White Stone, VA, November 2001—Pressroom personnel and suppliers from across North America gathered in Chicago in mid-November to hear the latest in technologies affecting the pressroom. Hosted by the Research & Engineering Council of the Graphic Arts Industry, this 27th in the series of annual meetings focused on Technology to Survive and Thrive in the Pressroom. Keynote addresses by Harry Quadracci of Quad/Graphics and Wayne Angstrom of St. Ives were key elements of the meeting sessions. The CEOs of these major printing companies told the conference attendees that computer-to-plate and closed loop color control are technologies by which printers can better serve print buyers today. The conference—which was chaired by Jill Austin of Thompson Legal & Regulatory—included details of new technologies introduced at PRINT 01 by more than 20 equipment and consumable vendors. Harry Quadracci, founder and CEO of Quad/Graphics, described his push toward a "lights out" workplace, in which many routine tasks are automated. Quadracci told the group that the printing plant of the future will consist of "knowledge" and "high work ethic" workers, who rely on technology to perform many functions now done by skilled employees. Wayne Angstrom, CEO of St. Ives, told the audience that closed loop color control, coupled with computer-to-plate imaging in the St. Ives plants, has enabled the company to compress delivery schedules while improving quality. Both keynoters emphasized the importance and potential of technology in maintaining the competitiveness of print vis-à-vis other communications media. In related sessions, consultant Bob Erbstein, recently retired from Transcontinental Printing, discussed the advantages of closed loop color control in the modern web printing plant, and Richard Holliday of 3P, Inc., described the installed base of web press equipment in North America, comparing the productivity of new machines with older presses. Success with eight-color web presses was discussed by a panel consisting of Ed Binder, vice president of operations at Anderson Lithograph; George Platia, vice president at Quebecor World; and George Wolden, vice president of manufacturing at Lithographix. Raymond M. Hartman, senior vice president of manufacturing technologies and efficiencies at Moore North America described his vision of the intelligent press system of the future. Describing the success of the meeting, R&E Council president Laura Gale, senior vice president at priNexus, commented: "Year after year, the annual R&E Council Pressroom Conference brings together premier North American printers and the manufacturers which serve them, to discuss the latest technologies benefiting web and sheetfed production." Ronald L. Mihills, R&E Council managing director, added: "No other conference provides web printers with the broad perspective of the R&E Council pressroom meeting, coupled with the opportunity to exchange information with their peers. For more than a quarter of a century, this meeting has led the way toward more productive and profitable operations in the pressroom."