Paperclips Blog | NewPage Results

  • 04.02.2012

    Quad Enters Strategic Partnership with India-Based Manipal Technologies

    Quad/Graphics, Inc., a global provider of print and related multichannel solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with Manipal Technologies Ltd. (ManipalTech), India’s largest print services and end-to-end business solutions provider. Under the agreement, Quad/Graphics has purchased a minority interest in Manipal Technologies, expanding Quad/Graphics’ geographic reach to Asia, and broadening its product and service scope.

    “This investment expands our global presence, giving us a strong foothold in another emerging market with a large and growing middle class that is attractive to marketers and publishers,” said Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President & CEO of Quad/Graphics. “Additionally, this partnership supports a key component of our growth strategy, which is to invest in geographies and segments where we can be a market leader through a diverse product offering, and a superior and efficient operating platform. We are proud to partner with a reputable, forward-thinking company like ManipalTech, which shares our commitment to advancing the effectiveness of print in a multichannel media world.”

    ManipalTech is a leading printer of security products, such as debit and credit cards, bank checks and drafts, high-security revenue-assurance labels, pre-paid phone cards, gift vouchers and personalized holograms, as well as marketing, branding and communications products,including magazines, catalogs, books, brochures, annual reports, consumer goods packaging, point-of-purchase displays, envelopes and stationery, manuals and labels. The company performs work for customers in a variety of industries, including Publishing, Banking, Financial Services, Insurance, Telecommunications, Education, Consumer Goods and Retail, Aviation and Transportation, and the Government. The company is committed to advancing its product and service offering through research and development. Currently, it is developing products with embedded technology; biometrics such as fingerprints and iris recognition; printed electronics; and interactive print features such as near field communication (NFC).

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  • 04.02.2012

    Publishing Industry Has Strong January

    The US publishing industry saw dynamic net sales revenue growth in Adult, Children’s, Young Adult and Religious categories in January 2012 as compared to January 2011, according to the monthly industry snapshot report produced by the Association of American Publishers.
     
    Publishers attributed the near-total across-the-board percentage increases in both print and digital formats to general economic improvement, particularly evident during the holiday season and for brick-and-mortar booksellers. This period also saw a number of successful new titles released by publishers for the adult and youth markets. Several also noted that the overall growth in revenue for print-format books in January 2012 was partly due to the returns from the Borders chain that had occurred last January.
     
    These figures are part of a significant expansion of the AAP monthly new sales revenue report also launching this month. The report now has a name — AAP Monthly StatShot — and now includes a considerably larger base of participating publishers (from an average 75-90 in the past to 1149 this month) and additional categories including eBook data for Children/Young Adults and Hardcover, Paperback and eBook data for Religious Presses.

    The full monthly report is provided free to AAP member organizations and can be purchased on a subscription basis for non-members. For subscription rates and purchasing forms, contact info@publishers.org.

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  • 04.02.2012

    Charming Shoppes Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2011 Results

    Charming Shoppes, Inc., a leading apparel retailer specializing in women's plus-size apparel, today reported sales and operating results for the three and twelve months ended January 28, 2012.

    Fourth Quarter Consolidated Results: Net sales were $559.1 million for the fourth quarter ended January 28, 2012, a decrease of 2.9% compared to $575.8 million for the prior year period. The $16.7 million decrease includes the impact of operating 207 fewer stores than in the prior year period, partially offset by a consolidated comparable store sales increase of 1%. This included a 2% comparable store sales increase for Lane Bryant, a 5% comparable store sales increase for Catherines, a 2% comparable store sale decrease for Fashion Bug, and an increase of 17% in e-commerce sales. The inclusion of e-commerce sales with the bricks and mortar comparable store sales would result in a comparable sales increase of 3% for the quarter.

    Gross profit was $235.1 million or 42.0% of sales in the quarter, compared to $247.6 million or 43.0% of sales in the same quarter last year. The gross margin was negatively impacted by deeper-than-planned promotional activity at Lane Bryant, partially offset by improvements at Catherines and Fashion Bug.

    Fiscal Year 2011 Consolidated Results: Net sales were $1.992 billion for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012, a decrease of 3.4% compared to $2.062 billion for the prior year. Comparable store sales for the year were flat compared to the prior year and included a 3% comparable store sales increase for Lane Bryant and an increase of 16% in e-commerce sales. The inclusion of e-commerce sales with the bricks and mortar comparable store sales would result in a comparable sales increase of 1% for the year.

    On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted income from operations improved $42.9 million or 210 basis points as a percent of sales to $24.7 million. This compares to an adjusted loss from operations of $(18.2) million for the prior year. Both periods excluded restructuring and other items.

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  • 04.02.2012

    Resolute Updates Status of its Offer for Fibrek

    AbitibiBowater Inc., doing business as Resolute Forest Products, today announced that the Québec Court of Appeal has reinstated the cease trade order on Fibrek Inc.'s (TSX: FBK) private placement of 32,320,000 special warrants to Mercer International Inc. (Nasdaq: MERC) (TSX: MRI.U), an order issued by the Bureau de décision et de révision (Québec) on February 23. The Court of Appeal's decision reverses the March 16 decision of the Court of Québec.  The Bureau is the administrative tribunal with statutory jurisdiction in securities law and regulatory matters in Québec.
     
