercial
    real estate market conditions have also improved. Retail and auto sales in
    April and early May increased over year-earlier levels. In contrast, recent
    reports of plans from firms in the manufacturing and services sectors were
    mixed. Reports of lending activity at a sample of large District banks during
    the first quarter of 2012 were somewhat mixed.”
    Minneapolis: “The Ninth District economy grew at a
    modest to firm pace since the last report. Strength was noted in consumer
    spending, tourism, professional services, real estate, construction,
    manufacturing, energy and mining, and agriculture. Firms reported difficulties
    hiring qualified candidates, although wage increases remained modest. Price
    increases were generally subdued.”
    Kansas City: “The Tenth District economy improved
    moderately in late April and May. Retailers and restaurant contacts reported
    stronger sales, while auto sales declined. Both retailers and auto contacts
    expected increased activity in the months ahead. Manufacturing activity rose, and
    the high-tech services industry experienced modest growth. Transportation
    activity was flat and was expected to remain unchanged in the months ahead.
    Residential and commercial real estate activity increased solidly with higher
    sales and lower vacancy rates. Banking contacts reported slightly higher loan
    demand, improved loan quality and increased deposits. Agricultural growing
    conditions improved, and farmland values continued to climb. The energy sector
    expanded further, but the oversupply of natural gas was leading to a slower
    pace of expansion. Wage pressures increased, and firms reported some difficulty
    in filling positions.”
    Dallas: “The Eleventh District economy
    expanded at a moderate pace over the past six weeks. Manufacturing activity was
    flat to up, demand for business services rose and transportation services
    activity was mixed. Energy activity remained strong, and the housing sector
    continued to improve. Retail sales rose moderately, and auto sales were strong.
    Loan demand picked up since the last report. Drought conditions improved. Most
    firms reported no change in selling prices. Employment levels were steady to
    slightly higher, and wage pressures remained minimal. Most firms’ outlooks are
    optimistic, although many respondents expressed concern about U.S. political
    uncertainty and the European debt situation.”
    San Francisco: “Economic activity in the Twelfth
    District continued to grow at a moderate pace during the reporting period of
    April through late May. Price increases for final goods and services were very
    modest, and upward wage pressures were quite limited overall. Sales of retail
    items rose, as did demand for consumer and business services. District
    manufacturing activity picked up further. Sales remained robust for
    agricultural producers, while conditions were mixed for providers of energy
    resources. Demand rose modestly for residential real estate and also improved a
    bit for commercial real estate. District banking contacts reported that overall
    loan demand edged up, and they noted further slight improvements in credit
    quality.”
    To
    contact the reporter on this story: Vince Golle in Washington at
    vgolle@bloomberg.net

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    Article from Forbes by Steve Schaefer, Forbes Staff
    MARKETS
    | 6/06/2012 @ 11:43AM
    Iron Mountain Rips Higher On REIT Conversion Plan
    It is no secret that
    in a world with 10-year U.S. Treasury rates well below 2%, investors are
    desperate for yield. But it isn’t only money managers and everyday investors
    who are aware of this fact. Companies are too and the latest example comes from
    Iron Mountain.
    The document storage
    firm said Tuesday that its board has approved a plan to convert into a real
    estate investment trust. Such a conversion would result in the distribution of
    up to $1.5 billion in accumulated profits to shareholders and REIT status would
    mean 90% of taxable income moving forward would be delivered to shareholders.
    Chairman and Chief
    Executive Richard Reese said converting to a REIT will have little to no impact
    on customers, while enhancing capital return to shareholders. “The REIT
    structure provides stockholders with dividends from U.S. tax savings and other
    increases in distributable income that will enhance stockholder returns,” he
    said. The company estimates the cost of converting at between $325 million and
    $425 million. (Read:
    Iron Mountain’s investor presentation
    on the plan
    .)
    Since the largest
    portion of Iron Mountain’s income stems from renting storage space to customers
    around the world for storing and protecting everything from historical
    artifacts to business documents to medical records, the transition seems like a
    home run at a time when investors are starved for yield.
    The company is no
    stranger to sharing its spoils with shareholders previous to the REIT decision.
    It upped its dividend 8% Tuesday and already yields 3.2%, hardly a frontrunner
    but above the 2.7% average among S&P 500 dividend payers.
    REITs, like master
    limited partnerships in the energy space, can be a rich income-producing
    portion of a portfolio, but must be carefully monitored for valuation purposes.
    While all REITs have certain essential characteristics in common – they must
    pass muster with
    SEC regulations on distributions of capital, maintain at least 75%
    of assets in real estate and derive at least 75% of gross income from real
    property rents, among other requirements – they fall into a number of different
    sub-categories.
    Some of those categories
    carry far higher dividend yields. Mortgage firms, or mREITs, like
    Annaly Capital Management, can yield in the teens but also be more volatile,
    while apartment REITs that rent residential space like AvalonBay Communities
    have been in favor as total return plays. Still others are involved in the
    retail space, like mall owners
    Simon Property Group and General Growth Properties, or technology plays like Digital Realty Trust.
    Because REITs are
    required to pay out so much of their income to shareholders, a disappointing
    quarter can be doubly painful, hitting both share price and dividends, the two
    components of the total return story.
    Iron Mountain, which
    stressed that its plan to become a REIT by Jan. 1, 2014 is not assured of
    regulatory approval, was the best performer in the S&P 500 Wednesday,
    gaining $2.92, or 10.3%, to $31.32.

