Printing Companies Expand, or Close - Changing market drives printing operations to retool, expand or disband

1/22/2010
On the plus side of the business ledger is Original Smith Printing (OSP), the high-end Bloomington, IL commercial printing unit of Taylor Corp., advertising in the current issue of Graphic Arts Monthly for three new press operators for its plant and two new salesman for its Chicago area operations. Original Smith Printing embarked on an aggressive $15 million expansion program in 2008, growing its plant 50% to about 150,000 sq.ft. and adding new equipment.

AVID Ink, a Corona, CA printing operation specializing in high volume dye sublimation reproduction and transfer to the hot-selling T-Shirt and garment market, added a 5-color 64" KBA Rapida in its new 110,000 sq.ft. plant.

Others are not faring as well, as local media reports from around the country see printing shops closing during one of the worst downturns ever. Cardinal Press, a second-generation, 17-employee firm in Fredericksburg, VA, closed last week after 30 years in business. Likewise for Allegra Print & Imaging, after operating 27 years in Statesville, NC. And Accell Graphics, London, ON, will close, according to printcan.com. The announcement comes following the sudden death of owner Warner Tenkate, 48, in December.

One operation's downturn is certain to open opportunities for commercial printers. The 2,000-employee Mercy Medical Center, Sioux City, IA, says it plans to disband its eight-person inplant printing shop in March. Offiicials there say they are seeking outside providers for printing services.