Welcome to IRgA News Digest!

Steve Bova, CAE
Executive Director
The International Reprographic Association (IRgA) is pleased to introduce this new monthly publication that is designed to be rich in content and easy to read. The introduction of the News Digest is merely one step of many in the association's efforts this year to improve communications with members of the reprographics industry.

The purpose of the News Digest is to serve as a portal for timely industry and association news - a high level introduction which then links to full articles, industry research reports, relevant websites and other information. Each issue will contain news about what's happening within the IRgA, industry news briefs, people or company profiles and a "Reader's Digest" version of a feature article to appear in an upcoming REPRO REPORT magazine. A calendar of upcoming industry events is included, along with links to their respective websites.

The Digest is being sent to IRgA members and prospective members as a free service. If you wish to change your email preference, or if you do not wish to receive future issues, simply send an email to info@irga.com and let us know.

We hope you enjoy the new, interactive format and welcome your feedback so we can continue to make improvements with each new issue. You can call the office at 800/833-4742, or send me an email at sbova@irga.com.

Industry News

Construction Spending Surged in August
The Associated Press recently announced that construction spending surged in August to the highest level on record. The Commerce Department reported that the value of buildings put in place clocked in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.02 trillion, a record high. That represented a 0.8 percent increase in August from July's level, which was twice as big as the 0.4 percent increase the economists were forecasting.

The strength exhibited in August in part reflected a strong showing in residential projects by private builders, which hit a record high. In August, residential projects by private builders rose by 1.7 percent from the previous month to a record high of $550.6 billion, on an annualized basis. Home sales are expected to hit record highs this year, aided by relatively low mortgage rates.

Commercial construction by private builders increased 0.8 percent in August to an annual rate of $227 billion, the highest level since June 2002. Government spending on big public works projects, meanwhile, dropped by 1 percent in August from the previous month to an annual rate of $237.6 billion.

Return to Top

CRA is BIG in Texas!
The Central Reprographic Association held its 49th annual convention last week at the Dallas Addison Marriott in Dallas, Texas and attracted more than 250 attendees, representing reprographics professionals from 18 states.

An intensive educational program included sessions on hiring the best salespeople, evaluating a new repro service, how to compete in a changing marketplace and how to avoid killing your business. Additionally, CRA held two sessions designed exclusively for technical staff, on electronic construction document delivery and improving ICC workflow.

The exhibit hall was sold out, and the social events provided excellent networking. There was even a dinner and rodeo event at the famous Southfork Ranch of TV show "Dallas" fame. The golf tournament was held at the Golf Club at Castle Hills, and the annual Charity Auction, led by John Gross as auctioneer, will donate more than $4,100 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The convention's final event was a dinner and casino night where participants played for a chance to win donated prizes. A good time was had by all who came and participated in the convention activities. The CRA thanks everyone who came to Dallas and especially the vendors for their support.

CRA's 50th Annual Convention will be held September 29-October 1, 2005 at the Marriott Lincolnshire in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Read more...

Return to Top

Reprographers - How can you best streamline your digital workflow? With Spicer Universal Viewers you can scan, view, edit, mark up, print and easily exchange hundreds of business and CAD file formats-ALL from one source. Download our FREE Imagenation®, ViewCafé®, Image a*X™ and DocuJet™ trial software today. www.SPICER.com

CRA announces 2004-05 Board of Directors
The Central Reprographic Association held its 49th annual convention last week at the Dallas Addison Marriott in Dallas, Texas and attracted more than 250 attendees, representing reprographics professionals from 18 states.

Return to Top

Dietzgen Strategic Alliance with Sihl USA
The Dietzgen Division of Nashua Corporation recently announced a strategic alliance with Sihl USA, a manufacturer of paper and coated substrates, for the sale and distribution of Sihl color graphics products into the reprographics channel. For the complete line of Sihl graphics products, specification sheets and printer profiles, Read more...

Worldwide Revenue from Digital Camera Photo Prints to Surpass $15B by 2008
Lyra Research forecasts that revenue from photo prints captured with digital cameras will increase from $6.6 billion in 2002 to $15.1 billion in 2008 (derived from Consumer Photo-Printing Market: Where Digital Photos Will Be Printed). Read More...

Return to Top

Nashua announces agreement with Chicago Diazo
The Dietzgen Division of Nashua Corporation recently announced an agreement to acquire certain assets of Chicago Diazo Corporation of Elk Grove, Illinois. The customer base of Chicago Diazo will be integrated into the Dietzgen wide format business unit of Nashua. Read more...

Shipments of Sub-$1,000 Color Laser Printers Will Dominate in 2008
With hardware prices declining and print speeds increasing, Lyra projects that shipments of sub-$1,000 printers will grow from 37 percent of worldwide color laser printer shipments in 2003 to 56 percent of shipments in 2008 (derived from Color Laser Printers: Worldwide Market Forecast and Analysis). Read more...

Return to Top

Inside the IRgA

IRgA Issues Call for Volunteers
You can make a difference in the IRgA by volunteering to serve on one of a number of committees. Together, committees develop and recommend policy, provide advice on programs and services, and assist in creating a rewarding and valuable member experience. If you'd like to make a contribution of your time and talent and be part of a unique and positive community of member-leaders, email sbova@irga.com. Some of the new leadership opportunities include:

Vendor Relations Committee - Reprographics industry suppliers will help the IRgA to improve communications with the vendor community, create closer relationships with reprographers and enhance the experience of exhibiting at the trade show.

Membership Committee - Among the IRgA's top priorities is to stabilize and then grow the membership to develop a stronger industry association. Help the association retain its current members, and participate in the strategy to recruit new member companies into the association.