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    (Translated from Spanish
    to English using Google Translate; if you are fluent in Spanish and want to
    read the Spanish language version of this press release, visit
    ServicePointSolutions.net)
    Hey, Barcelona Spain is
    an amazing city; beautiful weather, fun beaches, awesome architecture and
    incredibly interesting food. 
    May 25, 2012. – The Board of Directors
    of Service Point Solutions SA (SPS) in accordance with legal and statutory
    regulations in force, has agreed to convene and Extraordinary General Meeting
    of shareholders to be held in Barcelona, the Princesa Sofia Hotel, Plaza Pio
    XII, 4, the 27th of June 2012 at 10:30 am on first call and on June 28, 2012,
    in the same place and time, on second call.
    Agenda
    1. Review
    and where appropriate, approval of the Annual Accounts (Balance Sheet, Income
    Statement, Statement of Changes in Equity, Cash Flow Statement and Notes)
    individual SERVICE POINT SOLUTIONS, SA and the consolidated group, the
    corresponding management reports, application of results and management of the
    Board of Directors, all for the year ended December 31, 2011.
    2.
    Appointment or reappointment as auditors of individual accounts and the
    consolidated group.
    3.
    Resignation, appointment, reappointment and / or ratification of directors,
    after fixing their number within the statutorily provided minimum and maximum
    4.
    Delegation to the Board of Directors, to be able to issue convertible bonds,
    with attribution of the power to exclude the preferential subscription rights
    and the power to ensure, where appropriate, conducted emissions, increase in
    capital amount necessary to cover the conversion.
    5. Authorize
    the Board of Directors to acquire own shares directly or through subsidiaries.
    6.
    Delegation to the Board of Directors, under Article 297.1.b) of the Companies
    Act Capital, the power to approve a capital increase in one or more times
    within a maximum period of 5 years and even as maximum amount equivalent to
    half the capital of the company at the time of authorization, to the extent
    that it may decide, with a forecast of incomplete subscription, delegating
    also, in accordance with the provisions of Article 506 of the Companies Act
    capital, the power to exclude the preferential subscription rights in respect
    of such share issues and the power to amend Article 5 of the Bylaws.
    7. Amendment
    of Articles 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 22, 22-B and 27 of the Bylaws
    to adapt to the Companies Act Capital.
    8. Amendment
    of the preamble and Articles 5, 7, 8, 9 and the 13th of the Rules of the
    General Meeting of Shareholders, and introduction of a new article, all for
    their adaptation to the Companies Act Capital.
    9. Approval,
    in an advisory capacity to the report on the remuneration of the Directors of
    Service Point Solutions, SA the current year (2012) prepared by the Board of
    Directors
    10.
    RevisióndelaremuneracióndelosmiembrosdelConsejodeAdministración. 11. Delegation
    of powers.
    12. Any
    other business.
    13. Reading
    and where appropriate, approve the minutes of the Board.
    Supplement
    to the notice and submit proposals in accordance
    Shareholders
    representing at least 5% of the share capital may request a supplement to the
    notice of General Meeting including one or more points on its agenda, provided
    that the new item is accompanied by a justification or, where appropriate, a
    settlement proposal justified and substantiated proposals agree on matters
    included or to be included in the agenda of the call. The exercise of these
    rights shall be made by notification which must be received at the registered
    office within five days of publication of this announcement, stating the names of
    shareholders who exercise the right to add and / or right proposals agreed, and
    the number of shares they hold, and the points to include in the agenda and /
    or proposed agreement, accompanied, if necessary, any documentation necessary
    or appropriate .
    Information
    Pursuant to
    the provisions of the Companies Act Capital, Mr. shareholders may examine at
    the registered office and request free delivery by mail of the following
    documentation:
    • Full text
    of the annual accounts, management report and the report of the Auditors for
    the year 2011 and the Consolidated Accounts and the Auditors’ report for that
    financial year.
    • Full text
    of the Directors’ Report on items 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 on the agenda.
    • Full text
    of the Report on the remuneration of the Directors of Service Point Solutions, Inc.
    the current year (2012).
    Also
    available for inspection and obtained information regarding the General Meeting
    of Shareholders in the Company website (www.servicepoint.net).
    Until the
    seventh day prior to the scheduled conclusion of the General Meeting, the
    Shareholders may ask any questions or requests for information or clarification
    regarding the items on the agenda or publicly available information that has
    been provided by the Company to the National Stock Exchange since the date of
    conclusion of the last General Meeting. During the celebration of the General
    Meeting, shareholders may verbally request the information or explanations they
    consider appropriate on the items on the agenda.
    And also to
    comply with Article 539 of the Companies Act Capital, after the publication of
    this notice is provided an electronic forum on the website Shareholders of the
    Company. The operating rules of the Forum and the form must be completed to
    participate in it, are available on the website of the Company.
    It has
    enabled the phone number 902 999 203 and email juntasps@servicepoint.net, in
    order to obtain or clarify any information related to this board.
    Right to
    assistance and representation
    Have the
    right to attend all Board Shareholders with at least five (5) days prior to
    that for the holding thereof, which are recorded in the registers of some of
    the Iberclear and are in possession of the attendance card to that effect shall
    be issued by the entity in which they have deposited their shares.
       
