Müller Martini Users Group Conference

Jere Moter recaps the 2008 Conference in Kalamazoo, MI

(Vancouver, B.C. - 5/21/08) As you are aware, Steen Andersen and I travelled to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to attend the 2008 MMA Users Group conference (formerly the GMA Users Group). This report will summarize our activities at the conference.

In the "old days" a users group meeting meant a golf tournament, drinking with old buddies at the bar, and generally having a good time, and the agenda was pretty much dictated by the vendor and included a strong sales pitch for new equipment. Today, the users group meeting is all about business and saving the newspapers money. New equipment is discussed, but the emphasis is on running the mailroom as efficiently as possible within cost constraints.

The MMA Users Group conference was hosted by the Kalamazoo Gazette at the Radisson Plaza Hotel. There were approximately 90 participants representing 35 newspaper properties plus an additional 13 vendors and their representatives. Müller Martini Mailroom Systems (formerly GMA) and Müller Martini Canada were both represented at the conference. Due to the long holiday weekend, Steen and I were the only Canadian newspaper representatives.

The conference took place from Thursday morning through Saturday evening, encompassing general newspaper industry topics and specific equipment-related breakout sessions. The Kalamazoo Gazette hosted a tour of their plant plus an SLS3000 Inserter hands-on training session (this could apply to our future inserter control system). The SLS2000 breakout session took place for the better part of Thursday and directly related to the problems in pockets and finger cams that we have experienced (along with gripper chain replacement). We had the opportunity to discuss these problems with other newspapers and with the MMMS customer service and manufacturing staff, comparing notes and trading suggestions and experiences. In addition, we discovered in the meetings that MMMS has a new type of NewsGrip conveyor sprocket that has replaceable gear teeth, saving considerable labor and materials cost for changing out or flipping the sprockets in our four NewsGrip conveyors. The savings in the sprockets will easily overshadow the cost of sending the two of us to this year’s Users Group meeting.

I attended a few Users Group meetings a long time ago while I was still with GMA. I am truly impressed by the way that the MMA Users Group has matured and become a very professional, self-sustaining industry group that is no longer controlled by Müller Martini. In the same vein, I am quite impressed by the way that Müller Martini Mailroom Systems has reinvented itself over the past several years to increase its level of professionalism and its commitment to customers. Prior to the meeting I had contacted Müller Martini Canada to schedule a review of our upcoming needs in Post Press:

  • updating the inserter Lincs computer system;
  • updating the BDS computer system and controls cabinets; and
  • modifying the Counts software to accommodate communications among Counts, Lincs, and RIC units.

Steen and I met with Gary Hughes (MMCA president), Cyndie Crysler (sales rep), Brian Simkin (tech rep.), and Beat Loop (MMMS customer service director) to discuss these topics and to review our needs and expectations. Müller Martini and MMMS will work together to provide budgetary ballpark quotations for each of the areas of interest so that we can review the costs and time frames associated with each of the modifications, and so that we can prepare capital equipment expenditure requests. Preliminary discussions indicate that the cost of upgrading the inserter Lincs computer and software to Windows XP Pro will be significantly less than proposed several years ago.

During the conference we discussed numerous devices and services available to help us maintain our older equipment (manufactured 11 years ago). For example, there is a stiffener kit available for the drive section of the SLS2000 to prevent the side wall from buckling when there is a major jam. (This happened to us about two years ago.) There is an inserter audit by MMMS available to inspect all the wear points within the SLS2000 to identify areas requiring servicing. (I would propose having this done on one of our inserters by our own people and supervised by the MMMS technician. We would then do the remaining machines on our own.) Müller Martini has a device for the NewsGrip conveyor that measures conveyor chain stretch and detects missing rollers. Small product feeders have become popular with the other newspapers. The list goes on and on.

We also discussed the problems involved with reducing web widths - all the way down to 44 inches – with MMMS and the other newspapers at the conference. One thing we learned is that we may not have to purchase all new pockets for the inserters if we go down to a 44 inch web width: this is a significant saving over what we had projected for the inserters.

In summary, the MMA Users Group membership and conference was well worth the membership fee, conference registration, and travel expenses (a total of approximately $3100 for two people). As our machinery and control systems in Post Press age there are new points of wear and control system components become obsolete and no longer available. The purpose of the Users Group is to discuss among ourselves what to look out for, how to deal with the problems, and what our vendors have available to help us. The result is that our equipment runs better, it is better maintained, there is less downtime, and the newspaper gets the best return on its investment.

