IRgA Webinar Registration

Dennis Coyle — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Transparency, Unity and a Positive Vibe

Need for Change, Leadership Among the Buzzwords

The reprographics industry is coming together — reuniting in a way that is long overdue. There was a very positive mood as I departed the IRgA’s 2010 Convention & Trade Show recently held in Palm Springs, Calif.

According to Susan Dobovsky of National Azon, “It was a fun show with many networking opportunities! National Azon spent a considerable amount of money to be there and we more than felt we got a good return on our investment. For those of us who attended the show, sat in on education sessions, attended the networking happy hour by the pool, golfed, hung out in the fabulous bar and seized every networking opportunity, it was a great show. We need to spread the good word!”

Attendance: Reprographer attendance held steady compared to 2009. Twenty percent of exhibiting companies were first-time vendors. While the number of exhibitors increased, floor space and the number of sellers decreased. The result: A better ratio of buyers to sellers and a more intimate environment where people could connect and network.

The message: IRgA President Mike Cully highlighted association accomplishments and called for change following a difficult year for our industry and association. Read Cully’s remarks by clicking here.

Incoming IRgA President Gary Wilbur echoed Cully’s comments on change. He presented a graph that showed how the IRgA has declined in reprographer vendor membership from 800 to 200 in the past 10 years. Wilbur called for industry leaders to help with the “heavy lifting” that is needed to support the industry and the association. Read Wilbur’s remarks by clicking here.

The convention ended on a high note with an Open Space discussion about the future of the industry. It was amazing to see more than 85 reprographers and vendors in intense conversation deep into a Friday afternoon when clearly the weather outside presented more attractive options.

“The (Ope Space discussion) was a home run. Great job all around,” said Glenn Norvell of Lynn Imaging.

2011 is in Las Vegas: Next year, the IRgA will hold its annual meeting in Las Vegas. We will again present high-level education and networking opportunities for our members. One of our featured speakers, Bob Middlebrooks, Industry Programs Manager, Autodesk, ended his presentation with the following quote: “You can't expect to meet the challenges of today with yesterday's tools and expect to be in business tomorrow." What he said was true and you can count on the IRgA to give you the tools you need to be successful now and in the future.

Stay tuned for details, which will be available soon!

Dennis Coyle — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:30:00 GMT

KIP, the world leader in wide-format printing technology, is a major manufacturer of digital document imaging solutions for the architectural, engineering and manufacturing industries.

Dennis Coyle — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Thank You for Attending IRgA 2010

We came, we saw and we shook things up in Palm Springs at the IRgA 2010 Convention & Trade Show. Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in this year's event, including our exhibitors. IRgA Headquarters took photographs throughout the event and the pictures are available at an online photo gallery.

Stay tuned for details on next year's convention in Las Vegas. We look forward to seeing you again.

Sponsors Show Support for IRgA Convention & Trade Show

The IRgA would like to thank the following sponsors for supporting the IRgA 2010 Convention & Trade Show:

Strategic Sponsor
KIP America

Silver Sponsor
Canon, U.S.A., Inc.

Convention Sponsor
CREST Foundation

Friday Featured Speaker Sponsor
ReproMAX

Golf Sponsors
Alabama Graphics
Avanti
Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Colortrac
Cylix
Dietzgen
Drytac
KIP America
National Azon
RSA

Dennis Coyle — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:01:00 GMT

PlanSwift is the fastest and easiest to use software for accurately completing construction takeoffs on your computer. With PlanSwift's Planroom integration, visual point-and-click interface, PlanSwift calculates takeoffs easily. Please, ask about our “Referral Partner” program for Reprographic firms that pays out 30 percent commission and adds value to Reprographers Planrooms. www.planswift.com 888-752-6794 Ext.738.

Convention Education: Converting B&W to Color Takes Creative Selling

Dennis Coyle — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:05:00 GMT

By Peter Lawrence

Many of us believe that the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) market will inevitably convert to using color construction documents. We would prefer this to happen sooner rather than later so it would start providing us with a reasonable amount of higher margin volume.

As you recall, it took several years for the market to move from diazo to analog and then from analog to digital. In both cases, we asked our customers to pay more for the new technology, and it took some creative selling. Now it is happening again, so what will it take to get our customers to make the move to color? READ MORE

Two Industry Leaders Honored with the 2010 Bukovsky Award

Dennis Coyle — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:10:00 GMT

The IRgA recently selected Richard Bosworth (left), president, ReproMAX, and Michael Shaw (right), president, Central Blue Print, to receive the 2010 Bukovsky Award.

