Print Solutions August 2006
Innovative Applications
This year’s Print Solutions Expo is
Full of Them
One of the little-known facts about great
discoveries is that they are not heralded by a
“Eureka!” as often as a
“Hey…that’s interesting!” Understanding
the usefulness of a new idea can mean a lot of sifting and
digging on the way to genius – sifting you might not have
time for while taking care of your customers.
This year, we’ve compiled a list of
some of the cleverest discoveries in the industry since last
year’s Print Solutions Expo – both new products and
great ways to use old ones. They’re listed below in booth
order. You’ll find safer check processing, time-saving
web-to-print solutions, economical ad specialties, a brand new
photo mailer and a lot more.
Read about the applications below, and make
a plan to visit the manufacturers’ booths at the expo in
Chicago. The applications are also available online at
www.printsolutionsshow.com and at computer kiosks on the show
floor, indexed by vertical market. You might just have a
“Hey…!” moment of your own.
Booth 108
Web MICR Fingerprint Checks
FTInc. offers web-to-print online MICR
laser checks with applications for a wide span of industries
including software companies and consultants, banks, savings
and loans, credit unions, real estate companies, billing
service companies and more. These web-to-print checks can be
manufactured on any laser printer with Fingerprint II patented
security paper.
The new website can be designed to appear
as the distributor’s website, which will link to the
FTInc. production website. If the customer is a reseller, then
FTInc. can design the web site to appear to be the
customer’s web site. The site will contain all of the
standard software compatible laser check templates, or FTInc.
can easily design proprietary templates to fit your
customer’s needs. The end user will be able to enter new
and repeat orders via the web without the distributor needing
to handle the order. “We have customers currently using
the custom version,” says Bob Diamond, vice president of
sales and marketing at FTInc. “We have had tremendous
response for our web-to-print.”
Vertical Markets: Associations, Financial,
Manufacturing, Government, Hospitality, Insurance, Health Care,
Retail and Travel
Booth 114
Abagnale SuperBusinessCheck
The Abagnale SuperBusinessCheck is the
finest high security check in America, and will greatly enhance
a distributor’s product line. Designed by Frank
Abagnale, world-renowned fraud consultant, and by SAFEChecks,
“America’s Premier Check Fraud Prevention
Specialists,” the SuperBusinessCheck is almost impossible
to alter or counterfeit without leaving evidence. It has 15
security features, including a true watermark, thermochromatic
ink, and chemical sensitivity. Combined with Positive Pay
(see below), the SuperBusinessCheck presents a formidable
defense against check fraud. Distributors of the
SuperBusinessCheck will help their customers protect themselves
against forgers, counterfeiters, embezzlers and other criminals
involved in check fraud. 
Vertical Markets: Financial
Booth 114
SafePay
Positive Pay is a security feature offered
by banks to help prevent business check fraud. To use Positive
Pay, a company must format and send its dispersed check
information to the bank in the Positive Pay format. Many
smaller companies lack the time and staff to format and
transmit their data this way, and they’re missing out on
this service and a valuable security opportunity.
SafePay is formatting and transmission
software that extracts the company’s check issue data,
formats them in a file that meets the bank’s
specifications and securely transmits the file to the bank.
It’s a PC-based program that integrates seamlessly with
virtually all accounting programs and check writing software.
The program was written in Virtual C++. It is typically
downloaded from the internet and installed to integrate with a
company’s existing programs.
Many small to medium sized businesses will
be interested in this application, particularly ones that have
been hit with check fraud.
Vertical Markets: Financial
Booth 128
Small Litho Wrap Turned Edged Binders
The Leslie Company’s small litho wrap
turned edged binders are perfect for quick reference guides,
membership directories, phone lists, manuals or handbooks. They
provide a high-end image at an affordable price.
With the help of an offset press, the
binders are printed on 100# bright white text with durable film
laminate that can be glued or stamped. Orders can include
inside pockets, business card holders or the Euro roundback
hinge for a more polished and professional look. Each binder is
made with care: the outside edges are turned over stiff or
flexible board. Distributors can choose from a wide selection
of durable cover materials that won’t crack or split. For
2006, the binders are offered in the 8-1Ú5” x
5-1Ú2” 3-ring binder, 9-1Ú2” x 6” 3-ring
binder, 6-3Ú4” x 3-3Ú4” memo binder, and
7-1Ú4” x 4-1Ú2” memo binder. The company also
offers new case sizes as well as different types of metal and
capacities.
