IRgA Unveils Dynamic New Web Site Convention Registration Now Open!

Steve Bova, CAE Executive Director In October, the IRgA unveiled the News Digest as a strategy to communicate industry and association news in a professional format, and to begin to drive people to the IRgA’s Web site. On Feb 1st, the IRgA introduced a brand new Web site at www.irga.com. Though the Web address remains unchanged, the IRgA is excited to offer a site that is graphically appealing, contains tons of information, and is user–friendly — visitors will find the information they need much faster!

A host of new tools and resources are available for reprographers to maximize time spent on the site. Included among the enhanced offerings are an industry events calendar, useful industry links, and industry news that will be updated on a regular basis. The members-only portion of the site now offers direct access to an online education series, classified ads, a discussion forum sign up, PDF versions of some association publications, and more.

The industry directory now links to the association’s database so information is current – almost in real time! And, there’s an instant survey poll that we’ll use to ask questions and report in the industry news section.

The News Digest and irga.com are two critical components of the IRgA’s strategy to increase two-way communications with the reprographics industry, and its customers. The plan ties into our efforts to become more professional, easier to do business with, and to be seen as a value for 12 months a year – not just at convention-time.

And speaking of the convention, Registration for the IRgA’s 79th Annual Convention and Trade Show is now open. View the program schedule or register today.

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Construction Has Best Year Since 1996
Construction spending shot up 1.1 percent in December, capping a year in which building activity posted the best performance since 1996. Read more...

Onyx Graphics Signs Microgeo as Latin America Distributor
Onyx Graphics, a division of Océ Display Graphics Systems, Inc. and a leader in large format digital printing solutions, recently announced an agreement with Microgeo, a subsidiary of Sonda, to distribute the company’s workflow solutions products in Latin America. Read more on Microgeo or Onyx Graphics.

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VUTEk® appoints new European Managing Director
VUTEk Inc., the world’s leading supplier of superwide format digital inkjet printers, has appointed Philippe Carron as its new European Managing Director. Based at the European Headquarters in Zaventum, Belgium, Philippe will be responsible for the development of VUTEk’s European business in new and existing markets, and for driving sales of its market-leading products. Read more...

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InfoTrends/CAP Ventures Sizes up the Western European Printing and Publishing Establishment Market
According to a recently released InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ study, there were more than 313,000 printing, publishing, and print-relates services in Western Europe in 2001. Collectively, these establishments represented a €452 billion market. The 5 largest countries in Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Spain, and Italy) account for more than 77% of all primary establishments. Read more...

InteliCoat Technologies Sells Reprographics Business Unit (AZON) to Precision Paper of Tampa, Florida. Océ Acquires Azon Assets from Precision Paper Company.
Robert W. Champigny, President & Chief Executive Officer of InteliCoat Technologies, recently announced that InteliCoat has sold its Reprographics Business Unit (AZON) to Precision Paper of Tampa, Florida. Precision Paper, in turn, sold the interests in Arlington, TX and Torrance, CA to Océ. A chart providing equivalent Océ products for over 200 Azon products is available.

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Pantone Redesigns Color Guides in 2005
Pantone, Inc. recently announced the redesign of the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM® formula guide including color swatches that are nearly 25 percent larger for increased accuracy and visual reference when specifying and matching colors. Read more...

Autodesk Technology Partners Adopt DWF to Share Rich Design Information
Technology partners including HP, Océ, Bluebeam, PLP Digital Systems, US Reprographics Network and ReproMAX have developed applications that read or write multi-sheet drawings in DWF format. Read more...

On Center Software, Inc. brings software solutions to the construction industry since 1988. Digital % Complete®, On-Screen Takeoff® and Quick Bid focuses on automating estimating, takeoff and project management processes by improving accuracy, effectiveness and time through use of leading edge technology. On Center Software is your innovative solutions partner. www.oncenter.com

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Inside the IRgA

Space Available in March Mounting & Laminating Seminar
The 2005 M&L Seminars integrate theory with hands–on training in the latest technologies and techniques. Register for the March 17-18th Seminar hosted by Drytac in Richmond, VA.

Océ Online Plan Room Technology - The Gateway to Business Growth As an Océ Plan Center host, you’ll be providing a real–time, web–based solution for your clients to safely and securely publish, view, and order plans online. Enjoy increased business opportunities and dramatically streamlined job submission and print shop workflow. 800/714–4427 www.oceplancenter.com

Early-Bird Registration ends March 2, 2005
Register for the IRgA 79th Annual Convention and Trade Show, May 11-13, 2005, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada by March 2, 2005 and SAVE $100. Register today!

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Feature

Disaster!
Planning ahead helps reprographics shops prepare for the worst
By Ed Avis

Four times last summer Bob Roperti locked up his reprographics shop in Tampa, Fla., with the understanding that it might not be there when he returned. Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne all took aim on Tampa late in the last weeks of summer. Though none scored a direct hit on the city, Roperti, president of Jiffy Reprographics, had to plan for the worst each time.

Fortunately, Roperti had planned.

The steps Roperti took to prepare for a hurricane—from creating a written lock-down procedure to establishing a mutual-aid relationship with another reprographics shop—are steps all reprographics shops should consider, even those not in the path of tropical storms.

Disaster preparedness shouldn’t be an afterthought for reprographics shops. It should be part of the business plan, because having a disaster plan could mean the difference between resuming business promptly and never opening your doors again. According to a study by the University of Texas, 43 percent of all businesses that shut down after a disaster never resume business, and 29 percent of the survivors last less than two years.

The full article on this subject will appear in the March/April 2005 issue of REPRO REPORT.

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For advertising information, contact Erin Beekhuis at IRgA Headquarters: ebeekhuis@irga.com or 800/833–4742. Or, click here to fill out the Advertising Information Request and information will be emailed to you.

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