    The
    Shareholders entitled to attend, be represented on the Board by another person,
    to be removed, either in the card issued by the depositaries of their shares or
    in another document specifically for this Board. A proxy may also be conferred
    by means of distance communication, fulfilling the requirements for exercising
    the right to vote at a distance as follows.
    Remote
    Voting
    The right to
    vote on proposals regarding items on the agenda may be made by the shareholder
    entitled to attend by mail, in which case the shareholder communication should
    have been notified to the Company between the date of notice General Meeting
    and no later than twenty-four hours a day immediately preceding the holding of
    the Board. To be valid, must fulfill the following requirements:
    a) the
    manifestation of the manner of voting shall be given by introducing into the
    envelope, and sent to the Company, voting card stating clearly the identity of
    the shareholder, the number of shares that he holds the meaning of their vote
    in each of the items on the agenda, as well as his autograph.
    b) If the
    shareholder had delegated their votes and postal utilizase representative for
    broadcast, the forecasts referred to in paragraph a) above must be met both in
    terms of the declaration of the shareholder and the statement of the
    representative.
    * To avoid
    inconvenience to the Shareholders, it is noted the high likelihood that the
    Meeting is held on second call, on June 28, 2012 at 10:30 pm.

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    Barcelona, May 31,
    2012.– Service Point, through its German division Koebcke Photo Services,
    announces the agreement reached with the Palo Alto based North-American
    software developer Digilabs Inc., to widen its range of digital imaging
    services worldwide.
    The company has also
    signed another two contracts with Fotomoz.com and Bilder-Experten to produce,
    frame and deliver multi-format printed images and photo albums to professional
    and semi professional markets.
    The American company
    DigiLabs (www.digilabstech.com) owns one of the leading photo-processing
    software solutions for postcards, calendars and photo albums. Its software is
    used by thousands of printing and photography businesses and laboratories. Its
    partners include HP, Xerox, Kodak, Fujifilm and Canon.
    Bilder-Experten
    (www.bilder-experten.de) is one of the most dynamic German companies in the
    production of photobooks, as well as providing framing services for images
    printed on a variety of materials. This year it achieved the HP Dreamcolor
    Beste Qualitat award for its high quality services.
    The contract with the
    Turkish-based company Fotomoz (www.fotomoz.com) will allow Service Point to
    enter the Turkish market. Fotomoz maintains close ties with companies such as
    CNN Türk, NTV, Sabah and Aksam.

