Dallas Stalwart Williamson Joins Quad Fold
SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics Inc. has purchased Dallas-based Williamson Printing, a full-service commercial and specialty products printer specializing in short- to medium-run catalogs, case-bound books, direct mail and other promotional products. The acquisition expands Quad’s U.S. network of commercial and specialty printing facilities to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, home to one of the largest concentrations of corporate headquarters in the United States.
Jesse Williamson, president of Williamson Printing, will continue in his leadership role with the new QuadWilliamson. His brother, Jerry, chairman and CEO of Williamson Printing, will serve as an advisor before retiring in the near future, at a date yet to be determined.
“Williamson is an exceptional printing company with a long list of regional and national clients,” said Joel Quadracci, chairman, president and CEO of Quad/Graphics. “It has a superior reputation for quality, service and innovation, and its experience and success in growing its commercial and specialty printing business will complement our own growth plans for that segment.”
Williamson’s two Dallas facilities will join Quad/Graphics’ Commercial & Specialty group, which also operates facilities in Burlington, Menomonee Falls and New Berlin, WI; Enfield, CT; and Leominster, MA. The group provides publishers, marketers and retailers with specialized print products and services, including specialty books, catalogs and directories; marketing collateral; print-on-demand custom publications; specialty binding; and mailing and fulfillment.
Craig Faust, president of Quad/Graphics’ Commercial & Specialty group, notes Williamson is part of an ongoing plan to grow commercial and specialty printing services. “Through strategic investments in technology and capabilities, we’re building a more complete, innovative and cost-effective platform for our clients while maintaining the high level of personal interaction and service they expect,” he said.
Jesse Williamson believes Quad/Graphics’ financial strength and stability plus a mutual commitment to innovation and service excellence will produce a winning combination. “We’re both innovative printers at heart, and we’re passionate about print’s crucial role in today’s multimedia landscape. The combined QuadWilliamson brand will create more value and more solutions for more clients.”
Langley to Obtain manroland Sheetfed Division
AUGSBURG, GERMANY—The sheetfed business of manroland AG will be taken over by privately owned British engineering group Langley Holdings. The deal includes the sheetfed printing equipment division, its production facilities (including all real estate in Offenbach) and the international marketing organization active in more than 40 countries.
“I am very pleased with the solution which will provide a long-term perspective to the Offenbach location and the sheetfed printing business,” said Werner Schneider, insolvency administrator. Roughly 840 employees in Offenbach will be retained according to the present staff planning. In addition, Langley takes over the international marketing organization.
“We foresee very good economic prospects for manroland sheetfed following the recent re-structuring,” said Tony Langley, the group's lone shareholder. “This is a world-class business with an excellent reputation and its production and research & development facilities are superb; everything one expects of the very best of German engineering.”
Langley currently operates two technology divisions in Germany in the field of capital equipment—the Piller Group and Claudius Peters Group. In 2011, Langley Holdings achieved revenues of approximately US$655.8 million.
Cenveo to Sell Forms, Documents Divisions to Ennis
STAMFORD, CT—Cenveo Inc. has agreed to sell its Forms and Business Documents Group to Ennis Inc., a manufacturer of printed business products and apparel headquartered in Midlothian, TX. The divestiture of the group, including the Printegra and PrintXcel brands, to Ennis is expected to better position that business for continued growth and success.
The sale is expected to close this month. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
According to Ennis, the combined sales of PrintXcel and Printegra total approximately $80 million annually. The PrintXcel facilities are located in Visalia, CA; Toledo, OH; Clarkesville, TN and Fairhope, AL. The Printegra facilities are located in Livermore, CA; Arlington, TX; Smyrna, GA; Indianapolis; Fairport, NY; and Greensboro, NC, with a sales office in Jaffrey, NH. Trade liabilities were assumed in the transactions.
The operations will continue to operate under their respective trade names of PrintXcel and Printegra. Ennis will continue to manufacture and market the pressure seal product line under the VersaSeal brand name. The acquisition will also expand the Ennis’ high-color commercial printing capabilities and business check product lines, which will continue to be sold through the company's 40,000-plus independent distributor network.
Substantially all of PrintXcel’s and Printegra’s employees will be offered positions with Ennis’ new operation. Customers can continue contacting all of the locations under the same methods. No changes to the day-to-day operations are expected to be made.
Indexx Purchases Assets of Crowson Stone Printing
GREENVILLE, SC—Indexx, an integrated communications company specializing in printing, marketing, publishing and fulfillment solutions, is expanding its services in the Columbia market following the assets purchase of Crowson Stone Printing.
The purchase consolidates the equipment and offerings of the two businesses and grants Midlands customers the benefits of Indexx’s technology and solid growth. The deal maintains Crowson Stone’s South Carolina ownership and location.
Day-to-day operations at Crowson Stone will continue without interruption as the details of the transfer take place. No layoffs are anticipated.
“Our acquisition of Crowson Stone consolidates our regional printing and communications capabilities," said Jordan Finn, Indexx owner and president. "Not only do we boost the capacity of commercial printing in general, but we also bring Indexx’s strengths in digital printing, cross-media campaigns, fulfillment provisions and Web-to-Print services to the Midlands.
“We’re thrilled to build on Crowson Stone’s excellent reputation and further develop the relationships they’ve established. We take very seriously our commitment to quality products delivered on time as promised, and we’re well-prepared to showcase our enhanced services in the Columbia area.”
PrintingForLess.com Looking to Grow Via Acquisition
LIVINGSTON, MT—E-commerce printing specialist PrintingForLess.com (PFL) has retained the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) to assist in its growth-by-acquisition program.
“We engaged NAPL because of its expertise in merger and acquisitions in the printing and graphic communications industry,” said Andrew Field, PFL CEO.
PFL is seeking additional revenue growth through the acquisition of select companies with strong customer relationships among small business users of sheetfed or digital printing, as well as mailing and fulfillment. In 1999, PFL reportedly launched the first U.S. e-commerce site for full-line commercial printing.
Newspaper Employee Arrested for Stealing Press Parts
AUBURN, NY—A mailroom employee at The Citizen newspaper here has been arrested for allegedly stealing nearly $5,000 worth of parts and plates from the company's printing press, The Post-Standard reported.
Eric Jones, 21, was charged with third-degree grand larceny after allegedly swiping $4,900 in parts and plates. He was spotted by police outside a local auto parts business loading rolls of chain link fence into his truck, the newspaper said.
A subsequent search of Jones' truck produced a motor, rollers and hundreds of press plates. Jones told police he had stayed late after work on Sunday night to take the parts.
According to The Post-Standard, he was also charged with petit larceny and trespassing at the auto shop.