    The offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Fibrek made by Resolute, together with RFP Acquisition Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, is more fully described in the offer circular and other ancillary documentation that Resolute filed on December 15, 2011, on the "SEDAR" website maintained by the Canadian Securities Administrators, as varied and extended. The offer will expire at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on April 2, 2012, unless it is extended or withdrawn by Resolute.
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  • 04.02.2012

    JoS. A. Bank Clothiers Reports Fiscal Year 2011 Results; Profits Increase 13.6%

    JoS. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. announces today record results for its fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 ("fiscal year 2011").
     
    Net income for fiscal year 2011 increased 13.6% to a record $97.5 million, as compared with net income of $85.8 million for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2011 ("fiscal year 2010"). Earnings per share for fiscal year 2011 increased 13.3% to $3.49 as compared with earnings per share of $3.08 for fiscal year 2010.
     
    Net sales reached a record of $979.9 million in fiscal year 2011, representing a 14.2% gain as compared with net sales of $858.1 million in fiscal year 2010. Comparable store sales increased 7.6% during fiscal year 2011, while Direct Marketing sales increased 14.7%.
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  • 04.02.2012

    UPM Tervasaari mill’s rebuilt paper machine 8 starts after renewal

    UPM Tervasaari mill’s paper machine 8, producing label release base papers, has been started-up after major renovation. Modifications have been made throughout the paper machine line in order to increase speed and further improve paper quality.

    The renewal will increase the capacity of the paper machine by 30,000 tonnes.

    "The investment is UPM's way of meeting the increasing demand for label papers. The company wants to secure its market leader position in label papers and support customer growth," says Pentti Putkinen, General Manager of the Tervasaari Mill.

    “The new technology enables us to produce even thinner high quality papers. The better efficiency of the paper production and material usage also improves the competitiveness of label papers. This strengthens the position of paper based labelstock in competition with other materials and alternative product decoration techniques in the market”, Antti Heimola, Product Manager of UPM Label Paper explains.

    PM 8 was built in 1996. It underwent major renovations in 2006.

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  • 04.02.2012

    Coupon Facts Report Provides Comprehensive Look at Marketers' Tactics and Consumer Response

    Valassis, one of the nation's leading media and marketing services companies, released today a comprehensive coupon report that provides insights into the scope and scale of the use of coupons in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry as a vehicle to promote their brands and consumer response results.

    In total, $470 billion of coupon value was offered by CPG marketers to U.S. consumers last year – a 26% increase over the pre-recession period of 2007. The last three years represent the highest annual volumes of coupons distributed since the pre-recession period, according to the 2012 Coupon Facts Report, issued by NCH Marketing Services. NCH is a Valassis company.

    Marketers are controlling and altering their tactics to accomplish their own unique, strategic objectives. The report, which includes reference tables and five-year trend graphs, also illustrates the different strategies employed in 2011 in the grocery and health and beauty care (HBC) segments. In 2011, grocery product marketers reduced the total quantity of coupons in the marketplace, while HBC marketers maintained a steady volume of coupons to promote their products to frugal-minded shoppers.

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  • 04.02.2012

    Best Buy Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Results

    Best Buy Co., Inc. today reported a GAAP net loss of ($1.7) billion, or ($4.89) per share, for its fourth quarter ended March 3, 2012 compared to net income of $651 million, or $1.62 per diluted share for the prior-year period. The fiscal fourth quarter 2012 results include $2.6 billion of charges primarily related to the actions announced on November 7, 2011, which consist of the purchase of Carphone Warehouse Group plc's (CPW) share of the Best Buy Mobile profit share agreement and related costs, a non-cash impairment charge to reflect the write-off of Best Buy Europe goodwill, and restructuring charges (primarily associated with U.K. big box pilot store closures).

    Excluding the above charges, adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter were $2.47, an increase of 25 percent when compared to adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.98 for the prior-year period. Comparable store sales for the quarter declined 2.4 percent compared to a decline of 4.7 percent for the prior-year period. 

    For the fiscal year ended March 3, 2012, GAAP loss per share totaled ($3.36) compared to diluted earnings per share of $3.08 in fiscal 2011. Adjusted (non-GAAP) diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year totaled $3.64, an increase of 6 percent when compared to the previous year's adjusted diluted earnings per share of $3.43. Comparable store sales for the fiscal year declined 1.7 percent compared to a decline of 1.8 percent for the prior-year period.

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  • 04.02.2012

    R.R. Donnelley to close Mendota plant

    R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.will close its Mendota printing plant at the end of May in a move that will affect 207 employees.

    The pending closure will be devastating for the city, Mayor David Boelk said Thursday. Boelk said the company's announcement caught him off guard, adding that he learned about the closing on Wednesday when an employee called him in tears.

    "I feel for all (the workers). There are quite a few families where both spouses work at the plant," Boelk said.

    R.R. Donnelley is one of the largest employers in the city of 7,340 residents. As such, the closing will affect other businesses, including the local post office, which Boelk said was spared in the latest round of Postal Service closings because of the volume of mail generated by the plant. Boelk said he hopes to find a buyer for the plant that could rehire the workers.

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  • 03.30.2012

    Verso Paper Corp. Announces Exchange Offer for Outstanding Debt and Related Consent Solicitation

    MEMPHIS, Tenn., Mar 29, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Verso Paper Corp. VRS +4.63% announced today that two of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Verso Paper Holdings LLC and Verso Paper Inc. (collectively, the “Issuers”), have launched an offer to issue up to $180.2 million aggregate principal amount of a new series of 9.75% secured notes due 2019 (the “New Notes”) in exchange for any and all of the Issuers’ outstanding $180.2 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured floating-rate notes due 2014 (the “Old Notes”).
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  • 03.30.2012

    Winners of the third SCA Packaging Design Challenge Announced

    This year’s challenge for the LEGO category was to create an innovative packaging storage system for the LEGO® Bricks & More set. The participants of the Tempo category, meanwhile, had to re-think the Tempo standard tissue box. Over 1000 registrations were received from design students and non-professional designers from 43 countries around the world.

