C&S Press: Service With a Savings

The printer also tapped Heidelberg recently for two new platesetters, a (four-up) Prosetter 74 and an (eight-up) Prosetter 102. Ellis likes to point out that once the platesetters were calibrated to the shop's other equipment, they were "locked in" and didn't require recalibration. The new gear has improved dot gain and less chemistry is required to operate the new computer-to-plate devices.

Ellis sees plenty of opportunity for C&S Press to expand its base. Despite doing business in Mickey Mouse's ZIP code, the company churns out little work for the tourism industry. Large corporations will likely continue to be the printer's bread and butter, but a plant expansion (the company currently occupies a 25,000-square-foot facility) and an additional, larger Anicolor press could go a long way toward pushing C&S past the $10 million mark in annual sales.

"Our Anicolor press has helped us to get in the door of (customers) we haven't been able to reach for the past 10 years," Ellis says. "It will help us grow our company."

In a distressed economy, Ellis points to the higher comfort level from maintaining a low debt ratio. It's a change of pace in an era of over-leveraged businesses that find themselves teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

Still, the printer will continue to pursue newer technologies in ?order to stay on top of its game.

Regardless of the technologies C&S Press adds, or any different markets and products the company decides to pursue, its cornerstone value will continue to be its complimentary sample of house wine.

"I've had some people say, 'You make me feel like I'm the only client you have.' That's the kind of attention we give them," Tantillo remarks. "Our employees exemplify the Total Client Commitment mindset, working with a tremendous amount of pride and professionalism. And we have one of the best managers in the business, Tony Barongi. Tony and the employees are a big part of why we have reached our goals." PI