Thomson Reuters Core Publishing Solutions Blog

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In my normal fashion, I went searching to see how many times I can recall hearing this famous phrase iterated in a movie. I scanned the decades, and found a few that I have viewed. How many of these movies do you recognize “it’s all in the wrist” being used? (I would love to hear if any others popped into your head.) By the way, I am a movie buff, and have an extensive personal library. I could open up my own local Blockbuster franchise.

• Miracle on 34th Street, when Kris showed the “fake” Santa how to use the whip to drive the reindeer during the Macy’s Day parade
• Sabrina – 1955 version with Audrey Hepburn. She said “New egg. It’s all in the wrist.”
• Octopussy – 1993 with Roger Moore as James Bond
• Tron – Legacy – by Jeff Bridges
• And even in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs II, while the son learned how to fish.
• There's a spin-off of the phrase (maybe a stretch) in Happy Gilmore, where he says "It's all in the hips!"

In our case, “it’s all in the list!”
We are experts in processing mailing lists!
Large or small, single unit packaging, or multi-pack. You could say, but Vickie, it’s all in your head . . . but no, I assure you, I am not making this up.

When it comes to List Processing, "It’s all in the little details,"
and here are just a handful:

1. We will run a provided list through CASS services to verify that the list complies with USPS address / zip+4 rules.

2. If needed, we can process through the National Change of Address (NCOA) database to guarantee you are not sending product to bad addresses.

3. What packaging needs are required? We have lots of options!

4. Is there a certain type of label template that is needed for your packages? We have many templates on hand, and will create a custom label if needed.

5. We can handle both domestic and international addresses, at below published shipping rates!

6. All services provided by our dedicated Distribution team.

If you are looking to send out to your pre-sales book list, newsletter or magazine list, or even distribute an educational book to your students across the globe, we are here for you.

AND . . . if your needs include warehousing and distribution services, that's one our expertise's, too. We have over 500,000 square feet of space, and currently manage 90,000+ SKUs from one location. Check out this link for more details. Delivering your Products through CPS

"It's all part of the experience" . . . the CPS experience.

BINDER (definitions) Noun.

1. A substance used to make other substances or materials stick or mix together.
2. A reaping machine that binds grain into sheaves.
3. A short document showing an agreement between a buyer and seller.
4. An informal agreement that gives insurance coverage while you are waiting for a policy to be formally issued.
5. Someone who binds.

The list goes on and on. When I looked up the word, I couldn’t believe the results I found. How can a simple noun be used in so many unique ways? This blog research did trigger another childhood memory. Growing up in a small town in North Dakota, if we ever asked my 6th grade teacher what a word meant, she would look at us and say (with her head bobbling to and fro) “Ask Mr. Webster.” In the 21st Century version of the story, that same request could be met with “just Ask Dr. Google!” I know that he is my best friend.

This Thanksgiving, I will be using seasoned bread crumbs as a Binder in my Mom’s famous Swedish Meatball recipe. It is a family favorite. I need to be sure I don’t forget the 3 tablespoons of milk or cream to allow those bread crumbs to expand. Otherwise, there could be a family feud to get the last one, because there won’t be as many in the slow cooker.

The one definition of Binder that is not listed in any printed or on-line dictionary that I could find AND is one that totally took me by surprise, was introduced when I moved to Minnesota. I asked a colleague if they had any binders, because I was printing out a user manual and I wanted to keep it together. I was dumbfounded when they delivered a handful of Rubber Bands! NO, I wanted a Binder, like a Three-Ring Binder, maybe 1” thick. I have lived here for over 25 years, and I still haven’t adjusted to that one.

Here at Core Publishing Solutions, we epitomize definition number 5 (v) – Someone who binds.
We have many binders (not just the rubber variety):

• Muller Martini Hybrid Alegro Binder with 27 pockets
• Kolbus Binder with 40 pockets
• Muller Martini Binder with 40 pockets
• Horizon BQ470 Perfect Binder for shorter run Book projects
• Magnum Flexbook Binder for Inkjet Digital Book Blocks

Depending on the book, after it is gathered or glued, it can be finished in many ways – Perfect Bind, Burst Bind (case adhesive), Smyth Sewn, then Cased-in, and Dust Jacketed. Even these binders “make other substances or materials stick or mix together” just like the bread crumbs in my Meatballs! By the way, if you’d like my recipe, click here.