    After extensive deliberations, the jury members chose Chan Chi Kwan & Chang Nga Man’s “H Cube” concept for LEGO and Ilias Chronopoulos’s “Tempo Pyramids” concept for Tempo as they best fulfilled the criteria of consumer experience, novelty factor, sustainability and feasibility.

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  • 03.30.2012

    Air Techniques Announces a New Packaging Design for PSP Cleaning Wipes

    MELVILLE, N.Y., Mar 29, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Air Techniques, Inc., a leading dental equipment manufacturer, announced today a major redesign for their merchandise line of PSP Cleaning Wipes. PSP Cleaning wipes from Air Techniques are disposable, lightweight wipes that effectively and safely remove surface debris from Phosphor Storage Plates and Plate Protectors. This new design includes an improved, compact packaging of the individual wipes.

    “To improve the look and functionality of our PSP Cleaning Wipes, we have updated the packaging of this product,” said Nicole Miller, Air Techniques Merchandise Product Manager. “Since PSP Cleaning Wipes are used daily, we wanted to increase the quantity of wipes per box to better serve the practice utilizing this product.”

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  • 03.30.2012

    International Paper opens HQ at Madhapur

    HYDERABAD: International Paper and Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills Ltd.announced the opening of its new headquarters office in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
    Situated in Madhapur, the 24,000 sq ft office will house about 100 employees.
    International Paper took over Andhra Paper last year through the acquisition of a 75 percent stake in the company. With the opening of its new headquarters office, International Paper has reinforced the company’s commitment towards India.
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  • 03.30.2012

    Boise CEO Elected Chairman of AF&PA

    WASHINGTON – Boise Inc. Chairman and CEO Alexander Toeldte has been elected chairman of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Board of Directors.

    Toeldte, who joined Boise Inc in February 2008, has been an active member of the board, serving in leadership positions within the AF&PA's CEO Task Force and committee structure.

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  • 03.29.2012

    Sappi selects construction manager for $170 million conversion project

    Sappi Fine Paper North America has announced the selection of CR Meyer as the construction management (CM) firm to oversee the $170 million project to convert its pulp mill in Cloquet to chemical cellulose production.

    In a prepared statement last week, Project Director Mike Schultz said Sappi chose to award the construction management contract to CR Meyer as the result of “an extensive process.”

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  • 03.29.2012

    Albea's Packaging Designed In SolidWorks

    Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., the world leader in 3D solutions, recently announced that Albéa chose SolidWorks® Sustainability software to incorporate eco-design as a core part of its new product development. With experience in Life Cycle Assessment, Albéa wanted to invest in new tools to allow it to better respond to the sustainable product development needs of the packaging industry while preserving its competitive and technical leadership.

    A major player in the packaging industry, with a wide range of products for the cosmetic, perfume, health and dental care markets, Albéa adopted Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools in 2003.

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  • 03.28.2012

    Fire At International Paper Co. Causes Minimal Damage

    The Solon Fire Department had a busy day Monday with five emergency calls coming in at roughly the same time.

    Solon Fire Rescue was sent to International Paper Company, located at 6225 Camp Industrial, at about 8:50 a.m. on a report of a fire, according to Chief Bill Shaw.

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  • 03.28.2012

    Jobs drive boomers to seek new skills

    March 26--David McCarty feels fortunate to be hauling hazardous chemicals cross-country in a big 18-wheeler, but the work and pay are far removed from the life he used to have as a well-paid telecommunications executive.

    In Butler County, Deane Kennedy, 58, who expected to retire as an insurance broker for a Cincinnati company, has been unemployed for nearly four months and there are no prospects for employment.

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  • 03.28.2012

    3M Aerospace Introduces Polyurethane Protective Tapes for Aircraft Interior Corrosion Protection

    ST. PAUL, Minn., Mar 27, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Substructure corrosion in aircraft areas exposed to recurring moisture, such as lavatories, galleys and doorways, is a major industry challenge. Replacing floor panels and beams in the substructure extends downtime and can cost anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000 per aircraft, making protection a high priority.

    3M Aerospace is responding to this need by making the protection of these “wet areas” easier with the introduction of improved 3M™ Polyurethane Protective Tapes that cover the seams in floor panel joints and wide-area tapes to protect larger areas exposed to moisture.

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  • 03.28.2012

    Apollo, Graham-backed Berry Plastics files for $500m IPO

    Berry Plastics, a maker of plastic packaging backed by Apollo Global Management and US mid-market investor Graham Partners, has filed to raise $500m through an initial public offering of its common stock.

    Apollo and Graham bought the business from Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan for $2.25bn in June 2006, when the company served a client base of 12,000 customers and generated pro forma annual sales of $1.3bn. That figure has since increased to $4.66bn as of 31 December 2011, according to a recent filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

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  • 03.28.2012

    NEW PRODUCT FLASH: Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaners by Clorox

    A new line of non-bleach disinfecting cleaners from Clorox Professional Products Company uses a patented activated hydrogen peroxide formula that is able to eliminate a variety of bacteria and viruses on surfaces in as quickly as 30 seconds to one minute.

