2024 Innovator of the Year: Freedom Graphic Systems Leads with New Technology (piworld.com)

Brown Printing of Jefferson City, Missouri and a subsidiary of Modern Litho, Inc., announces Brian Mutert has been named President of the company following the retirement of outgoing President Darla Porter. Mutert joined the company in 2013 when Brown Printing acquired Show Me Printing, which he together with his father Gary Mutert owned and operated. Since then, Mutert, serving as General Manager, has been integral in the daily sales and production management of Brown Printing. He has expanded the product and service offerings of the company including wide format, signage and display graphics, matched mailing and high-speed inserting, and variable data and imaging. Other highlights include leading the company through the integration of operations and customer onboarding that have resulted from several acquisitions of regional commercial printing companies along with sole-service contracts with shuttered in-plant print facilities.

The Celebrations are the culmination of the annual GEA competition, which recognizes companies throughout Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin for superb craftsmanship in the design, creation and production of outstanding printed projects they produce for their customers. More than 200 people gathered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Addison, Illinois, on May 25 for two simultaneous awards ceremonies to celebrate another spectacular year of print in the three-state region. Best of Show, the competition’s highest honor, was awarded to JR Dimensional of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for their entry in the Booklets (4 or more colors) category entitled Cramer-Krasselt Taycan Book and Sleeve FF. One judge said, “Not often a printed piece can be described as electrifying.” First Runner-Up was awarded to Schumann Printers of Fall River, Wisconsin, for Blue Ocean Traders Spring and Summer 2022 in the Product Catalogs (4 or more colors) category. From the Calendars category, LCP, Waukegan, Illinois, won Second Runner-Up accolades for their Lake County Press 2022 Calendar.

Komori announced that Heeter, a full-service provider of innovative print and data solutions, has purchased an eight-color Komori GL40 perfector (GL840P) with UV capabilities. The 75-year-old, third-generation family-owned firm operates two facilities in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area and has recently acquired a third location in Cleveland, Ohio to serve a wide variety of clients in health insurance, gaming, pharmaceuticals, education, retail, banking, utilities/energy and more. This is the company’s first Komori press, replacing a competitive press. Key to choosing the Komori over the three press manufacturers Heeter considered was the GL840P’s ability to deliver more efficiencies, its UV printing capabilities and its ability to deliver a lower cost of ownership. With an eye on efficiency and the reduced cost of maintenance and upkeep, the company determined the Komori GL840P fit its growing need for increased capacity, reduced turnaround times and expanded capabilities. Because the press is a perfector, run times are cut in half for two-sided jobs and the UV capabilities allow for faster drying, so that jobs can be sent to the bindery or other finishing processes quickly. This is Heeter’s first UV press and the ability to offer the vibrant colors and special effects of UV printing is a powerful value-added proposition for the high-end markets it serves.