If you ever find yourself In A Bind, and need a Binder, please look to Core Publishing Solutions. I think we might have the right Binder for you! For more detailed information on all of our offerings, you can download our Guide To Book Manufacturing!

Does anybody know if they still require Middle School students to create a Science project around the Earth’s core? Those late nights when parents assist, (or complete, because they want you to get a good grade) where participants are full of excitement, anxiety and covered in lots of plaster of Paris or modeling clay. To refresh your memory, the earth’s layers are the Crust, the Mantle, and the Outer and Inner core. Yes, I did need to look it up!

This might sound silly, but have you ever thought about the core of an apple? The apple has its own set of layers. You have the outer skin (if you have picky kids, you need to peel that off before serving), the meaty flesh which is so tasty, and the Core. In this scenario, think about that poor Core. It just gets thrown away 90% of the time, unless you have one of those fancy juicers. There is apparently a small bit of cyanide in the seeds, but you’d have to eat over 150 apples in a short period of time for it to have any adverse effect on your health. The Core has gotten a bad rap on so many levels.

In looking at these examples, it correlates indirectly to the various layers of a business. Gee, we even named our company with Core in mind. When you take a look at the outer crust of a business, you hope that it represents and protects what’s underneath – the core values they stand by, and the core competencies they execute on each day. This is something we strive for, even amidst the ever-changing print industry and the technology that goes with it.

Let’s look at our core:

• One- and 2-color book printer, since the late 1800s, with both offset and digital solutions
• Committed to quality work, focusing on lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement initiatives
• State-of-the-art Equipment, both hardware and software technologies
• A customer service team that excels in communicating with our partners on a daily basis

Thomson Reuters has a set of values that go even deeper than our core competencies. Here are just a few: Trust, Integrity, Transparency. We don’t throw away the Core. We want to nurture all of the seeds that helped us grow to the business we are today. Core Publishing Solutions:  Flexible, Scalable, Reliable.

Are you an iced latte or hot coffee type of person? After a hard workout, what is best to relieve the stress of your over-worked muscles? Is it heat before and ice afterwards, or vice versa? I can never remember. Depending on a clothing stain, what works best to get it out? My mom always told me that if I don't want a stain to set in, don't under any circumstances, wash something in warm or hot water. I must confess that I have made that mistake a time or two. But I think one of life's most controversial topics is the temperature in your home. Ever heard, "Don't you dare touch that thermostat!" Has a family member left the window open overnight, and you can see your breath while you yawn yourself awake after the alarm blares at you in the a.m.? If only they had devised the electronic version with temperature and lock controls way back when -- it may have saved a relationship or two, or avoided a "timeout".

You might ask yourself, Vickie, what does any of this have to do with printing? Well, it does when printing on an offset printing press. Depending on your needs, your "hot or cold" preference may vary. Here are some high-level logistics:

Heatset offset presses: The paper is run through an oven immediately after the ink is applied to the paper by the printing unit(s). The solvents in the ink reach an evaporation point, leaving only the waxes, resins and pigment after going through the oven. Immediately following, the paper passes through chilling rollers where the waxes and resins cool down and solidify, resulting in a clean product. This is where heatset printing got its name.

Coldset offset presses: When printing with a coldset press, the ink dries gradually through both evaporation and absorption into the paper. No additional dryers or coolers are involved.

Both heatset and coldset presses have their place in the printing arena relative to the type of book you are printing. When CPS account managers quote projects for our prospective customers they will ask questions such as:

• What type of paper is required? (we have an in-stock paper list in another blog -- See the Paper Pickle)
• Are there any halftones or screens in the book?
• How about bleeds or bleed tabs?
• Any major solid areas in the design?
• Is this a 1-color or 2-color book?

Based on the answers to the questions, we can determine what is the best press for the project. For example, if something is printed on a coated stock, you will surely want the component to be printed on a press that has drying capabilities to ensure that the ink doesn't smear after printed, since ink doesn't absorb into the coated paper. But, if it is a book that is using ground wood uncoated stock, and there is only text, a coldset press will do a fine job in producing a quality product.