    The Clorox Commercial Solutions® Clorox® Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfecting Cleaners are available in a spray and as wipes and are registered by the U.S. EPA to kill health threats that include MRSA, influenza, and rhinovirus. These new disinfecting products offer the fastest non-bleach contact times on the market (versus leading competition based on Federal EPA Master Label comparison, as of Nov. 2011).

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  • 03.28.2012

    Dart container corp. signs an agreement to acquire Solo Cup

    Plastics packaging company Dart Container Corp., Mason, Mich., has signed an agreement to acquire Solo Cup in a transaction valued at around $1 billion. Both companies are involved in the consumer and food service disposable packaging business. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2012.

    “Our acquisition of Solo will allow us to provide even greater value to our customers in the future,” says Robert Dart, Dart Container’s CEO. “It will enable customers to purchase a wider range of products, made from a greater variety of materials with varying functional and environmental attributes, all from a single vendor.”

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  • 03.28.2012

    China's packaging presence growing

    President Obama's late-March trip to the Far East put China in the media spotlight as a potential partner in pressuring North Korea on matters of international security. But for those of us in the packaging community, China was, is, and will continue to be a major factor.

    Case in point: "China is aiming to become the world's largest packaging producer by the end of 2012, according to research by financial advisory firm Catalyst Corporate Finance," said a Sept. 11, 2011 Packaging News article.

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  • 03.27.2012

    NZ urged to build $1b mill for wood pulp

    A United States forestry expert is recommending New Zealand build a $1 billion "mega-mill" to meet China's hunger for wood pulp.

    Richard Phillips, of North Carolina State University, and a former career executive with International Paper, told a forestry conference in Wellington last week that China's demand for logs and wood pulp would continue to soar.

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  • 03.27.2012

    Domtar Uses ‘Mad Men’ Season Premiere To Promote The Benefits Of Reading On Paper

    Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) today announced  that with Newsweek planning a retro edition to promote the new season of “Mad Men,” Domtar will run a 1960s-style ad that shows while we live in a more digital age, people still read faster on paper.
    “We’ve seen studies that show whether you’re an executive or a millennial, people prefer to read on paper, and it’s faster to read on paper,” said Lewis Fix, Domtar’s Vice-President of Sustainable Business and Brand Management. “Whether you are learning or sharing important information, there are good reasons to make sure people still read the material on paper.”
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  • 03.27.2012

    Seeing packaging as more than a throwaway

    Brushing your teeth with a yogurt container? Wiping your mouth with a coffee cup?

    You might be doing both, as a result of a new trend in recycling, courtesy of the manufacturers who make the original products. A growing number of large food and beverage companies in the United States are assuming the costs of recycling their packaging after consumers are finished with it, a responsibility long imposed on packaged goods companies in Europe and more recently in parts of Asia, Latin America and Canada.

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  • 03.27.2012

    Tetra Pak works on smart milk cartons

    High quality global journalism requires investment. Milk cartons that change colour when left out of the fridge too long are to go on sale courtesy of Tetra Pak, the world’s biggest packaging company.
    Smart cartons are an example of growing innovation in the $400bn packaging industry, which has been forced to reinvent itself alongside the consumer sector it serves.

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  • 03.27.2012

    Wal-Mart Brand Ranked #1 for Value by Hard-Hit US Consumers

    NEW YORK: The financial and economic crisis is having a significant impact on how consumers perceive brand value, reports a survey carried out by YouGovPolimetrix through September 1 - October 27. That slot was chosen specifically to examine the impact of the current crisis on brand perceptions.

    Budget brands like Wal-Mart and Old Navy were ranked highest by consumers; conversely upscale brands and financial services firms ranked lowest – the latter especially hit by lack of consumer confidence.

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  • 03.24.2012

    McDonald's tests paper coffee cups

    CHICAGO -- Bowing to consumers' environmental concerns, McDonald's Corp. is testing paper coffee cups in 2,000 West Coast restaurants.

    The move comes in the wake of a shareholder resolution asking the burger giant to seek alternatives to foam drink cups, and proposals to ban polystyrene containers in the state of California.

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  • 03.24.2012

    Berry Plastics Files To Raise Up To $500M In Initial Public Offering

    Berry Plastics Group Inc. filed plans to raise up to $500 million in an initial public offering as it looks to gather funds for the repayment of debt and other general uses.

    The company, which makes plastic consumer packaging and engineered materials, counts food and beverage and healthcare companies as among its customer base.

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  • 03.24.2012

    RockTenn opens doors to renovated factory in Marion

    MARION, N.C. — RockTenn executives and local officials proudly cut the ribbon Thursday and opened the doors for the company’s newly renovated and expanded plant, which is located at the old Swift Galey site.
    Ten months ago, Gov. Bev Perdue joined executives from RockTenn and local officials at the Marion Depot to announce that the maker of corrugated and consumer packaging and recycling solutions would expand its operations in Marion and add new jobs. The RockTenn facility for Marion would move out of its building in downtown Marion and relocate to the old Swift Galey building on U.S. 70 East, which has 300,000 square feet. RockTenn announced it would create 124 new jobs and invest $23 million into the old Swift Galey site.
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  • 03.23.2012

    RockTenn Celebrates Grand Opening of New Folding Carton Plant in Marion, NC

    RockTenn today celebrates the grand opening of its new Marion, N.C., folding carton facility. The plant produces consumer packaging for a variety of products people use every day.

