White Stone, VA, November 2004—On November 16 and 17, the Research and Engineering Council of NAPL held its 30th annual Productivity in the Pressroom conference in Chicago. At the meeting, some 180 pressroom personnel and vendors from around the world gathered for an advance look at technologies introduced at Drupa, as well as the latest in workplace management methods. The conference, chaired by John P. Sweeney, vice president of sales and marketing at Integrated Color Solutions, featured presentations by more than 20 pressroom equipment vendors, who provided the attendees with overviews of technologies introduced at Drupa and at Graph Expo 2004. The first day keynote speech was offered by Paul V. Reilly, chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Cenveo, who told the attendees that stronger relationships between printers and suppliers are key to the continued viability of the printing industry. On the second day of the conference, keynoter Paul Steidle, member of the executive board of MAN Roland, reemphasized the need for industry cooperation, and also observed that the purchase price of equipment is far less important than the total costs incurred during the product life. Steidle noted that efforts to bring down equipment acquisition costs often increase life cycle costs such as training and maintenance. The annual R&E Council Productivity in the Pressroom seminar is widely seen as the preeminent technical meeting in the pressroom segment of the printing industry. At the 2004 meeting, attendees heard executives from successful printers including Cenveo, Hallmark Cards, Japs-Olson, Quad/Graphics, John Roberts, Suttle-Straus, and Worzalla Publishing describe their solutions to pressroom problems. Discussing the success of the seminar, R&E Council managing director Ronald L. Mihills said: “The R&E Council pressroom conference, unlike any other in the industry, focuses solely on the latest in technology and processes for the pressroom. The continued success of this meeting is testimony to the long-running .” Since 1950, the Research & Engineering Council of the National Association for Printing Leadership has been dedicated to the education of printing industry personnel in the latest technologies and productivity improvement methods. The Council conducts seminars at which publishers, printers, educators, consultants and suppliers meet to share information and learn about leading edge technologies affecting the graphic arts industry. At three annual seminars—Pressroom, Bindery, and Digital Smart Factory—the latest technologies are reviewed in the context of actual print production. The Council also holds technology breakfasts at key industry trade shows, and an annual meeting highlighting critical trends in the graphic arts industry. Information regarding membership and seminars is available from the Council at 804-436-9922, at [email protected], or at www.recouncil.org. Hear It Here First at the R&E Council. Chartered in 1933, NAPL is a not-for-profit trade association representing some 2000 printing companies in the $88 billion commercial printing industry. The NAPL mission is to enable the printing community to profit from change through a full range of management, educational, and economic information and analysis services to members. For detailed information, call NAPL at 800-642-6275, or online at www.napl.org.