PARAMUS, N.J., JANUARY 12, 2004 – Calculating exact hourly cost rates is vital to the profitability of graphic arts companies and yields important data for equipment acquisitions. Printers can now access the latest and most comprehensive costing information for web press operations in two recent releases from the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL): - The 2004 edition of Budgeted Hourly Cost Studies on Web Press Operations. - Version 2.0 of NAPL’s CS InterACT interactive software for web press operations. Budgeted Hourly Cost Studies on Web Press Operations The Association’s most comprehensive Web “Blue Book” ever, the Budgeted Hourly Cost Studies on Web Press Operations contains hourly cost rates, specifications, descriptions, and price information for 192 presses from 30 manufacturers. Given its size, the Blue Book is being published in both CD-ROM and printed versions. The new 228-page Web 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 Web 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 at no charge as a benefit of membership and may purchase additional copies of the CD at $30 each ($35 for the book). 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 118 (CD) or NB 104 (book). CS InterACT Software for Web Press Operations, Version 2.0 Based on all new survey data and including all the information found in the latest industry-standard Blue Book, CS InterACT interactive software enables web 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-WB (Product Code ND 104) 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. NAPL publishes four different editions of CS InterACT, covering all aspects of graphic arts 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). System requirements for CS InterACT-WB, Version 2.0, are as follows: *Windows: An Intel-compatible Pentium 90 or higher; at least 32 MB of RAM; a CD-ROM drive; and Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows 2000 Professional, or Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 6. **Macintosh: Mac OS 8.6, Mac OS 8.9 versions 9.0 through 9.2.2, or Mac OS X versions 10.1 through 10.1.4; 32 MB of RAM for OS 8.6 or OS 9.x; 128 MB RAM for OS X; a hard drive with at least 24 MB of free space; a CD-ROM drive. About NAPL: Chartered in 1933, the National Association for Printing Leadership is a not-for-profit trade association representing the $88 billion commercial printing industry. NAPL’s mission is “To enable the printing community to profit from change” through a full range of management and educational services to its membership, including conferences, seminars, periodicals, books, consulting, and economic data and analysis.