Graphic Communicator photos by Susan Zachem

Lewis Leung operates the Creo Trendsetter, the computer-to-plate system that he says allows for much faster prepress operations by eliminating film processing.

uebecor World Vancouver, a British Columbia 525M shop, is part of a printing industry giant but it doesn't lose sight of the individual – specifically individuals who subscribe to magazines and receive commercial catalogues and advertising packages.

Quebecor's plant on Marine Drive in Vancouver is a full service operation that produces publications beginning with copy and art to inkjetting individual addresses on bound issues. It also does commercial work, including catalogues, brochures, and advertising inserts.

Working on the Komori System 38 press at Quebecor World Vancouver is Joe Stroud, an executive board member of British Columbia 525M. At left is Local 525M Pres. Brian Cormier. At right is pressroom manager Stewart Brown.

Harch Kaila, left, and Leo Moniz work on a Stobb vertical stacker.

Karen Lumley, left, and Jeanne Murphy pack magazines for shipping.

Wayne Ketchell works on a Harris stitcher.

Karen Davis pulls a loader at Quebecor World Vancouver.

Quebecor World is the largest commercial printing operation in the world, with some $6.24 billion in revenues in 2002 and 40,000 employees in 160 printing and related facilities in 17 nations. Quebecor World was established as a result of the 1999 merger of Quebecor Printing and World Color Press.

The Vancouver plant started its life as Evergreen Press. It then became part of the Ronalds printing chain, which, in turn, was bought by Quebecor at the end of the 1980s.

To speed production and keep up with competitors, Quebecor has invested more than $15 million in new equipment for the plant since the start of the millennium, the company said.

According to a company statement, Quebecor World Vancouver is "dedicated to quality craftsmanship" delivered by the members of Local 525M. The company said it also takes pride in its "strong service capabilities" that include coordination and production for complex prepress, press, finishing, and distribution needs.

The Vancouver plant has a Komori System 38 eight-color, 32-page web press, as well as Harris M1000B presses that can run in tandem. Behind the presses are Harris 850 saddle stitchers that are equipped with Videojet systems to inkjet addresses, barcodes and other label information.

In prepress, the company has a state-of-the-art Creo Trendsetter digital computer-to-plate system that includes two plate processing phases to harden plates for runs up to two million. Lewis Leung, who works on the Creo system, said "it's a lot faster than conventional platemaking because there is no film to process."

John Wong, who preps files to go to the CTP system, said the company uses Creo's Prinergy workflow system to keep the process going smoothly from the Macintosh computers to the CTP system. "Everything is gearing toward PDF to generate for the Creo CTP system," he noted.

All of these investments in technology, coupled with Local 525M members' skills, have paid off to make the Vancouver facility a printing leader in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest in the United States, said plant manager Stewart Brown.

John Wong said he trained in manual stripping but now does the work digitally. Quebecor World Vancouver uses Macintosh computers and the Creo Prinergy system to smooth workflow.

Ken Viersen changes the web on a Harris press at Quebecor World in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Keith Grant, front, and Graham Reid work on a Harris M1000B five-color web press.