Clancy . . . overflow . . . the best bits . . . funnies

Although ProtectaPrint, the laminating firm from South Australia, is ranked second as the Platinum sponsor of the prestigious competition for excellence in book and magazine production, it makes you wonder what the local printers were doing letting an overseas company claim naming rights. Is it a question of deep and deeper pockets, or merely that C&C Offset care more? Among the gold and silver sponsors in what is now known as the C&C Offset Galley Club Awards are such local luminaries as PMP Print, Offset Alpine, SNP Corporation, McPherson’s Printing group and more.

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Just in case you are deterred by the thought of competing against books and magazines produced in Asia, Clancy is assured there is a category in the Galley Club Awards for Australian printed books. The Club is now calling for entries before the deadline of Friday, 1st April. It’s easy to enter via www.galleyclubsydney.org.au/members/

This years’ awards will be presented at a gala evening and dinner on Friday, 1 July 200. . . no shurely shome mishtake here, that can’t be right. Let’s try Friday, 1 July 2005.

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Interesting speculation around the industry from some who are in a position to know that when the Kodak takeover of Creo goes through in April it will be signal for a folding of brands under the Kodak banner. It makes sense, but are we really going to see an industry where the Creo name will join such industry icons as Crosfield and, to a great extent, Scitex?

It's really getting down to three important players in prepress; Agfa, FujiFilm and Kodak.

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The PacPrint 05 tom-toms are beating louder, with an evermore frenetic rhythm. This week exhibitors were delivered a reassuringly plentiful supply of printed complimentary admission forms to distribute to their customers. In addition, pre-registrations are continuing to climb with plenty of New Zealanders comng over for the party. It’s all part of the great printing corroboree in Melbourne in May when the tribes of printers, merchants, screenprinters, quick printers, designers, label printers, lithographers and flexographers (the industry associations listed on the form) come together to partake in the rituals of the black art.

Not least among the shenanigans to look forward to is the Exhibitor Networking Function, a drinks party on the second last day of the show where fellow suppliers, stand guys and gals, and even rivals can get together. It’s got all the makings of a great event.

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If PacPrint is confining its activities to the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, the drupa organisers are determined to keep the mega German show in people’s view by taking a caravan of small innovative companies to other major exhibitions around the world in the four-year hiatus between Düsseldorf wassails. The idea grew out of the drupa innovation parc (‘dip’ for short) at last year’s show, which hosted 41 innovators from 13 countries. ‘Dip’ will be at Print in Chicago 05, Ipex in Birmingham 06, All in Print in Shanghai 06 and Igas in Toyko 07, but not alas in PacPrint Melbourne 05, or TecPrint in Sydney 07.

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The emergence of variable data printing has long been the nirvana of the digital lobby and it appears to be finally making inroads. According to a InfoTrends/CAP Ventures forecast, the variable data design, production, and automated composition applications market is expected to increase at 15.9% per annum, moving from US$301 million in 2003 to just over $629 million in 2008.

The USA forecast reports a growing interest among document owners and print buyers to use more targeted personalized communications as part of their marketing mix. When document owners were asked about their current usage as well as future plans for variable data printing, respondents indicated that just under 30% of their total printing jobs were variable, with 43% expecting their variable printing to increase in the coming year.

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And finally . . . in honour of you know who’s recent visit Downunder.

What’s the difference between a mother gorilla, a bald man and the Prince of Wales?

The gorilla is a hairy parent, the bald man has no hair apparent and yes. . . the Prince of Wales is the heir apparent.