Branding Task Force - A major initiative of the IRgA is to brand the reprographics industry to reprographics customers. While this will be an ongoing project, the purpose of this task force is to explore the important first steps in a massive branding effort, including gaining feedback and buy-in from industry members and possibly working with a branding expert to move the process forward.

Return to Top

Industry Journals Now Available Online FREE to Members!
IRgA members can now download the IRgA Industry Journals, each a $99 value, FREE at www.irga.com in the Member Network - Publication Download Center:

Industry Journal Vol. 1 - Business Strategies - designed to equip reprographers with the tools to handle a wide range of financial and operational issues confronting their businesses including 15 worksheets that complete a comprehensive chapter on finance.

Industry Journal Vol. 2 - Facilities Management - six leading industry peers offer shop owners their valuable insights for investing in the promising and rapidly growing market of FMs. From pricing to marketing, equipment to contract negotiation, this publication is an essential resource for the informed reprographer.

Industry Journal Vol. 3 - Small Format Imaging - seven industry leaders explore small-format imaging opportunities and offer insight on sales and marketing expansion, production and finance issues, technology and other aspects of the small-format market.

Industry Journal Vol. 4 - Large Format Technology - soon to be released in 2005!

Contact the office at 800/833-4742 if you need assistance logging onto the members-only section.

Return to Top

79th Annual Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas!
The IRgA proudly presents the 79th Annual Convention and Trade Show, hosted in fabulous Las Vegas at Caesars Palace, May 11-13 2005. The Las Vegas location means that crowds will really turn out for what's already the industry's biggest event.

If you are a supplier or manufacturer, the IRgA Annual Convention and Trade Show can provide you with a unique opportunity to attract Reprographers, Quick Printers, Service Bureaus, Corporate In-Plant Printers, Photo Labs, Exhibit Manufacturers, Commercial Printers, Screen Printers, Sign Shops and more! When you exhibit at the IRgA Trade Show, you obtain tremendous marketing and business development opportunities via direct access to printing and imaging business owners, managers and other company decision-makers.

For complete information on exhibiting at IRgA 2005 watch your mail box for the exhibitor prospectus or contact Nicole Boland at (312) 673-5828.

Last Chance for Mounting & Laminating Training in 2004!
On November 11 and 12, the final Mounting & Laminating seminar will be held at GBC in DeForest, Wisconsin. The two-day seminar is a good refresher for experienced employees and a great opportunity for new employees to get up-to-speed on mounting and laminating techniques. The first day of the seminar focuses on the basics of mounting and laminating while day two offers more tips, tricks, and time and money saving techniques. For details or to register, contact IRgA headquarters at 800/833-4742 or email Anne Yearsich.

Return to Top

Profiles

IRgA:
Dan Stephens is serving the third year on the IRgA Board of Directors. He serves on the Communications Committee and as chair of the REPRO REPORT Editorial Advisory Committee. Georgia Blueprint Co., the company in which he serves as president, has been a member of the organization since 1992.

Professional:
A native of Pensacola, FL, in 1979 Stephens moved to his current home of Atlanta to join General Graphics/Ridgways in its sales department and later helped manage operations for one of the company's branches. In 1984 he became the southeastern regional sales manager for Shacoh USA (now KIP America), a job that afforded him a lot of travel and the opportunity to develop important professional and personal relationships in the industry. Eight years later, he partnered with Darris McCord and purchased the Georgia Blue Print Co., a respected Atlanta fixture since 1910 with five locations in the metropolitan area. Dan is past president of the Southeastern Reprographic Association and a current board member of ReproMAX.

Education:
Dan Stephens comes to the reprographic industry with a BS in Management Science from the University of West Florida.

Personal:
Outside of his demanding business, Dan likes to golf, scuba dive and take family trips with wife Kim and their children, Adam, Mark and Emily.

Contact:
Phone: 770/452-1655
E-mail: dstephens@gablue.com

Return to Top

Features

The Growing Importance of IT Staff by Scott Cullen
As the reprographics world has transitioned from analog to digital, IT personnel have become increasingly valuable assets within a reprographics organization. Consider that most production equipment these days is digital and computers, servers and printers have become critical devices to a company's overall business operations. Enter the IT professional.

Some reprographics firms hire from outside, others groom their IT personnel from within.

Steve Oakes, vice president of Triangle Reprographics in Orlando, Fla., has tried both ways but found that when he hired from outside, the IT person had preconceived notions on how everything had to run. "That's also one of the flaws of using outside IT services," cautions Oakes. "They want to come in and build you a network like Wall Street has, but a small reprographics business doesn't need all of that."

Oakes now believes the internal route is the best option. "But you just can't pick anybody," cautions Oakes. "It has to be someone with the aptitude and who has shown the initiative to go out and get outside training. They've really got to be a geek."

The full article on this subject will appear in the REPRO REPORT Issue 6 in November.

Return to Top

International Reprographic Association
401 North Michigan Avenue • Suite 2200
Chicago, Illinois USA 60611
tel 312/245.1026 • toll free 800/833.4742 • fax 312/527.6705
www.irga.com • email info@irga.com

To ensure future delivery of IRgA e-mails to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders) please add our "From" address info@irga.com to your address book or e-mail whitelist.

Some links in this message may not work over time as the content owners of the material may change URLs and/or remove copy from their site. Some users may find the articles outside of the IRgA.com website objectionable, and are advised that IRgA cannot control the content posted on others' websites; click the links at your own risk.

Questions regarding this email? Contact us at info@irga.com. To update your e-mail preferences or opt out of IRgA messages, please contact us at info@irga.com. If you have any questions or concerns, contact IRgA Headquarters at 312/245.1026 or via e-mail info@irga.com.

© Copyright 2004 International Reprographic Association. All rights reserved.