    “Last summer, Governor Perdue joined us to announce the expansion of our operations here in Marion,” said Mike Kiepura, RockTenn President, Consumer Packaging. “Today, it’s just as exciting to be back in North Carolina to see the culmination of everyone’s hard work and to open a new facility that will provide our customers with innovative, value-added products.”

    RockTenn has already invested almost $25 million in the new Marion facility. The plant, which completes its first full month of production on March 31, plans to add a total of 124 jobs with an average annual wage that is 10 percent more than current average for McDowell County. The hiring process is already underway and interested parties are encouraged to contact the Employment Security Commission of McDowell County.

    “We would like to extend our thanks to all of the dedicated people at the city, county, state and other associations that made today possible,” said Steve Harrell, General Manager of the Marion plant.

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  • 03.23.2012

    Quad Redefines Print and Multichannel Integration With New Media Solutions for Marketers and Publishers

    Quad/Graphics, Inc. announces the formation of Media Solutions, a services group dedicated to helping marketers and publishers more efficiently and effectively integrate print and new media channels. Quad/Graphics Media Solutions (www.qg.com/mediasolutions) combines traditional print and content support services with emerging mobile and other digital media solutions to help clients produce more powerful and consistent experiences across all media channels.

    “Our new Media Solutions group reflects our continuing commitment to redefine print and make it even more relevant in a fast-changing multichannel world,” says Joel Quadracci, Chairman, President & CEO of Quad/Graphics. “Media Solutions brings together all of our content services to help clients create, optimize and connect their content across multiple media channels.

    “Our customers are challenged by the explosive growth of new channels and we are ideally positioned to help,” Quadracci adds. “Our integrated services approach extends our traditional strengths in print into web, mobile, e-mail, e-reader, tablet, in-store and emerging channels.”

    “We aim to be a single source that helps our customers communicate their brands consistently across multiple channels, including some that are new to Quad/Graphics,” says Chris Pryor, Executive Director of Quad/Graphics Media Solutions. “We have built a continuum of content solutions – including creative, photography, video, imaging and more – and are using new, integrated workflow and content management systems to help clients more efficiently and powerfully drive their content across all forms of media.”

    Pryor says the Media Solutions services continuum model was built around clients’ need for a Create / Optimize / Connect solutions set. Create services include brand strategy, creative development, photography, video and computer-generated imaging; Optimize services include content management, dynamic web imaging, premedia production, page production, color production, and workflow strategy and management; and Connect services include channel-deployment strategy, multi-platform digital editions, tablet and mobile apps, custom apps and interactive print.

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  • 03.23.2012

    Fuel Gage and Exchange Rates

    AAA’s Fuel Gage Report as of 3/22/12
    National Unleaded Regular:
    Current Average - $3.881/gallon
    Month Ago Average - $3.570/gallon
    Year Ago Average - $3.548/gallon
    Highest Recorded Average - $4.114/gallon on 7/17/08

    Diesel:
    Current Average - $4.153/gallon
    Month Ago Average - $3.953/gallon
    Year Ago Average - $3.935/gallon
    Highest Recorded Average - $4.845/gallon on 7/17/08

    http://fuelgaugereport.aaa.com/?redirectto=http://fuelgaugereport.opisnet.com/index.asp


    Current Exchange Rates as of 3/22/12
    American Dollar to Canadian Dollar = 1.00122 (120 day high - 1.01463 on March 1, 2012; low 0.950905 on November 25, 2011)
    American Dollar to Chinese Yuan = 0.158564 (120 day high – 0.158948 on February 13, 2012; low 0.156581 on October 14, 2011)
    American Dollar to Euro = 1.3167 (120 day high - 1.416 on October 28, 2011; low 1.2669 on January 16, 2012)
    American Dollar to Japanese Yen = 0.0120356 (120 day high – 0.0131979 on October 28, 2011; low 0.0119026 on March 21, 2012)
    American Dollar to Mexican Peso = 0.0780768 (120 day high – 0.0793808 on March 14, 2012; low 0.0700535 on November 25, 2011)

    http://www.x-rates.com/d/USD/JPY/graph120.html

     

     

     

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  • 03.22.2012

    Adobe Study Shows Social Media Impact Undervalued by Nearly 100 Percent

    Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced findings from its second Adobe® Digital Index report, which provides marketing, e-commerce and retail executives with critical digital marketing insights. The study evaluated how marketers measure the impact of website traffic from major social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Blogger, YouTube and Yelp. Adobe analyzed more than 1.7 billion visits to more than 225 U.S. companies’ websites in the retail, travel and media industries, concluding that marketers significantly underestimate the value of social traffic.

    Key Report Findings
    • The use of last-click attribution, the most common attribution model used by marketers, may cause marketers to undervalue social media’s website impact by up to 94 percent
    • First-click attribution models more accurately capture the benefits of social media in engaging customers earlier in the buying process
    • Significant differences in the results of first-click vs. last-click attribution data for various social media sites may cause marketers to change how they allocate the budgets across social and other digital channels

    Last-click attribution assumes that the marketing channel most responsible for a consumer’s behavior is the channel the consumer last touched before a visit or purchase. First-click places responsibility on the channel the consumer first touched. Social media creates an environment in which brands can build awareness and engage with prospective and existing customers early in the purchase process. By ignoring the value of these earlier interactions, last-click attribution gives disproportionate credit to the marketing channels customers use late in the purchase process, potentially undervaluing the role of other channels in building awareness, engagement, and ongoing relationships between customers and brands. In contrast, first-click attribution gives social media more credit for these earlier interactions. The difference between last-click and first-click is significant and has the potential to change the way companies allocate social media budgets.