Likely prospects for this binder cover a
wide span: human resource departments, training and development
departments, sales divisions, doctors’ offices, schools,
churches, civic organizations and homeowner associations.
Vertical Markets: Real Estate, Government
Agencies, Financial
Booth 143
Custom Case File
These expanding file portfolios double as a
professional essential and a promotional piece with a graphic
on the front. They feature 19 pockets in the standard size, but
can be produced for any size (coupon through legal) and with 7,
13, 21 and 31 pockets. The logo, color, closure hardware and
other features can be customized for the pickiest of customers,
and they feature a hard bottom for stability – all
weighing less than three pounds.
Turnaround time is about three to five
months from proof approval, says Jancy Pettit, marketing
director, and the company is very competitive on price because
the folders are made in China. Minimum order is 2,500.
The portfolios’ graphics are printed
on coated stock, which is wrapped and adhered to heavy duty
chipboard. Gussets and index pieces are manufactured from
index-quality stock. They’re completed with a durable
twist lock and handle.
Customers can use these pieces for document
storage, catalogs, sales tools, meeting information, medical
information and financial information. The company also offers
product design services.
Vertical Markets: Financial, Educational,
Real Estate, Retail, Medical, Legal, Funeral, Hospitality
Booth 220
Q-Design
Q-Design is the software solution that
connects both variable data printing and e-commerce with your
internal distributorship accounting and manufacturer systems.
End users can customize template PDFs for
their individual applications, maintaining control over the
entire marketing campaign. Those documents, created in
Q-Design, integrate with your e-Quantum system and
automatically generate invoices, internal accounting and
purchase orders that are sent to manufacturers, all without
re-keying the specifics.
Q-Design is a program written entirely
in-house without any tied-on modules, ensuring seamless
integration of all software parts. Additionally, e-Quantum
offers a fully supportive technical staff to answer all
questions over the phone.
Likely buying prospects are print
distributors utilizing e-commerce.
Vertical Markets: Healthcare, Education,
Retail, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Service, Government,
Financial.
Booth 225
ATM, POS, KIOSK, Mobile, Parking, and
Synthetic Rolls
TDG-Telemark now provides customers with
specialty-coated synthetic roll products with applications in
the packaging, strength labels, and outdoor industries that can
include lumber companies, manufacturing companies, steel
companies and hardware supply companies. TDG can print and
convert the films into usable sizes for end users’
printing machines.
“The synthetic stock allows usage in
a harsh environment,” says Brandon Kent, vice president
of sales and marketing at Telemark. Kent says an example would
be when the paper is stapled to a product by a lumber
company. “The synthetic stock will not tear loose
and will allow a direct thermal or thermal image to be placed
without compromising readability over a long period of
time,” he says. “These materials are not only
strong, but also less susceptible to UV light, rain and other
chemicals that will destroy normal paper. They can be used
by steel manufacturers. The oils prevent rusting.”
Vertical Markets: Manufacturing, Retail
Booth 228
Post-it Note Cube Holder
Post-it notes have become a staple of the
modern office. So why not offer an attractive, memorable way to
store them? Carlson Craft offers the custom imprinted paper
stock note cubes, which still put your customer’s brand
in front of clients but are much lighter and more cost
effective than traditional acrylic holders.
Manufactured using 18 pt paper stock, the
cube holders are available in one or two inks and can be
imprinted in 4-color process. The cubes are die cut, folded and
glued, then shipped flat for assembly by the customer. Fits
standard size Post-it notes, and can be teamed with
personalized notes for a powerful presentation.
Vertical Markets: Education, Health Care,
Advertising, HR departments
Booth 231
Custom End-Tab Filing Products
End-tab filing is the fastest-growing
category in the world of filing. Is it part of your repertoire?
