PARAMUS, N.J., NOVEMBER 9, 2004 – Calculating exact hourly cost rates is vital to the profitability of graphic communications companies’ profitability and yields important data to support equipment-acquisition decisions. Printers can now access the latest and most comprehensive costing information for sheetfed press operations in two recent releases from the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL): • The 2004 edition of Budgeted Hourly Cost Studies on Sheetfed Press Operations. • Version 3.0 of NAPL’s CS InterACT interactive software for Sheetfed Press Operations. Budgeted Hourly Cost Studies on Sheetfed Press Operations The Association’s most comprehensive Sheetfed “Blue Book” ever, the Budgeted Hourly Cost Studies on Sheetfed Press Operations contains hourly cost rates, specifications, descriptions, and price information for 568 machines from 28 manufacturers, including 486 conventional presses, from the smallest one-unit models to the largest 12-unit configurations; 23 digital imaging presses; and 59 digital duplicators/copier-printers. Based on exclusive survey data direct from the manufacturer or distributor on all new equipment models, the updated Sheetfed Blue Book shows how hourly cost rates are constructed, examining more than 15 cost factors and how they differ for various equipment configurations, one-to-three-shift operations, and three different productivity levels. Easy-to-follow instructions explain how printers can quickly adjust the rates for their actual investment costs and actual employee wages. NAPL’s Budgeted Hourly Cost Studies on Sheetfed Press Operations lists for $179.95 on CD-ROM and $199.95 in book form. NAPL corporate members receive one copy of the Blue Book on CD or in book form at no charge as a benefit of membership and may purchase additional copies at $35 each. NAPL individual professional members may purchase the Blue Book on CD for $149.95 each or in book form for $169.95 each. To order, call NAPL at (800) 642-6275, Option 3; fax (201) 634-0328; email [email protected]; or visit www.napl.org/store/. Mention NAPL Product Code ND 114 (CD) or NB 109 (book). CS InterACT Software for Sheetfed Press Operations, Version 3.0 Based on all new survey data and including all the information found in the latest industry-standard Blue Book, CS InterACT interactive software enables sheetfed press printers to plug in their own exact cost factors to calculate customized hourly rates in just minutes. The software is easy-to use and features on-screen instruction. Users can change more than 50 data fields, with rates updated automatically. Each CS InterACT CD contains both Windows* and Mac** versions. CS InterACT-SF (Product Code ND 109) lists for $249 (NAPL members receive special discounts: Corporate members, $99 each; individual track members, $219 each). To order, call (800) 642-6275, Option 3; fax (201) 634-0328; email [email protected]; or visit www.napl.org/store/. NAPL publishes four different editions of CS InterACT, covering all aspects of graphic communications operations: CS InterACT-PR (for prepress operations); CS InterACT-SF (for sheetfed operations); CS InterACT-WB (for web press operations); and CS InterACT-BD (for bindery, finishing, and mailing operations).