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  • 03.22.2012

    Total Printing-Writing Paper Shipments in February Up 2% from 2011

    According to the American Forest & Paper Association’s February 2012 Printing-Writing Paper Report, total printing-writing paper shipments increased 2% in February compared to February 2011. Three of the four major printing-writing grades posted increases compared to last February, and the one decrease is the smallest since April 2011. U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of printing-writing papers decreased slightly less than one percent in February. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels also decreased slightly less than one percent compared to January 2012.

    Some highlights from the additional findings are:
    · Coated mechanical (CM) paper shipments increased four percent year-over-year, the largest such increase since September 2010.
    · Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments decrease by smallest year-over-year change since April 2011, which was the start of the recent declines that came on the heels of fifteen consecutive months of year-over-year increases.
    · Shipments of uncoated free sheet (UFS) papers increased year-over-year for just the second time in the past 20 months.
    · Shipments of coated free sheet (CFS) papers increased year-over-year for the first time in the past 15 months.

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  • 03.22.2012

    Crude Declines on Stockpile Release Speculation

    Oil in New York for the second time in three days after France said industrialized nations are considering a release from strategic stockpiles and a report showed Chinese manufacturing may contract.

    Futures dropped as much as 1.5 percent after French Industry Minister Eric Besson said the country is “studying with its partners all possible options,” including the supply of oil from emergency reserves. Manufacturing in China, the world’s second-largest oil consumer, may decline for a fifth month in March, according to a report today from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics.

    “There is no motivation for buying,” said Gerrit Zambo, a trader at Bayerische Landesbank in Munich. “People are becoming a bit cautious because it is more or less clear that Iran doesn’t want to get into war with anyone, and talk of releasing strategic stocks is bearish.”

    Crude for May delivery slid as much as $1.60 to $105.67 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $105.99 at 9:58 a.m. London time. The contract gained $1.20 yesterday to $107.27, the highest close since March 19. Prices are 7.2 percent higher this year.

    Brent oil for May settlement on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange declined as much as $1.22, or 1 percent, to $122.98 a barrel. The European benchmark contract was at a premium of $17.27 to New York futures.

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  • 03.22.2012

    Amcor announces $19.8 million acquisition of Uniglobe

    Amcor announces today the A$19.8 million acquisition of Uniglobe, a flexible packaging business based in India.

    The acquisition expands Amcor’s existing footprint in India, a strategic high growth market for the flexibles packaging business. The business is strongly aligned with our existing business, servicing large multi-national customers within the food, personal care and health care end markets. Importantly, current management will remain with the business. The expanded management team will play a key role in supporting future growth in the Indian market.

    Uniglobe generates annual sales of approximately A$20 million, and was established in 1999 with a single plant located in Daman, 150 kilometres north of Mumbai. A second Daman based plant was commissioned in 2008, supported by strong sales growth of over 20% in the last three years.

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  • 03.22.2012

    HP Announces Organizational Realignment

    HP today announced an organizational realignment to improve performance and drive profitable growth across the entire HP portfolio.

    As part of this realignment, HP’s Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) and its Personal Systems Group (PSG) are joining forces to create the Printing and Personal Systems Group. The combined entity will be led by Todd Bradley, who has served as the executive vice president of PSG since 2005.

    Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president of IPG, is retiring after a highly accomplished 31-year career at HP. Under Joshi’s leadership, IPG has grown revenue from $19 billion to $26 billion, and doubled its operating profit to approximately $4 billion.

    “VJ embodies the spirit of HP and his impact on the company has been tremendous,” said Meg Whitman, president and chief executive officer, HP. “Under his leadership, IPG accelerated innovation and pioneered solutions that transformed the printing market. We wish him the very best as he embarks on a new chapter in his life.”

    Combining these two entities will rationalize HP’s go-to-market strategy, branding, supply chain and customer support worldwide. This will lead to a better customer experience and drive innovation across personal computing and printing. This realignment is expected to provide opportunities for cost savings and accelerate HP’s ability to pursue profitable growth and reinvest in the business.

    “This combination will bring together two businesses where HP has established global leadership,” said Whitman. “By providing the best in customer-focused innovation and operational efficiency, we believe we will create a winning scenario for customers, partners and shareholders.”

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  • 03.22.2012

    Dart Container Corporation Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Solo Cup Company

    Dart Container Corporation, based in Mason, MI, and Solo Cup Company, headquartered in Lake Forest, IL, today announced that they have signed a Definitive Agreement under which Dart Container will acquire Solo in a transaction valued at approximately $1 billion. Both companies are in the consumer and foodservice disposable packaging business. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close by the third quarter of this year.

    “Our acquisition of Solo will allow us to provide even greater value to our customers in the future,” said Dart Container CEO Robert C. Dart. “It will enable customers to purchase a wider range of products, made from a greater variety of materials with varying functional and environmental attributes -- all from a single vendor. Both companies have an extensive history in the industry and will bring together valuable experience, traditions and complementary, high-quality products.”

    “Solo has made great strides over the past several years in improving its operating efficiency, information systems and the caliber of the talent within the organization,” said Robert M. Korzenski, CEO, Solo Cup Company. “Dart’s leadership team has shown a high level of respect for what Solo has accomplished and I believe we are putting the company in the right hands to succeed and grow going forward.”

