WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--Aug. 7, 2003-- The PEiR Group -- Profit and Education in Reprographics -- is a new trade association that has been formed for independent reprographers and reprographic vendors. PEiR's goal is to create a large, unified group of successful independent reprographers able to advance the industry by improving the profitability, productivity and professionalism of its members. The group will offer its members discounted vendor pricing, premier technology solutions and educational programming. The new trade association is sponsored by the American Reprographics Company, the largest reprographics company in the world. The reprographics industry, sometimes referred to by its old-fashioned moniker, "blueprinting," is both shrinking and changing radically in the face of new business practices and technology advances. John Kamp, president of the new trade association, said, "We envision the PEiR Group creating a stronger, more viable future for reprography -- a cohesive one with common professional standards and technological expertise." In recent years, industry fragmentation and the commoditization of services have created many problems for reprographers, many of which led to the demise of many once-thriving firms and their vendors, according to K. "Suri" Suriyakumar, CEO of the American Reprographics Company. "While the American Reprographics Company is certainly a large and successful organization within the industry, no single company, regardless of size, can make an entire industry succeed. PEiR's overarching objective is to create a sustainable, successful business climate for the reprographics industry as a whole," he stated. There are several other reprographics trade organizations in the United States offering various services and benefits to their members. The PEiR Group sets itself distinctly apart from these organizations by making PlanWell, the American Reprographics Company's online planroom system, the centerpiece of its technology solutions. Because technology is a driving force behind PEiR, members are required to own one of three PlanWell online planroom systems. PlanWell, with a proven track record, a large remote-printing network, and the most sophisticated and varied technology on the market, is the foundation for construction document management services positioned for use as an industry standard. Member profitability will be advanced via the most aggressive vendor discounts available from more than 20 vendor partners, and education programs delivered through national and regional conferences and intranet forums. The organization was formally launched at an invitation-only conference held in Las Vegas in mid-July, where 28 reprographics firms from around the country joined as founding members. Mike Bartow, president of Hudson Reprographics in Irvington, N.J., was the first founding member to join the PEiR Group. He explained: "I joined PEiR to take advantage of new technology that will enable us to better transition from a ``less-paper' economy to a document management economy. This encompasses shared ideas, shared technology and a focused business plan. The combination of these will aid us as we move from the current ``price-per-square-foot of paper' income to an income derived from document management services. It's an insurance policy covering potential loss of printing income as we begin our journey towards a paperless -- or at least a ``less paper' -- society." The PEiR Group is a separate operating division of the American Reprographics Company, which created and licenses PlanWell. None of ARC's 44 divisions throughout the United States and Canada will be joining the PEiR Group; members must be independent reprographers. For more information on the PEiR Group, visit www.peirgroup.com or call 925-945-0882.