Gussco Manufacturing annouces custom-made end tab products for
the first time ever, so that you can provide a new and
different solution to your customer.
Specially suited to medical, legal and
insurance professionals, these filing systems direct users
where to put items and also where to retrieve them, customized
to each office’s needs. Customized features include:
subjects on tabs, tracking forms on folders, installed indexes,
fastners, file back and dividers, printing, color coding, vinyl
pockets, colors, expansion pieces, pockets and wallets. System
design consultation is available. All of the pieces to the
solution are manufactured in house.
Vertical Markets: Legal, Insurance,
Government and Health Care
Booth 239
Thermal Ribbon - Direct Printing on Static
Cling
This thermal printer ribbon is specially
designed to apply a unique chemical ink directly on vinyl
window cling labels without damaging the material in the heated
printing process.
The application is specifically intended
for mobile walk-around printers marketed by Zebra, Eltron,
Datamax and Sato, ideal for use in oil change operations such
as Jiffy Lube, Valvoline and Quik Change. The information about
the oil change is synched with the computer information at the
shop, so there are no mistakes and no miscalculations, says
Harold Wolfe at All Write Ribbon. Other applications include
retail outfits, such as toy stores, he says.
Vertical Markets: Automotive, Retail
Booth 307
Check 21 Compatible Document Security
Feature
This new check security does it all. The
white background turns dark gray when imaged on a color copier,
and features a customizable VOID pantograph using a dot gain
process instead of the conventional “big dot, little
dot” technology. The image could be a company’s
logo, specially chosen words or any other picture.
The check also features Scan Resident Image
Security (SRIS) technology, which allows the custom image to
remain visible once scanned. Most security features, says Gary
St. Onge, vice president of sales and marketing, disappear when
scanned by bank machines to a binary black and white image,
known as a substitute check. “False substitute checks get
into banking systems via computer hacking,” he says.
“This way, when you look at your company’s
cancelled checks, the presence of that logo tells you
it’s from an original.”
The special feature is printed on offset
equipment, and is available in a variety of colors and
background patterns.
Vertical Markets: All business checks,
Medical, Financial
Booth 326
4” x 6” Sheeted Shipping Label
Is your customer looking for a large
shipping label with a professional appearance without the
hassle of a thermal printer? Try the 4 x 6-inch sheeted
shipping label by Continental Datalabel.
This product features four labels on an
8-1Ú2” x 14” sheet. It’s made on standard
white inkjet/laser permanent material, which is ultra-white 50#
lignin-free with a machine-finished face. This material is
specifically designed for color inkjet, black and white laser
and commercial offset printers as well as copiers. The modified
acrylic adhesive is perfect for roll to sheet applications,
which is combined with a 50# white kraft liner to ensure
the product lays flat.
The sheeted label is available in 100- and
250-sheet cartons. Visit booth 326 for a free sample.
Vertical Markets: Mailing Houses, Small
Businesses, Manufacturers, Retail
Booth 328
IRC PLUS
The grocery shopper in your family looks
for instant redeemable coupons. Long a popular shelf promotion
on dry goods, these pull-off tickets can be removed in the
checkout line and handed to the cashier for instant savings.
Usually, all that’s left behind is a clear film base on
the box of cereal or can of soup.
But the IRC-Plus, a newly patented idea
from Ray Press, gives the consumer more. There’s another
coupon under the initial slip. Maybe it’s for more
savings on another shopping trip, or it could be the product
warranty, health information, cross-promotion or even corporate
information. “The unusual thing about this is that
everybody who’s ever pulled off one of these coupons
knows that’s all they’re going to get. This second
layer gives the customer the idea of more,” says Bob
Alden at Ray Press. While the product goes above and beyond the
customer’s expectations, the folded paper itself is very
simple, run through in-line in one pass for a relatively low
cost. The IRC-Plus is printed flexographically.