    “Dart Container’s acquisition of Solo will accelerate the progress Solo has made to improve its levels of service and customer support,” said Dart. “We will use our expertise in running a successful, efficient, reliable and service-oriented company to create an organization that blends the best of both Dart and Solo for the benefit of our customers.”

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  • 03.22.2012

    Sappi Limited Named First HP Indigo Worldwide Preferred Media Partner

    Sappi Fine Paper North America announced today it has been named as the first worldwide member of the HP Indigo Preferred Media Partner program. The agreement reflects Sappi's commitment to supporting the expanding needs of the global HP Indigo printer community for premium substrates. The announcement was made at the seventh annual Dscoop conference, Dscoop7, being held March 22-24, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

    "Sappi is honored to have been chosen as the first global HP Indigo preferred media partner," said Jennifer Miller, EVP Coated Business, Sappi Fine Paper North America. "Our mission has been to deliver products that exceed the most demanding standards in digital printing, and partnering with HP Indigo allows us the opportunity to increase our worldwide network of customers who value the highest quality digital paper available."

    Since 2009, Sappi has manufactured a high-performing paper for those who demand only the best in HP Indigo printing, McCoy for HP Indigo. With proprietary, premium ingredients, backed by Sappi quality assurances, McCoy for HP Indigo delivers one-of-a-kind performance for clients wanting the ultimate print experience. For those customers looking for an economy sheet for everyday HP Indigo use, Flo Digital is an ideal choice.

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  • 03.22.2012

    Publishers Press introduces The Magazine Channel

    Publishers Press, a publication printer and content solution provider, is proud to introduce TMC, a new and innovative venture in aggregating niche content for publishers.

    Partnering with KNFB Reading Technology, a Kurzweil Technology company, The Magazine Channel will deliver never before available special interest magazine content from niche publishers to audiences throughout the world, who will be able to discover, search, sample and share the unique collection of niche magazine stories and articles in their personalized "stack."

    TMC will be available in web and native versions, enabling users to build personalized collections of articles per each interest category. TMC will be powered by a sophisticated recommendation and personalization engine being developed through our partnership with KNFB Reader Technology with along with our ContentXpress digital solution.

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  • 03.22.2012

    Vertis Teams with MC Sports as Exclusive Provider of Inserts Printing, I2O, and Logistics

    Vertis Communications, a results-driven marketing communications company, today announced that MC Sports named the company its exclusive print and logistics provider of high-quality advertising inserts. As a leading provider of advertising inserts to the retail industry, Vertis will leverage its high-volume production capabilities and project management expertise to MC Sports, rapidly delivering the retailer’s complex regional programs. Vertis’ proprietary Inserts2online® technology will enable MC Sports to extend its reach and increase customer engagement online.

    Under the new agreement, MC Sports will maximize its marketing investment by effectively targeting promotional inserts to increase store traffic to its 70-plus retail locations throughout the Midwest. Utilizing printing facilities that are strategically located near key regional media markets, Vertis will produce high quality circulars and increase speed-to-market of time-sensitive promotional events.

    Vertis will also increase MC Sports’ value with its customers with Inserts2online®, which transforms printed inserts into digital ads that engage shoppers in fresh, new ways. The retailer will benefit from valuable connections with new and existing customers through the integration of category browsing, neighborhood store search, printable coupons, as well as social sharing opportunities to increase sales.

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  • 03.22.2012

    McDonald´s to test paper cups for hot drinks

    McDonald´s Corp. might have found a recyclable replacement for its polystyrene foam beverage cups.

    About 2,000 of the company´s restaurants, mostly West Coast operations, will be testing a double-walled fiber hot cup in an attempt to phase out the usually landfill-bound foam cups, according to a news release. McDonald´s said the objective is to assess customer acceptance, operational impact and overall performance.

    The switch is in response to a shareholder resolution filed in 2011 by As You Sow, a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building and legal strategies.

    As You Sow´s shareholder proposal asked McDonald´s to assess the environmental impact of different kinds of beverage containers and to develop package recycling goals, according to a news release. Nearly 30% of McDonald’s shareholders who voted supported the resolution.

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  • 03.22.2012

    Wastewater-to-energy plant to power paper mill

    A Minnesota paper mill will be powered by a wastewater-to-energy facility by the end of the year.

    The $15 million plant will have a biogas generator to capture methane to run the mill, The Star Tribune reported.

    The 550,000 gallons of water used at the mill each day will be pretreated onsite and then sent to the wastewater treatment plant.

    The mill recycles old corrugated containers into new paper for packaging, the paper reported.

    "It´s a very unusual project for Minnesota," Pete Klein, vice president of finance with the St. Paul Port Authority, told the paper. "There are not many anaerobic digester facilities out there, and this one will start a trend in a new way to use waste. Instead of sending it down the river, we can actually use it to make energy and reduce the need for fossil fuels."

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  • 03.22.2012

    Discover Financial Services Reports First Quarter Net Income of $631 Million or $1.18 Per Diluted Share

    Discover Financial Services today reported net income of $631 million for the first quarter of 2012, as compared to $465 million for the first quarter of 2011.

    First Quarter Highlights
    Total loans grew $4.6 billion, or 9%, from the prior year to $56.3 billion.
    Credit card loans grew $1.6 billion to $45.9 billion and Discover card sales volume was up 7%.
    The delinquency rate for credit card loans over 30 days past due declined to 2.22% and the credit card net charge-off rate declined to 3.07%, each of which were record lows.
    Payment Services pretax income was up 21% from the prior year to $52 million. Transaction volume for the segment was $46.7 billion in the quarter, an increase of 8% from the prior year.