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     By Shobhana
    Chandra – Jun 1, 2012 10:00 AM ET (from Bloomberg)
    Construction spending in the U.S. rose
    in April for a second month, helped by a surge in housing.
    The 0.3 percent gain
    followed a matching increase in March that was revised higher than previously
    estimated, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The median estimate of
    economists surveyed by Bloomberg News called for a 0.4 percent rise.
    Cheaper properties and low
    borrowing costs are lifting orders at homebuilders like Toll Brothers Inc. (TOL),
    a sign the industry that helped trigger the recession is improving. At the same
    time, foreclosures remain a restraint on housing, and commercial construction
    is unlikely to pick up until growth accelerates.
    “There’s a modest uptick
    in demand” for homes, Michael Gapen, a senior U.S. economist at Barclays Plc in
    New York, said before the
    report. “The housing recovery should broaden out this year. We’re coming off
    the bottom.”
    Estimates from 49
    economists in the Bloomberg survey ranged from a drop of 0.3 percent to a gain
    of 1.5 percent, following an initially reported 0.1 percent increase for March.
    Construction spending
    increased 6.3 percent in the 12 months ended in April, before adjusting for
    seasonal variations.
    Private construction
    spending rose 1.2 percent in April from the prior month.
    Homebuilding Outlays
    Homebuilding outlays
    jumped 2.8 percent, the highest since October, including a 3.7 percent increase
    in home improvement.
    Private non-residential
    projects spending declined by 0.2 percent.
    Spending on public
    construction fell 1.4 percent in April from the prior month. Federal
    construction spending dropped 5 percent while state and local fell 1 percent.
    Housing demand is
    improving. Purchases of new houses climbed 3.3 percent in April, while those of
    existing homes rose 3.4 percent, figures showed last month.
    Construction is getting a
    lift from higher sales. Housing starts rose 2.6 percent to a 717,000 annual
    rate in April, according to Commerce Department figures released on May 16.
    Toll Brothers is among the
    builders reporting growth in orders. Second-quarter profit at the Horsham,
    Pennsylvania-based company exceeded analysts’ estimates as orders surged 47
    percent from a year earlier.
    “We are feeling better
    than we have at any time in the past five years,” Chairman Robert Toll said on
    a May 23 earnings call. “We would like to say we’re back, but we need a little
    more confirmation. Nonetheless, it sure feels good compared to the desert we’ve
    just crossed.”
    Borrowing Costs
    Borrowing costs remain
    attractive. The average rate on a 30- year fixed mortgage fell to an all-time
    low of 3.75 percent in the week ended May 31, according to Freddie Mac data
    going back to 1971.
    Construction funded by
    government agencies is likely to stay under pressure. Communities and states
    across the nation face soaring costs for pensions and retiree health benefits
    as sales and property-tax revenue have fallen from the longest recession since
    the 1930s.
    To contact the reporter on
    this story: Shobhana Chandra in Washington at schandra1@bloomberg.net

  • Friday, June 01, 2012

    Press release from the issuing company
    You’ve made the decision to purchase a large format printer, taking into account the top four considerations discussed in Part 1 (www.oceusa.com/NB1) of this news brief series. Now it is time to go one level deeper to help ensure you have selected the best quality large format printer that your work deserves.
    Océ, a Canon Group company and an international leader in digital document management, highlights below the final five considerations for making a truly informed purchasing decision.

    Ease of Use
    There is more to ease of use than the user interface of a large format printer – screens, previews and wizards do not tell the full story. Instead, base your investigation on how you need the printer to work for you, taking into consideration:
    • Type of Print Jobs: If the bulk of your print jobs are standardized, look for automation possibilities using templates. If your print jobs are specialized, look for possibilities to maintain full control and adjust or set parameters.
    • Number of Users: For multiple users, templates and a self-explanatory user interface is critical. Specialized users that are used to a high degree of automation need full control to run complex jobs.
    • Consumables Loading: Look for capabilities to exchange ink cartridges or refill toner during large runs, as well as the number of media rolls in the printer and if they can be exchanged on the fly. 
    • Ergonomics: Check to ensure printer design eases the burden of replacing empty paper rolls, makes it easy to access prints and that the operator panel is at an appropriate angle.
    Infrastructure Security
    Large format printers, especially those with a USB port, are an integral part of your IT infrastructure. More than just virus protection, infrastructure security includes protecting your company’s intellectual property. Therefore, when selecting a large format printer, security issues should be taken into account:
    • Service Packs: Look for a system that is compatible, for example, with Microsoft Service Packs. This offers updates for system reliability, program compatibility, virus protection and more.
    • Unauthorized Use: Ensure that unauthorized users can be locked out of the system. Usage logging can make it possible to track and trace misuse.
    • Overwrite Options:  Often companies will want to be able to overwrite digital data from the hard disk using e-shredding or even remove the hard disk when needed.
    • Safety applications: Network providers can assist with a variety of safety applications and features, such as integrity, authentication, and certification processes.
    Product Options
    A large format printer is a long-term commitment, which is why it is critical to select a machine that can be easily adapted to a business’ changing needs when they occur. Field upgradability and financing of field upgradability are two things to consider when looking at product options. For example, can hardware (e.g. scanner, folder or additional paper rolls) be added in the future; does the manufacturer offer firmware updates; is it possible to change your service contract if a shorter response time is needed.