Bosworth is president of ReproMAX. He has been dedicated to the reprographic industry for more than 30 years. He has been actively involved with ReproMAX since 1984, serving on the board of directors for more than eight years. While serving as chairman, he dedicated his efforts to guiding ReproMAX in becoming one of the most influential forces in reprographics. In addition, he has guided ReproMAX into diversification of new and profitable markets and industry partnerships.

Shaw is president of Central Blue Print in Great Neck, New York. Shaw joined the family business in 1984 with the primary responsibility to move the business from manual to automated operations. Shaw served on the IRgA Board of Directors as program chair, convention chair and held officer positions including president from 2005-2006. Shaw was part of a group of directors that made the important decision to move the association’s headquarters to its current management company, SmithBucklin. He spent countless hours working with the new staff and facilitating the transition of the organization. READ MORE

IRgA Announces Important Decision Regarding Its Upcoming Board of Directors

Dennis Coyle — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:15:00 GMT

After a lengthy deliberation, and acting upon the recommendation of the IRgA Executive Committee, the Nominating Committee agreed that these are unusual times and circumstances for our industry and for the IRgA. After weighing pros and cons, the Nominating Committee recommended to the membership that the current Board of Directors continue as is for one additional year, with the exception that Dan Stephens’ term will expire on July 31, 2010. The rationale was that the IRgA needs to make significant strategic changes and that maintaining continuity on the board is important.

Officer positions are as follows, each with a one-year term, to commence with the new fiscal year beginning Aug. 1, 2010:

President, Gary Wilbur, president & CEO, R.S. Knapp/Napco, Lyndhurst, NJ.
Vice President, Bob Roperti, president of Jiffy Reprographics, Clearwater, Fla.

Secretary-Treasurer, Dan Mulrooney, vice president, Global Operations, American Reprographics Company, Walnut Creek, Calif.

Directors:

Mike Cully, Immediate Past President
AIR Graphics
North Quincy, Mass.

John Davis
Alabama Graphics
Birmingham, Ala.

Paul Fridrich
CyberCopy
Camarillo, Calif.

Rich Gigl
KIP America
Novi, Mich.

Jerry Hill
Drytac Corporation
Richmond, Va.

Tony Militano
Carbon Copy Digital
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Kim Long
Reprodux Copy Centres
North York, Ontario, Canada

Casey Simpson
American Reprographics Company
c/o American Reprographics Company/MBC
Columbia, Md.

Time to Renew Your IRgA Membership

Dennis Coyle — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:20:00 GMT

IRgA membership runs from Aug. 1 through July 31 each year. Key contacts should have received their IRgA Membership Invoice via e-mail on June 15. To ensure that your company continues to receive the value package shown below and much more that is planned for the future, make your IRgA membership a priority. An IRgA membership includes the following exclusive benefits:

Discount to the Annual Convention & Trade Show;
Quarterly reprographics industry trends surveys;
Webinars offered free to member companies;
BERTL MegaNet service available free to IRgA members – a $995 value;
Enhanced Web site with members–only materials;
Six issues of News Digest; and
Much more.

Members can renew by using the online renewal form. Please note that you do not need to enter each branch location when renewing online. If you have any questions about the membership renewal process or about joining the IRgA, please call headquarters at 800.833.4742.

IRgA Seeks Volunteers

Dennis Coyle — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:25:00 GMT

The IRgA is committed to reinventing the organization in the same manner that you are reinventing your companies. It’s time to move forward and create the reprographics industry of tomorrow. There are many great minds among us, and we need your leadership to mold an enduring, successful industry. To become involved and make a difference, download the application form and “sign up” to work with an IRgA committee between now and the 2011 Convention next May. There’s lots of work to do and many hands will make for light work. Who’s in?

Robert W. Baird Q1 2010 Reprographers Survey Results Now Available

Dennis Coyle — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:30:00 GMT

The IRgA has partnered with Robert W. Baird & Company to produce a quarterly economic trends study. The IRgA has engaged with Baird as an independent researcher with a strong reputation for conducting quality research within the investment community. The IRgA reprographer members have the opportunity to participate in the research study itself and the entire membership is able to benefit from the industry trends data.