    "Our results this quarter represent record first quarter earnings for Discover and are a great start for 2012," said David Nelms, chairman and chief executive officer of Discover. "Continued improvements in credit performance, solid organic growth in each of our lending products and strong volume growth across our networks were key drivers of this quarter's earnings. We also recently announced that our board of directors approved a new $2 billion share repurchase authorization. This action, along with the two dividend increases we announced last year, reflect the strength of our capital base and our confidence in the future earnings power of the company."

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  • 03.22.2012

    Verso's Continued Listing Plan Accepted by NYSE

    Verso Paper Corp. announced today that the New York Stock Exchange has accepted the company's plan for continued listing on the NYSE. As a result, Verso's common stock will continue to be listed on the NYSE, subject to quarterly reviews by the NYSE to monitor the company's progress against the plan.

    The NYSE earlier notified Verso on December 21, 2011, that the company had fallen below the NYSE's continued listing standard requiring that it maintain an average market capitalization of at least $75 million over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. With the NYSE's acceptance of the plan, Verso has 18 months from the original notification date in which to comply with the average market capitalization standard, subject to its compliance with the NYSE's other continued listing requirements.

    Verso will continue to work proactively with the NYSE to maintain the listing of its common stock during the compliance period. "The NYSE's acceptance of our plan reaffirms our belief that Verso's strategic direction and fundamental operating principles are sound. We look forward to executing our business plan and increasing our share price and market capitalization," commented Mike Jackson, Verso's President and Chief Executive Officer.

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  • 03.21.2012

    Resolute Reduces Minimum Tender Condition to 50.01% and Extends its Offer for Fibrek to April 2

    AbitibiBowater Inc., doing business as Resolute Forest Products, today announced:
    • it has extended the expiry time for its offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Fibrek Inc. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on April 2;
    • it has amended the minimum tender condition to its offer by lowering the threshold from 66 2/3% to 50.01% of Fibrek shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis; and
    • although Fibrek's authorization, issuance or sale of special warrants constitutes, or would constitute, a "Restricted Event" under the terms of Resolute's offer, the Company does not expect to invoke the "Restricted Event" provisions with respect to the special warrants if, at the expiry time:
    • there is a decision of the Québec Court of Appeal reinstating the cease trade order with respect to the special warrants; and
    • no special warrant is outstanding and the Fibrek shares issued on conversion thereof, if any, have been canceled.

    Assuming all the other conditions to Resolute's offer have been satisfied, at the expiry time on April 2, the Company will be able to take up all Fibrek shares deposited under its offer, provided that at that time at least 50.01% of the Fibrek shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis have been deposited and there is a cease trade order in effect relating to the special warrants. "Special warrants" refers to the Fibrek securities issuable to Mercer International Inc. pursuant to a private placement disclosed by Fibrek and Mercer on February 10.

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  • 03.21.2012

    Forbes to Verify Digital Ads Are Actually Seen

    The edge that digital advertising has always had over print is its measurement and accountability. Yet there are some fundamental issues that are still being resolved and Forbes is working on one in particular—ads below the fold. The brand is partnering with comScore to use its Validated Campaign Essentials product to provide "viewable impression measurement" for all of its digital ads. In other words, Forbes will be able to tell its advertisers that an ad impression was actually seen.

    With the program in place, Forbes will only charge advertisers for ads that have been viewed. The presumption is most are indeed viewed, but Forbes previously had no way of proving it. "For too long online ad pricing has involved significant guesswork because while we knew that not all ads were delivered in-view, we weren't always sure which ones," says Forbes Media chief insights officer Bruce Rogers in a statement. "The comScore vCE technology provides much-needed transparency to accurately reflect the ads that are actually being seen. This knowledge is essential in proving that our highly engaging content delivers a higher percentage of validated impressions and that they are delivering outstanding performance to our advertiser clients."

    Earlier this year, comScore released its own study that said 31 percent of ads are delivered but not seen by site visitors. This grouping consists of ads that are not in-view (a characteristic that requires at least half of the ad to be visible by readers for at least one second).

    By implementing the vCE product, Forbes is guaranteeing that 100 percent of its ad impressions are visible. It's combining this with its validated Brand Increase Guarantee program that also measures effectiveness. So if an advertiser does not see a lift in the 90 percent +/- confidence range in awareness, message association, brand favorability or purchase intent, Forbes will refund the advertiser's money. But there's an expensive hurdle: To participate advertisers have to spend $250,000 on Forbes.com over a 90-day period.

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  • 03.21.2012

    Total b-to-b media industry revenue rose 6.9% in 2011

    According to ABM's latest BIN Report, a recurring compilation of trade media sales data, total revenue for b-to-b media companies in the United States rose from $24.79 billion in 2010 to $26.49 billion in 2011, an increase of 6.9 percent.

    The BIN Report includes four revenue streams, in order from largest to smallest: trade shows; print advertising; digital advertising; and data, a category that includes rich media and business information services on a subscription and transactional basis. The details on these four revenue streams are given in the table, above right.
     
    Considered by share of all revenue, the 2011 data reveal that trade show revenue, at $10.28 billion, constituted the largest contributor to total industry revenue in 2011, at 40 percent. The print, digital and data streams contributed 29 percent, 24 percent and 7 percent, respectively, as given in the graph, below.

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