The 2009 MMA Users Group conference will be held in Mobile, Alabama.

Jere Moter
Pacific Newspaper Group
KH Post Press Engineering

KALAMAZOO CONFERENCE PHOTOS:

Wednesday, May 14th | Thursday, May 15th | Friday, May 16th | Saturday, May 17th

MMA Users Group Celebrates 20 Years Strong!

Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc. • press release - June 2008

MMMS' Derek Marushak leads the hands on training session at the Kalamazoo Gazette.

(Allentown, PA - 5/20/08) – 20 years strong and still going! With over 130 attendees, the MMA Users Group continues its success two (2) decades after its inception.

For the last 20 years, the MMA Users Group has been one of the post-press industries premier events and this year was no different. The MMA Users Group celebrated its 20th Anniversary in Kalamazoo, MI where the Kalamazoo Gazette graciously hosted the educational event with style and class. As always, Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc. (MMMS) proudly supported the event once again and helped make the event just as special as the first.

2007 – 2008 MMA Users Group President Charlie Brown stated “The Kalamazoo Gazette was the perfect host for this year’s MMA Users Group. Their innovative outlook on post-press production complimented our theme of “Leading Change.” They showed tremendous hospitality towards our attendees and their “hands-on training session” in their mailroom was unprecedented.”

Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell, MMMS’ President and CEO Amrish Thaker and Keynote Speaker Brad Black of HumaneX (President and Managing Director) each addressed the crowd on the first day of the event touching on the conferences theme of “Leading Change.” Each provided a unique glimpse into the future of the newspaper industry and how you can meet the demands of the ever changing landscape.

Also, speaking and supporting at the MMA Users Group for the third consecutive year was Craig Desens, Chief Development Officer of NSA Media. NSA Media is recognized as the largest newspaper planning and buying agency in the United States and places over $1.6 billion in advertising for more than 40 clients. Charlie Brown expressed his sincere thanks by saying, “Over the past three years, Craig has played a vital role in presenting important information to our MMA Users Group attendees. His personality and knowledge in our management track make him enjoyable each year. The board would like to thank him for his support of the conference and for being such a good friend of the MMA Users Group.”

Tapping the resources of its highly skilled and professional staff, MMMS provided instruction and demonstrations on proven operating methods and equipment enhancements that directly affect mailrooms productivity. These breakout sessions included SLS1000, SLS2000, SLS3000, the AlphaLiner and SAM (Production Planning and Control System).

The conference was capped off and concluded with a hands-on training session at the Kalamazoo Gazette and an evening dinner sponsored by MMMS. At the dinner, the MMA Users Group announced its new President for 2009 – 2010 term, Todd Griffith from Color Web Printers in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Incoming President, Todd Griffith expressed his thanks and excitement by saying, “Thanks to everyone who attended the 2008 conference, it was truly a spectacular way to celebrate our 20th Anniversary!”

Mr. Griffith continued “The 2009 MMA Board of Directors are already hard at work planning the 2009 conference to be held in Mobile, AL. There is a lot of planning and preparation that goes into each MMA Users Group Conference. We look forward to building off of the challenges from each conference and turning them into successes, so we can best serve our peers. Personally, I am proud and humbled to be able to serve on the board and be part of such a strong family.”

With 20 years in the books, the MMA Users Group turns its attention to the next 20… See you in Mobile!

Outgoing MMA Users Group President, Charlie Brown (left) receives a gift of appreciation for his work over the past two years from incoming MMA Users Group President, Todd Griffith, as other Board Members look on.

About Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc.

Through more than 30 years of existence, Muller Martini Mailroom Systems has established itself as the leader in integrated inserting solutions, and as a major supplier of high-speed inserters, press conveyors, mailroom auxiliary equipment, and production system software. Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc. (formerly Graphic Management Associates, Inc. or GMA), delivers integrated technology that organizes, manages, monitors, and processes packaging/distribution operations from the press to the delivery ramp.

About Muller Martini

Muller Martini Switzerland is the world’s largest producer of print finishing solutions for book and commercial printers, trade binderies, and newspapers, as well as short-run and digital book manufacturers. Muller Martini is also the world market-leading manufacturer of variable-size web offset presses. The company is the foremost provider of innovative workflow solutions that can empower printers and binding specialists to enhance processing efficiencies, increase profitability, and build new revenue streams.

Media Contact

Matthew McKittrick
Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc.
4444 Innovation Way
Allentown, PA 18109
610-266-7084
matthew.mckittrick@mullermartinims.com
www.mullermartinims.com

Click here for a PDF version of this press release.

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