NEWS RELEASE

VICTOR GRAPHICS BEEFS UP CAPABILITIES WITH TWO PRESSES

March 18th, 2004

New Sheetfed and Web Presses Will Significantly Improve Quality and Turnaround Times at Baltimore Book Printer

Baltimore, MD – Victor Graphics, a book manufacturing services company located here, has recently purchased one sheetfed and one web press, significantly expanding the company’s capabilities.

The sheetfed press is a five-color, 29” Heidelberg Speedmaster 74. It includes automatic plate hanging and blanket washing, chilled rollers for improved color consistency, and an automated makeready console. The Speedmaster 74 replaces a four-color press at Victor Graphics, and will be used to print high-quality covers for the company’s publishing clients. Installation was completed in February of this year.

“This press represents a significant step forward in our cover printing capabilities,” said David Gischel, VP of Manufacturing at Victor Graphics. “It allows us to offer our customers better, more consistent print quality, as well as faster turnaround times.”

Victor Graphics has also purchased a Timsons T48A heatset web press, which will become the company’s third heatset web. The Timson press features a large 53” x 39” cutoff size, allowing customers to use more efficient 32-, 48- and 64-page layout formats. It also features inline notch binding and signature bursting for improved quality and easier handling of signatures. Installation is expected to completed later this year.

“The addition of this new web press will increase our capacity and allow us to hit more aggressive schedules with our customers,” said Gischel.

“Both of these installations represent a positive step forward in the level of service we offer our customers,” said Tom H. Hicks, President. “The result is a better overall production experience: improved quality and turnaround times and more competitive scheduling and pricing. Our customers also know they can still expect the personal attention to detail for which Victor Graphics is known.”

About Victor Graphics:
Established in 1983, Victor Graphics is a full-service printer and book manufacturer located in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to complete printing and binding capabilities, Victor Graphics offers ancillary services including CD-ROM production, creative design, storage, fulfillment and mailing. For additional information about Victor Graphics, please contact Thomas H. Hicks at (410) 233-8300.