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Industry News
National Envelope Files for Voluntary Chapter 11
Frisco, Texas – National Envelope, the largest privately-held manufacturer of envelopes in North America, announced on Tuesday, June 11, it has filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S Bankruptcy Code. The petition was filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Jim Pinto, CEO of National Envelope, stated “National Envelope – like other companies in the envelope industry – is facing serious challenges brought on by declining mail volumes, competitive pressures and an overall sluggish economy. After reviewing several strategic options, we have determined that a sale facilitated by a Chapter 11 filing was necessary to strengthen our financial stability and improve our operating flexibility. This action will allow the business to continue day-to-day operations without interruption.”
National Envelope has obtained a commitment for debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing of $65 million from Salus Capital Partners, subject to approval by the Court. This will provide the Company with the working capital necessary to continue day-to-day operation of the business. National Envelope has retained the Business Recovery Service group of PricewaterhouseCoopers to advise and assist it on strategic alternatives, including the sale of assets as a going concern and development of a plan of reorganization.
National Envelope will operate in the ordinary course of business throughout the process and remains committed to providing a high level of quality and continuous service to its business partners.
“We remain optimistic that the Chapter 11 filing will enable the Company to secure an owner committed to long-term viability for the business. While we continue to work on the sale process, we expect National Envelope will maintain normal operations and conduct business as usual. All of our plants are running and our focus continues to be directed at servicing our dedicated customer base with exceptional quality and on time delivery,” added Pinto.
Source: Whattheythink.com
Komori America Expands KomoriKare Program and Appoints Regional Managers
Martin Ford and Derek Gordon Selected to Lead Growing Business Unit
Rolling Meadows, IL, June 6, 2013—Komori America Corporation, a premier manufacturer of sheetfed and web offset printing presses, announced today organizational changes in its national sales department that align with the company’s strategy to further the development of its KomoriKare program. KomoriKare has been the umbrella for Komori’s service and training programs, offering an entire line of value-added support, including service programs, press efficiency audits and more.
“We are excited to be expanding our KomoriKare offering to include additional press-related products, such as consumable products and press upgrades, as well as ancillary pressroom equipment. Our goal is to help our customers maximize their efficiency—not just with their Komori press, but throughout their entire pressroom,” said Jacqueline Hudmon, senior vice-president of sales. “As we all know, our industry is changing rapidly and Komori is making strategic moves to ensure we meet our overarching business goal of providing our customers the products and services they need to help grow their business and improve profitability.”
To support the KomoriKare expansion, the following organizational changes have taken place:
Martin Ford has assumed the position of regional manager, KomoriKare, for the Eastern U.S. region. Ford is a 25-year Komori veteran, and most recently served as district sales manager in the Northeastern U.S.
Derek Gordon has been appointed as regional manager, KomoriKare, for the Western United States. Gordon has been with Komori since 2001, serving as district sales manager for the Chicagoland area.
“Martin and Derek are extremely well suited to take on these new leadership roles. They have years of experience in the field, and are highly regarded by our customers and the industry as a whole. Their skills and knowledge will fully support the expansion of our KomoriKare brand, which is a major business strategy for Komori,” said Hudmon.
Source: Komori America Corporation
Clampitt Recognized With Inaugural AIME Award
Don Clampitt, Chairman and CEO of Clampitt Paper Company, was recognized with the Advertising Innovation & Marketing Excellence Award supported by the American Ad Federation Dallas and American Marketing Association Dallas and the DREAM Fund.
Clampitt was one of several Dallas/Fort Worth executives nominated for this award which recognized a CEO or President “whose company, under his or her leadership, utilized marketing communications in a way that not only made their company more successful and achieved its business goals but also reflected positively on the DFW market as a place where the highest degrees of excellence and professionalism not only exists but flourish.” Nominees included Kip Tindell, Chairman and CEO of the Container Store; Jim Lites, President and CEO Dallas Stars; and Gary Kelly, Chairman and CEO, Southwest Airlines.
Over 200 industry friends and supporters attended the event which was held at The Fairmont Hotel in Dallas on the evening of May 30, 2013.
