CLASSIC GRAPHICS -- Against the Odds

Keeping Covered
The company made the decision to switch to DYC/Kinyo printing blankets from DYC Supply for its Heidelberg presses not only because DYC could provide the reliability and the quality that Classic Graphics demands, but because DYC could also offer the cost-savings they needed, reveals LeVan.

"In one year we saw a cost-savings of 30 percent, just by switching to DYC blankets. Plus, we are still achieving the reliability, the durability and the print quality that we need," reports LeVan.

The reason for Classic's cost-savings is due to the fact that DYC's blankets are engineered to run longer, thus reducing the number of blankets that LeVan must order over the course of the year.

"We've been very pleased with the blankets' performance on-press," he states.

While Classic has enjoyed financial success, it has also enjoyed regional and national acclaim for its ability to produce high-quality sheetfed promotional materials. The printer annually brings home PICA and PIA Premier Print awards, including two "Benny Awards" this year alone.

Classic Graphics has also been honored by the PIA as one of the best workplaces in the industry. "Our workers love to do good work. When vendors and clients come into the shop, they tell us that it is abundantly clear that our employees like coming to work. I know it's cliche to say, but it is true: if you don't have good employees, then you don't have a good company," Pitts states.

With a sound investment in equipment and a strong commitment to its staff, the printer seems well-positioned to enter the next phase of its history. Pitts sees a future where Classic Graphics—already the third largest printer in Charlotte—will eventually take its place as a regional player.

"We are looking to expand our client base up and down the East Coast." It's a move Classic Graphics appears ready to make.