Vertical Markets: Retail, Electronics
Booth 407
Small Envelopes
Trade Envelopes Inc.’s stock small
envelopes (gift card envelopes, credit/debit card sleeves and
florist envelopes) are manufactured by the hundreds of
thousands, and then printed with your customer’s art to
provide a quick 5-7 day delivery. “We used to offer these
envelopes as custom envelopes but now they’re
stock,” says Mark Novelli, VP of sales and marketing at
Trade Envelope. “It now costs the distributor a lot less
money and there’s a quicker turnaround.” Hotel key
card sleeves are a big money saver over the little portfolios
that most hotels currently use. They also serve as a great way
to advertise the hotel’s restaurant, bar, etc. (For
example, put a half off drink coupon on the hotel key card
sleeve.)
The gift card envelopes provide a spot for
the gift card and a place to write the amount of the gift.
Further, it provides an ideal spot for the receipt. Also, for
the florist envelopes, Trade Envelopes has stock designs as
well as the matching note cards.
Vertical Markets: Banking, Retail,
Hospitality
Booth 408
Everlast Envelopes
These are bionic envelopes: waterproof,
impossible to tear and lighter than Tyvek. According to
Business Cards Tomorrow, which introduced Everlast Envelopes
last year, they’re puncture-resistant, acid-resistant and
reduce mailing weight for your client. The company also touts
the image boost this high-tech envelope can give any document.
These envelopes were developed by BCT
designers for anyone who mails sensitive documents.
They’re made from a unique material of microscopic
polyethylene fibers spun together and heated. The envelopes are
then converted for printing – either in a spot-color
process or in a laserjet or inkjet printer. They’re
available in both catalog and booklet sizes.
Vertical Markets: Legal, Financial, Health
Care, Marketing, Direct Mail, Manufacturing
Booth 441
P3ExpeditorSoftware
Newly updated P3ExpeditorSoftware is a
project management tool designed to save time and money for
distributors. The program centralizes all job data, automates
pricing, communications and messaging, bid proposals, tracks
production and manages clients and suppliers.
“We have a very user friendly
interface,” says Bob Yancich from P3. “The
structure of the software is unique, affordable, and it gets
the user up and running on day one. It does not necessitate
that suppliers have any type of software, and there are no
training costs.”
The software is written by P3 designers and
distributed through the company’s web site,
www.p3software.com. It is both PC and Mac adaptable.
Vertical Markets: Print, Education,
Government, Corporate, Non-Profit, Retail
Booth 508
New CMS-1500 (Rev. 0805) form
TFP Data Systems is billing its new
CMS-1500 (Rev. 0805) form as the “biggest opportunity in
CMS forms since the (12/90) revision of the 1500.” The
company offers the new version of the CMS-1500 Health Insurance
Claim Form which accommodates the reporting of the National
Provider Identifier (NPI). This new version will update the
existing CMS-1500 Claim Form (version 12/90), often referred to
as the HCFA-1500. By Oct. 1, health plans, clearinghouses and
other vendors must be ready to accept the revised CMS-1500
claim form.
TFP Data Systems assisted the National
Uniform Claim Committee (NUCC) in designing the new CMS-1500
(Revision 08/05) paper claim form and is the custodian of the
official CMS-1500 negative. It is also the first vendor to have
the new CMS-1500 (Rev.08/05) available.
Vertical Markets: Health Care
Booth 532
Magnetic Car Signs
Magnetic car signs have been a staple at
Gill Studios for decades now, and for good reason –
they’re attractive, highly visible and easily removable.
Last year, the company introduced a digital press that allows
customers to order as few as two signs at a time done on a
high-image-quality machine for much less than a screenprinted
job.
“They’re really popular with
people who need temporary signage such as politicians and real
estate agents,” says Larry Timberlake of Gill. “You
put them on your car during the business week and on the
weekends it turns back into your personal car.” The
company now offers 4-color process at the economy of spot
color.
The signs are made of white, flexible
.35-inch-thick vinyl, attached to magnetic material and printed
digitally.
Vertical Markets: Government, Real Estate,
Retail
Booth 601
PS Mailers Solution for No Child Left
Behind
The “No Child Left Behind” Act
intends to improve the education of America’s children.
Who knows what the results will be, but one thing is for sure:
Schools are inundated with additional work associated with the
program. PS Mailers can help streamline the process of sending
important school information home by incorporating grade,
attendance, progress and other reports into a self-mailer. This
frees teachers to educate children!