Next time you are in line for your favorite made-to-order sandwich, and they ask "Would you like that toasted?" maybe this blog will come to mind. What do you prefer? Regardless, know that if your mind migrates to printing, we have the presses to suit your needs!

For more information, check out the Tailored Solutions section of our website!

The English idiom "don't judge a book by its cover" is a phrase that means we shouldn't prejudge the worth or value of something by only its outward appearance. That said, how many of us have done just that . . . literally?

I think about the numerous times I browse a book stores' shelves, and the "pretty" covers are the first things that jump out at me -- taunting me to look inside the dust jacket of a hard cover book, or immediately flip a paperback on its back, to read the summary and reviews of other famous authors. The pretty cover ploy drew me in, just like they thought it would.

In fact, I'm not just drawn to fancy book covers, I am fascinated by them, dissecting them to determine how they were made. Did they use a matte laminate, with a conventional Spot UV, topping it off with a foil embossing? If I take off the dust jacket on a hardbound book, what lies beneath it? Is it a three-piece case with cloth on the spine, with paper sides? And how about the foil stamping? Did they go with a conventional gold, or did they try copper to enhance the beauty of the cloth and papers they chose? They maybe went crazy with multiple colors of foil. Did they deboss their imprint? Whew! Who knew there were sooo many options.

Why in the world do I get so excited about all these cover options? Probably because I can see these beauties being created right here at Core Publishing Solutions every day. Whether you are looking to produce either a paperback, or a hardbound book (printed or stamped), we have the ability to meet your fancy cover needs.

Depending on whether your fancy cover aspirations are on a printed or stamped cover, will determine the production processes necessary to complete the project. Rest assured, that your dedicated account manager can guide you through it.

SOME OPTIONS FOR A COVER OR DUST JACKET:

• Spot UV on Laminate
• Embossing with or without Foil on Laminate
• Both Spot UV and Embossing on Laminate

OPTIONS ON A
HARDBOUND STAMPED COVER:

• 3-piece case with a combination of materials
• Multiple color foil on a multitude of in-house or custom-order materials (up to 6 foil colors)
• Debossing
• Burnishing on Custom materials
• Options are also available for flexible covers, i.e., used on Bibles and Journals

Have we gotten your creative mind activated? Would you like to see some samples of our work?

We are here to help you realize your creative cover dreams!

April 9, 2019: As I sit here, preparing for the latest publisher conference, I reflect on how we survive as Printers. Similar to the US Postal Service, we provide book printing services come rain, shine, AND Blizzards. This has been an exceptional year of records for us in the Midwest. We had the 5th snowiest winter on record (that record could go even higher this week), and we already broke the record for the snowiest February in history. We are a hardy bunch, and push through the elements to ensure that we provide the best customer service possible even when the weather is against us. We even cancelled an annual tornado drill because of the recent blizzard and flooding. Another statistic I’d like to share, is that we are listed as #71 Printer on the Printing Impressions Top 400 Printers list for 2018. That’s a statistic that doesn’t make me sad.

A little bit about us: We are located in Eagan, Minnesota. Historically known as West Publishing, we have been in the book printing business since the late 1800s. We were purchased by Thomson in 1997, and then Thomson bought Reuters in 2008, which evolved us into Thomson Reuters. So, who in the world is Core Publishing Solutions?

As I mentioned, we have been printing books since the 1800s. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that we began our outreach to external publishers (we call them 3rd party customers), to provide book manufacturing services for others. A group of creative minds got together, and came up with our new name, Core Publishing Solutions. We had never really marketed ourselves to the outside up to this point, since we were predominantly an “in-plant” printer.

Our external outreach began to evangelize our capabilities as a Commercial Printer. It started as a one-person team, who helped invent our first website www.BookPrintingTR.com. It was full of frames, and pictures, color, and Sooo much information. The more the better, right?? That outreach worked! We started attending conferences for trade publishers, university presses, and in most recent years, faith-based publishing events.