    Floor Space
    When evaluating your floor space needs, the physical dimensions of the large format printer is just the first step. The operational floor space of the equipment is just as important as is balancing the cost of floor space versus efficiency cost. There are significant consequences to not having enough space, such as: damaged prints and originals and the cost of incomplete sets.
    Keep in mind that even if the printer is touted as a single footprint multifunctional solution, you must take into consideration the additional floor space needed to fully operate the system. To make the best use of your space, evaluate the benefits of a single footprint solution versus a dual footprint solution.

    Environmental Impact
    The large format printer you select can have a direct impact on your company’s sustainability performance, potentially leading to unnecessary waste and high energy consumption. When shopping for a large format printer, consider the following:
    • Waste: Disposal of ink cartridges and residual toner is important, but do not forget the waste that is generated by poor quality prints that cannot be used or trimming scraps when the wrong media is selected.
    • Recyclability: Remember, just as ink cartridges and residual toner, the printers themselves can be recycled. Consider if the printer manufacturer has a remanufacturing program in place, so that old printers can be refurbished, reused or remanufactured.
    • Energy Consumption: To get a complete picture of the amount of energy that a printer consumes, consider how the machine is used on a typical day. Estimate how long the printer will likely be in sleep mode, how often will it be used per day and what type of printing it is doing.  Also, evaluate if the room in which the printer is placed will need to be cooled – the energy needed for air conditioning can increase your energy costs.
    In combination with the four considerations presented in Part 1 of this series, you now have a more complete overview of the nine most important things to evaluate when shopping for a large format printer. For a more in-depth guide to purchasing the large format printer that is best for your needs, download the whitepaper Nine Considerations When Buying a Large Format Printer atwww.oceusa.com/9ConsiderationsNB2
  • Friday, June 01, 2012

    Press release from the issuing company
    The industry’s quick and small commercial printers include “some of the industry’s most innovative and fast-growing companies,” says Andrew Paparozzi, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at The National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL). Now NAPL is expanding its services for this key industry segment with two new newsletters and a conference created exclusively for quick and small commercial printers.
    The new eight-page quarterly Quick and Small Commercial Printers Trends Reportcovers the latest economic news and industry trends as relates to printers with annual sales below $3.5 million, including data and interpretation from regular surveys and interviews of printers in this segment. It is produced by the NAPL Research Center and sponsored by Xerox.
    Introduced this spring, the new NAQP News is a six-page quarterly management newsletter with columns and articles specifically aimed at meeting the needs and exploring the issues executives and managers of quick and small commercial printing companies face daily. Both newsletters are mailed to NAPL members in this category.
    “Executives and managers of quick and small commercial printing companies—many of them hands-on owner-operators—face difficult daily challenges during this time of industry change and economic uncertainty,” says NAQP Managing Director Mitch Evans. “We’ve created these new publications to help them navigate today’s challenges successfully as they grow and seek to achieve greater profitability.”
    The Owners Conference, immediately preceding GRAPH EXPO, delivers speakers, printer panels, and vendor programs exclusively for the quick and small commercial printer, including the popular Ideas Exchange and Annual Supplier Showcase.
    Built on the theme, “Embracing Change: Finding New Paths to Profits,” the information-packed 2012 conference will be held at the Doubletree Hotel Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Oct. 4-6. It will also be the setting for the annual PrintImage Excellence Awards, showcasing the outstanding output of the smaller printing company. All Owners Conference attendees also receive complimentary show floor admission to Graph Expo, Oct. 7-10 at McCormick Place South in Chicago.
    “The program for this year’s conference has been put together by a group of knowledgeable quick and small commercial printer members who have used their frontline experience to identify today’s most important industry issues and assembled speakers and panelists who can address these topics from a real-world perspective,” says NAPL President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph P. Truncale, Ph.D. 
    “Those who attend will return to their offices with innumerable takeaways they can make use of immediately.”
    Topics covered at the 2012 program range from Equipment Financing and Agency-Printer Relationships to Social Networking and Exit Strategies. Already scheduled for this year’s program: Bill Farquharson of Aspire For, John Foley of Grow Socially, Joe Manos of MindFireInc., Barb Pellow of InfoTrends, Nancy Proffitt of Proffitt Management, Frank Romano of Rochester Institute of Technology, and Julie Shaffer of Printing Industries of America.
    For more information about the 2012 Owners Conference, contact NAPL Vice President/Member Relations Dean D’Ambrosi at (800) 642-6275, Ext. 6314, or ddambrosi@napl.org, or go to www.napl.org/2012OC