Lowe-Martin prints new stamp for human rights museum

A new Canada Post stamp has been issued to mark the opening of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR). The Lowe-Martin Group—based in Ottawa, printed the stamp called the Canadian Museum for Human Rights Permanent using lithography in six colours. The stamp was designed by Adrian Shum and Mike Grandmaison, and measures 40 mm x 40 mm. Pick them up today.

>> continued

Job growth on the horizon for 4over Mississauga

Trade printer 4over displayed one of its latest pieces of machinery during an open house held Tuesday. According to 4over’s national press manager, German Ramirez, the 6-colour, 40" Komori Lithrone S40 press, was purchased for the Mississauga location with faster printing times and future job growth in mind.


 Left to right: CEO Zarik Megerdichian, plant manager Paul Kett >> continued

Third quarter brings greater profitability for Transcontinental

Transcontinental is posting higher profitability in the third quarter. As revenues increased by 1.9% in the third quarter to $500.0 million from $490.7 million at the same time last year, its net earnings rose to $44.2 million from $30.1 million.

The improvements are mostly due to the company’s recent acquisitions: Capri Packaging and Sun Media Corporations’ weekly newspapers in Quebec, as well as new agreements in two operating sectors. However, the company quoted a softer advertising market, which affected revenue growth.

Adjusted earnings rose 11% to $58.3 million from $52.5 million due to the contribution from acquisitions, new printing and distribution agreements, and company-wide optimization of its cost structure and its printing platform. >> continued

Color-Logic appoints Canadian sales representative

Color-Logic—developer of the process metallic colour system— has named former AGFA and Ernest Green & Sons employee Parker MacDonald as its sales representative for Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime Provinces. >> continued

IKEA promotes the power of print with its 2015 bookbook

When IKEA released its 2015 catalogue, the company decided to give it the Apple treatment and spoof the popular brand. You know those apple commercials, a representative sits against a white background and the camera zooms in on a set of hands playing with the latest gadget. Switch out the apple rep for IKEA’s Chief Design Guru Jörgen Eghammer and the latest tech for the 328-page catalogue, and you get a clever, tongue-in-cheek ad that’s already gone viral.

So what exactly do you get with your IKEA catalogue? Well the bookbook is pre-installed with thousands of home furnishing ideas. It contains 328 hi-definition pages; it's 8mm thin, and weighs less than 400 grams. One of its top selling features: an eternal battery that promises to stay fully charged until the end of time. What Smartphone can promise that?
>> continued

Shipments on the rise for 2014

There's a big jump in shipments this period but the news is a little too good to be true as sales in most of the country remain flat. The big difference accounting for the jump is that Stats Canada is now tracking Alberta shipments again, after an extended absence.

Shipments (in millions)	2014	2013	% Change
February	$592.8	$547.4	8.3
March	650.4	592.5	9.7
April	652.7	623.0	4.7
May	665.6	627.5	6.0

Year-to-date shipping numbers for 2014 are $3.15 billion. That's a 7.7% jump from the $2.93 posted for the same period in 2013. >> continued

Intertainment Media completes sale of Magnum Printing

Intertainment Media has announced the final closing sale of assets of Magnum Fine Commercial Printing limited to 1337478 Ontario Inc., an entity controlled by Media-Vision— a company that specializes in print, web, direct mail, displays and packaging, and premium and incentives work.

The sale transaction closed on Sept. 2 and all Magnum printing assets and employees have been transferred to Media-Visions’ head office on Passmore Ave. where production is located, Media-Vision CEO John Popovski said. >> continued

Rhino and R.P. Graphics form strategic alliance

R.P. Graphics and Rhino Print Solutions have entered into strategic alliance, the two companies announced Monday. There's two components to the deal: R.P. will buy Rhino's Toronto location, and also establish an alliance with Rhino's locations in Vancouver and Calgary—which are not included in the purchase—to provide printing services to national accounts. The goal is to provide coast-to-coast distribute and print model. 


(left to right) David Allan, George Mazzaferro >> continued

Lowe-Martin commemorative envelope honours the Charlottetown Conference

The Lowe-Martin Group has collaborated with Canada Post again, this time printing commemorative envelopes to recognize the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference. 

Lowe-Martin printed 8,000 170mm by 155mm envelopes with an image of the conference of delegates on the steps of the Government in Charlottetown. The images used are from the public archives and records of P.E.I. 
>> continued

BL Litho's demise and rise

B.L. Litho, a sheetfed commercial print shop with a history going back decades, filed for bankruptcy on September 5, only to have the company bought and relaunched a few days later, PrintCAN has learned. 

New owner Stephane Marcil said B.L. Litho ran into  financial difficulty and was forced to shutter its doors and lay off its 45 employees. Marcil, whose brother-in-law works at B.L. Litho, came in and bought the company in its entirety, though he hasn't yet taken possession of all the equipment. He expects that to happen in a couple of weeks. "I was at the right place at the right time," said Marcil. "I approached [former owner] Richard Beaulieu, we talked and established a good relationship." >> continued