We keep evolving . . . with a larger team, a clear focus to provide premium customer service, more marketing, and a new and improved www.CorePublishingSolutions.com website, current with the times, including video. Our plant continues to invest in the latest technologies for workflow, inkjet technologies, and offset presses. We are here for the long haul, to focus on what we do best . . . print books. Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall (yes, the seasons do get confused here!). And, we just don’t print them, we can warehouse and fulfill for you, too!

To really get an in-depth view of our capabilities, click here to be directed to our 2018 Guide to Book Manufacturing. It literally takes you through every department in our facility.

Just so you know I’m telling you the truth about our ability to survive, Here we are in full-living color!

Introduction

Publishers will have to contend with a continually changing paper industry in the 4th quarter of 2018 and into the foreseeable future. As a result, it will be more important than ever for publishers to be aware of those changes as they happen. It is a great opportunity for publishers to build a better relationship with their print partners by understanding what is happening in the paper market. Built from deep-rooted relationships with our experienced paper merchants, we communicate daily to receive industry reports and, paper data, all in real time with the market. There is a close eye kept on the market, using other credible sources to further educate and prepare ourselves for the uncertain future. We would love to share information that is received daily about the current paper industry and what is being done to support our partnerships.

State of the Industry

Due to the shutting down of several mills, there has been a significant decline in paper availability for both uncoated and coated paper due to the reduction in capacity in the North American market. These market capacity reductions place stress on the market by reducing paper availability and, creating challenges for printing companies to meet publisher demands. In fact, without a contract, finding paper can result in long wait times and some mills are having to refuse business due to the shortage. This trend is expected to continue well into 2019.

Over the course of the next six months and even into next year, the experts believe the industry will continue to see market pricing pressures. It is anticipated that there will be more machine conversions and consolidations in the paper industry. Fortunately, we forecast our needs far in advance to understand what will be needed to complete all our publishing partner’s jobs.

As the market shrinks, it is anticipated there being less paper options. Many of the color and finish options will be discontinued or phased out because of the reduced capacity in the market.

Statistics on the Current Market:

• Uncoated groundwood and uncoated freesheet demand increased 5.8% and 0.03%, respectively. Whereas coated groundwood and coated freesheet demand decreased by 5.3% and 10.2%, respectively.
• This equates to a 20% capacity reduction in coated freesheet capacity for 2018.
• Under these circumstances, Verso expects prices to raise 8.9% for coated freesheet and 9.8% for coated groundwood.
• Catalyst Paper has sold three of its locations to Nine Dragons, a Chinese company, for $175 million. However, Catalyst Paper still has several locations in Canada and a sales office that is in Seattle, Washington that are unaffected by the deal.
• With the recent acquisition of Catalyst by Nine Dragons, they now control 5.6% of the coated freesheet market, 36.2% of the coated groundwood market, and 16.2% of the uncoated groundwood market. Although it is unsure of their intentions, Nine Dragons may covert the machines to produce other paper, or transfer the pulp to another location.
  

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• Communicating you needs in advance, provides the best opportunity for us to ensure that we will secure the needed paper supply at the most competitive price available.
• Reading and understanding industry trends, we will better understand one another.
• View your printer as a partner – we’re here to work together for a common goal.
• Testing files with printers will help avoid costly reruns.
• Ask questions, be assertive – we’re here to provide solutions to your problems.
  

How Can We Help?

• We have long standing, 20+ year relationships with three mills who’ve endured the industry for over 60 years.
• Each day, we receive industry reports, paper data, all in real time with the market that helps us be proactive instead of reactive as the market changes.
• Thanks to our Make and Hold program with our vendors, we’re able to receive paper within two to three days for certain grades.
• We have a 1.3 million square foot manufacturing facility, and a substantial amount is allocated toward the storage of paper.

Conclusion

Market demand has decreased, availability is deficient, uncoated and especially coated paper has grown costly; however, these aspects of the industry are no match for the combination of our established relationships with paper merchants, experts within Thomson Reuters and our effectiveness in doing business. By working together, we believe that we can build a partnership by exceeding your expectations by getting you the paper you need and, producing superior quality books: All within your timeline and at a great price.

Thank you,

The Print Experts at Thomson Reuters Core Publishing Solutions