Editor’s note: A little more than a year after Web Press Corp. named Mark J. Ricca president and chief executive officer of the singlewide press vendor, the Kent, Wash., firm says it’s poised for some dramatic growth.

Here, Ricca discusses with Newspapers & Technology, plans he has to increase Web Press’ business. Among those plans is a development, scheduled to be announced at last month’s drupa, which could greatly accelerate Web Press’ penetration in the market.


Ricca
 

On Web Press’ sales strategy:

Ricca: Our sales are shifting. We’ve always had a heavy presence internationally and we’re putting a bigger emphasis on that market. International sales probably account for 60 percent of our business and with the Euro and pound both being strong and our equipment manufactured in the U.S., it makes our products very attractive to international buyers.

 

On the difference between domestic and international customers:

Ricca: In the United States, our customers are more newspaper-oriented and semi-commercial in nature, but internationally, we’re seeing a lot of interest among commercial printers. Even though our roots are in newspapers, we’re finding customers that print books and magazines. It shows the diversity of the Quad-Stack.

On the company’s recent personnel moves to promote Mike Collins to national sales manager, David Skaggs to vice president of manufacturing and Rick Guinn to senior vice president:

Ricca: All of our top management is now on the same page. This is the brain trust nucleus that will take us forward and position the company for future development, and, most of all, these people deserved the promotion. We are putting our best foot forward.

On his assessment of the market:

Ricca: Since I became president (in April 2007), we’ve been able to double our sales. I attribute this to fresh blood and to the new regime we’ve been able to put together. I’m still optimistic. Our equipment offers newspapers some of the best tools available to reduce waste and save money. Waste is below 500 copies, on average, so our customers are saving money by reducing waste.

On customers’ use of such value-added printing technologies as UV drying systems:

Ricca: They’re definitely interested, particularly overseas. We just finished a UV installation in Greece, and in Vietnam we have a customer that’s now UV and plans to migrate to heatset.

On customers’ demands:

Ricca: The No. 1 edict is to save paper, and the second, particularly overseas, is to comply with environmental standards. Printers are looking for ways to save money, save consumables and to conserve as much as possible. When you look at the Quad-Stack, (conservation) is one of its intangibles. You might not see it, but that is definitely one of the features that helps sell it.

On Web Press’ plans to grow its market:

Ricca: We are heavy into research and development. We are already in the semi-commercial market and we’re looking to move ahead more aggressively in the commercial market, and that will open us up to new business. Details to come, soon.