These pressure-sealed mailers are made in a
special cohesive and perforation pattern on a custom
folder/sealer. Ideal for secondary school principals, assistant
principals and school administrators to process grade reports
and other communications to parents.
Vertical Markets: Education
Booth 636
ReadyClickMail
ReadyClickMail is an economical
web-to-print solution for the professional print manufacturer
to support end-user customers in the administration of their
direct mail sales campaigns. The software automates production
of personalized postcards, sale flyers, coupons and graphical
form letters.
With ReadyClickMail, sales reps use the
internet to design imprinted documents and to manage their
personal mailing lists. At the printing plant, submitted orders
are merged into corporate batches, address sorted for the most
economical postage rates, printed in zipcode sequence with
color digital presses, and prepared for mail drop.
Amgraf licenses its software tools per
designer, and then allows its use for an unlimited number of
jobs and projects. No end-user licenses or other incremental
license fees are ever required to use or print forms created
with OneForm Designer Plus and OneForm Manager Lite. No
per-product or per-printer license fees are required to produce
documents using Amgraf’s MECCA 2000 System.
Because the software is a one-time cost,
the more you sell, the cheaper it is per transaction. Likely
buying prospects are print manufacturers, commercial printers,
in-plant print shops, forms printers and government agencies.
Vertical Markets: Printing and Publishing,
Direct Mail, Business Services, Healthcare, Government
Booth 716
Full Color Paperboard Binder with High
Impact Tabs
Independent Printing offers its first
binder option – a full color paperboard piece
that’s cheaper than vinyl and features more graphic
capabilities. “It has a greater capacity for high visual
content,” says Karen Gregg, vice president of sales and
marketing, and a DMIA board member. “Beause it’s
lighter, the binders are more cost-efficient to mail.”
The binders also come with full-color tabs
that provide a results-getting graphic image. Binders with tabs
help take volumes of paper and organize the contents into an
efficient system. Independent Printing has leading-edge
techology including CTP, a CAD engineering department to
provide full-size prototypes and in-house finishing for the
most complex projects.
Sell this product to hotels, caterers,
universities, HR departments, medical facilities and technology
companies.
The item is manufactured inhouse on a
Heidelburg 8-color press, laminated, riveted, die cut and
glued. Independent offers an array of customization options,
including up to a 1.5-inch ring diameter.
Vertical Markets: Insurance, Hospitality,
Healthcare, Education, Technology, Financial
Booth 722
5-color Envelopes
With the introduction of a new 5-color
envelope press, the Halm EM500, C.E. Printed Products is able
to print 4-color process over one spot color on converted
envelopes in only one pass. This capability has greatly
increased cost efficiency, turnaround speed and image quality.
Now a seven- to 10-day job can be shipped in three to five
days, says Adam McNeill, director of marketing and sales.
Currently, the company does some 4-color
work, but has not been printing on both sides of the envelope
simultaneously. The state-of-the-art computer interface allows
for quick set-up and job changes, and includes an integrated UV
drying system that speeds drying time.
Vertical Markets: Financial, Direct
Marketing, Education, Medical, Nonprofit, Hospitalitiy and
seasonal or special messaging for most businesses.
Booth 728
Custom CD/DVD
Looking for a custom CD/DVD package but
don’t want to hire a graphic designer? ASE Dealer Source
can help solve that problem. “If you want to give your
product high-impact visibility without hidden costs, we can
help steer your project in the right direction,” says
Scott Pasho. The company has an in-house graphic designer who
has created a number of dynamic templates and is available for
special help on tricky project specifics.
ASE also includes end-user instructions, a
brochure, and space for a logo and custom copy. 
Vertical Markets: Health Care, Retail
Booth 903
Photo-Roo
Manufactured with a business forms press,
collator and equipment by Tamarack Products Inc., the Photo-Roo
is an innovative application for novelty stores in vacation
areas, cruise lines, theme parks, card shops and stores with
photo processing. The Photo-Roo is an integrated sheet
compatible with ink jet and color laser printers, which when
folded creates an envelope to hold a photograph. After the
photo is received in the mail, the recipient can peel away the
front panel revealing the photo inside, already framed. The
recipient can further remove the panel on the back of the
envelope, exposing a pressure sensitive “removable”
adhesive to allow the framed photo to be bonded to any surface
for display.