Two Sides Targets U.S. Consumers with New Ad Campaign
"No Wonder You Love Paper" ads promote the attractiveness and sustainability of magazines and newspapers.
CHICAGO, May 29, 2013 – As part of its expanding efforts to promote the sustainability of print and paper, Two Sides this month will begin working with U.S. magazine and newspaper publishers to reach consumers with the No Wonder You Love Paper ad campaign. One of the first ads to appear is in the June issue of National Geographic magazine. The campaign, which promotes the sustainability, visual appeal and versatility of magazines and newspapers, follows a similar, highly successful campaign in Europe that anticipates $10 million worth of in-kind ad placements in leading magazines and newspapers.
“Two Sides research shows that 70 percent of polled U.S. consumers, including 69 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds, say they prefer to read print and paper communications rather than reading off a screen,” says Two Sides President Phil Riebel, “but Americans also have many misconceptions about the effects of paper-based communications on the environment. In fact, print and paper have a great environmental story to tell, and the No Wonder You Love Paper Ad campaign is designed to help set the record straight.”
The No Wonder You Love Paper ads feature people enjoying magazines and newspapers in their everyday lives and offer facts about the sustainability of print and paper. “We know people will easily relate to the situations portrayed in the ads and may be surprised by some of the facts presented,” Riebel says. “For example, a lot of people don’t know that 65 percent of paper produced in the United States each year is collected and recycled or that there are now 49 percent more trees growing in U.S. forests than 50 years ago. When people are aware of the facts, they can not only enjoy the many types of printed media they encounter every day, but also can feel good knowing that by choosing ink on paper they are supporting one of the most sustainable products on the planet,” he says.
The No Wonder You Love Paper ad campaign is supported by a consumer website, http://www.youlovepaper.info/US, that includes additional facts about the sustainability of print and paper, a short video on paper and forests, a fun quiz and the opportunity to win a prize for creating a short “fun with paper” video.
“We’re excited that Two Sides is launching a campaign to help highlight how paper is sustainable and powerful,” said Paige Goff, Vice President of Sustainability and Business Communications for Domtar Corporation. “Paper remains purposeful and personal, and from the forest floor to all types of printed media, there’s a way consumers can be sure their paper comes from well-managed forests. We’re grateful that Two Sides is helping spread the word.”
Publishers interested in participating in the ad campaign may contact Phil Riebel at 1-855-896-7433 (toll-free) or
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.
Source: www.twosides.us
Ricoh and Xerox File Action with U.S. Patent and Trademark Office To Combat Patent-Licensing Demands Against Their Customers
Friday, May 24, 2013
Press release from the issuing company
Malvern, PA - Ricoh Americas Corporation and Xerox Corporation today filed a Petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 7,986,426 (“the ’426 patent”) at the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). The ’426 patent has become the subject of an aggressive patent licensing campaign by various affiliates of MPHJ Technology Investments who are targeting users of the products of virtually every manufacturer of multi-function imaging equipment, including Ricoh and Xerox.
The campaign by MPHJ’s affiliates, which has focused primarily on small and medium-sized businesses, asserts that the use of multi-function printers in combination with email or network software infringes MPHJ’s ’426 patent and demands a license fee be paid for such use. As part of the Inter Partes Review Petition, Ricoh and Xerox are seeking a ruling from the USPTO that the claims of the ’426 patent are unpatentable and were fully anticipated by various prior art references.
In a joint statement the companies said, “Ricoh and Xerox believe that the ’426 patent is invalid, the infringement claims are without merit and the licensing demands of MPHJ are unsupportable. Today’s filing demonstrates both Ricoh and Xerox’s strong commitment to their customers and authorized dealer networks. If successful, our action will both nullify the ’426 patent and help disable MPHJ’s licensing campaign against our customers. We are confident this is the right action to take to support our customers.”
Ricoh and Xerox will continue to monitor MPHJ’s licensing efforts and will update their customers and authorized dealer networks with any further developments regarding the USPTO’s Review.
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