The 1st Quarter 2010 Reprographers Survey results are now available for IRgA members only; highlights include:

The quarterly survey of 45 reprographers suggests business trends were roughly in line with expectations during the quarter.
Respondents expect only moderate improvement in y/y revenue trends over the next six months versus the -2.9 percent revenue decline in the first quarter even as comparisons ease.
52 percent of respondents indicated revenue was either “slightly below expectations” or “well below expectations” during the first quarter versus 61 percent in the fourth quarter.
Respondents indicated revenue was down -2.9 percent on average during the first quarter. Last quarter the average revenue of respondents was -13.4 percent.
The average six-month revenue growth forecast of reprographers was +0.1 percent, up just slightly from -1.3 percent last quarter even as comparisons ease.
80 percent of respondents indicated they maintained their net realized prices while 16 percent saw lower net realized prices (vs. 12 percent last quarter).
When asked which sector of non-residential construction they find most concerning looking forward, respondents again overwhelmingly indicated the office and retail sectors.

Visit the members-only section on the IRgA Web site for the full report. A username and password are required.

Dennis Coyle — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Océ North America Announces Winner of Its Third Annual 'Green Reprographer of the Year' Award

Océ North America announced the winner of its third annual “Green Reprographer of the Year” award during the IRgA 2010 Convention &Trade Show held May 19-21 in Palm Springs, Calif. ProRepro, Orange County’s fastest growing reprographics company, was selected as the winner from a pool of qualified entrants who submitted applications via Océ’s Web site. Applicants outlined their achievements in the area of green business practices and highlighted how these efforts have assisted their customers to meet their own sustainability goals. READ MORE

PlanSwift Partners with Sage

PlanSwift recently announced an exciting new partnership with Sage. PlanSwift and Sage have come together to offer the construction industry the complete solution in construction takeoff and estimating: PlanSwift for Sage. This new product combines PlanSwift’s amazing takeoff capability with the power of Sage Timberline Office Estimating. PlanSwift for Sage is offered exclusively through Sage. READ MORE

Mutoh Hires Todd R. Molzahn as Central Regional Sales Manager

Mutoh America Inc. recently announced the addition of Todd R. Molzahn as Central Regional sales manager. Molzahn brings more than 25 years of sales experience to his new position at Mutoh. His prior position at Brother as the sales and training manager for the GT product line coupled with his hands-on experience should be a valuable asset to his new position. His addition adds to the growing list of Mutoh new hires within the last several months. READ MORE

Canon U.S.A. Breaks Ground on New Americas Headquarters in Melville, N.Y.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., recently broke ground on its new North and South American headquarters campus in Melville, N.Y. The new facility will be a model for environmental stewardship and innovation and will serve as one of Canon Inc.’s three worldwide headquarters, with the others located in Tokyo and London. READ MORE

Roland and CGS Publishing Technologies International Announce Strategic Technology Partnership

Roland and CGS Publishing Technologies International have entered into a strategic partnership to bring leading-edge technologies to the graphics industry. Focused initially on the packaging market, the partnership has produced a new solution that seamlessly integrates CGS’ patented ORIS Color Tuner // Web software with Roland’s DPI award-winning VersaUV LED-UV inkjet printer/cutter. The solution allows businesses to generate highly accurate flexible packaging contract halftone proofs on virtually any substrate at a fraction of the cost of current laser systems. READ MORE

Océ Outlines How Reprographers Can Reap Economic Benefits by Expanding into New Retail Markets

The architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) market has been hard-hit by the recent economic recession. As a result, many reprographers have also suffered due to a significant reliance on this market. Reprographers are looking for ways to diversify their business into non-AEC markets to provide both revenue diversity and profitable growth. Fortunately, the retail industry presents a viable option.

In January, the National Retail Federation – the world’s largest retail trade association – released its 2010 economic forecast, which projected consumer spending will continue to expand, modestly, at a 2-2.5 percent rate. Océ outlines how reprographers can help retailers capitalize on this positive economic indicator, while expanding their own revenue opportunities. READ MORE

Paradigm Imaging Group Reveals New Rocket Scanner Controller

Paradigm Imaging Group recently revealed new upgrades to their Rocket Scanner Controller. Paradigm’s exclusive Rocket Scanner Controller, a key component of their popular line of multifunction scan-print-copy systems, has been upgraded and improved. The new Rocket boasts a faster CPU, better graphics controller and a new, sleek design. The 2 GB memory can now be upgraded to 8 GB, up from 4 GB in the previous version. READ MORE