Vertical Markets: Travel, Retail
Booth 903
EPA Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest
The Flesh Company now has the new form
mandated by the federal Environmental Protection Agency to be
used by generators and haulers of hazardous waste beginning
Sept. 5. The forms are offered as continuous and unit sets, and
both are 6-part forms with non-duplicate 9-digit numbers and
3-letter codes that help to identify the manufacturer. The
forms were manufactured with a business forms press and
collator.
Vertical Markets: Government, Service,
Manufacturing
Booth 905
Standard Pocket Folder Styles, Presentation
Folders
Victor Printing Inc.’s new pocket
folder is a multi-use workhorse, perfect for presenting ideas,
products, proposals and paperwork in a professional, organized
manner. It can easily be changed or updated by adding new
and/or swapping out ineffective or outdated material, making
the pocket folder a cost-effective solution to flyers and
brochures. They can also be used by any customer, from business
professionals to educational facilities, from lawyers to
hospitals.
The folders are printed on one of
Victor’s commercial presses and finished on its recently
installed Moll Marathon folder/gluer at its Sharon, Pa.
facility. “We always offered pocket folders, but we had
used custom dies and they weren’t produced
in-house,” says Sharon Bieganski, marketing director at
Victor Printing. “In January we purchased a folder gluing
machine that allows us to do it in-house, and we acquired 9 to
10 standard dies, which means there is no extra cost to the
customer.” By keeping the pocket folder orders entirely
in-house, Victor is able to maintain control over cost, quality
and delivery. This translates into shorter delivery times and
lower costs for customers. Standard folders ship in as few as
seven work days.
Additional imaging processes can be applied
to the presentation folders in-house, such as foil stamping and
embossing or any combination of printing, foil stamping and
embossing. Protective high-gloss UV coating can also be applied
as well as spot or flood varnishing.
Vertical Markets: Health Care, Education,
Business, Financial
Booth 913
TopForm Software-XML Interoperability
Distributors can look forward to
unsurpassed levels of efficiency through XML’s
bidirectional electronic exchange of data with the help of
TopForm Software-XML interoperability. The software module is
used by print distributors to streamline the ordering process
with their vendors. XML Interoperability is an add-on module to
TopForm Software’s Print Distributor Print Management,
Accounting, and e-Commerce Software, and its benefits to
distributorships include:
• improved order to cash cycle
• reduced expenses
• reduced or eliminated document
travel time, manual data entry or operator intervention 
Vertical Markets: Print Distributorships
Booth 1040
SmartMark RFID Technology
William Frick and Company introduces
SmartMark, a custom Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
tagging system designed to solve the requirements of harsh
environment RFID tag/label exposure. William Frick manufactures
molded plastic enclosed RFID tags as well as traditional custom
synthetic and paper RFID label solutions.
The SmartMark is manufactured according to
the specifications required by the application. Whatever
frequency the application demands, whatever exposure challenges
need to be met, be it temperature, chemical, UV light, moisture
or lack of space, SmartMark tags and labels deliver radio
frequency data capture technology. The tags can be used to
track any asset, whether it’s in a rugged outdoor
environment or in a warehouse or office. Visit booth 1040 to
see a complete product demonstration or visit www.fricknet.com.
Vertical Markets: Manufacturing,
Government, Hospitality, Health Care, Retail
Booth 1105
PrinterPresence Newsletter Service
Digital IMS is launching the Inklings
newsletter program, a perfect marketing solution for busy
printers. Inklings, to premiere in fall 2006, is a monthly
newsletter packed full of fun and informative articles. The
fresh content is prepared monthly by professional copywriters
and designers. Each issue is designed in an eye-catching,
easy-to-read format. This is the ideal newsletter for printers
wanting to increase customer loyalty and attract new clients.
Inklings is available in exclusive territories, so act quickly
before your zip codes are taken.
Vertical Markets: Printing
