Jean-Luc Devis

Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 170 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.

When the National Association For Printing Leadership (NAPL) recently released its list of Management Plus Award winners, two in-plants were among the recipients. Portland General Electric’s Print & Automated Mail Services (PAMS) team received a Management Plus Gold Award, while Washington State Printing & Imaging, part of the state’s new Department of Enterprise Services, earned a Silver Award. 

Still one of the strongest parts of the in-plant industry, government in-plants are being challenged to get leaner and update their services. Our new survey of this sector shows an increasing number have added capabilities like wide-format printing, scanning/archiving, fulfillment and online ordering. They’re also doing more four-color printing and variable data to accommodate the increasing demand. 

At last month’s In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association conference in Charleston, Washington State Printer Jean-Luc Devis took to the stage under heavy applause to accept IPMA’s prestigious Management Award on behalf of the State of Washington’s Department of Printing (PRT). The award was especially satisfying for the 97-employee in-plant given the pressure it has been facing from politicians calling for its closure.

After months of hearings and name calling by senators pushing for its closure, the Washington State Department of Printing has been spared. But it won't be business as usual for the Tumwater, Wash.-based in-plant. It will be consolidated into the newly formed Department of Enterprise Services, along with other agencies. 

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