First Edge Solutions Acquires Print1 Direct to Enhance Its National Network
MILWAUKEE, WI—March 1, 2012—First Edge Solutions has acquired Print1 Direct, an Atlanta-based provider of print-on-demand, direct marketing, and document output services. With a growing national network of sales offices in San Diego, Chicago and New York and production facilities in Milwaukee, Phoenix, and now Atlanta, First Edge has become one of the top companies in the country able to affordably roll out a client’s multichannel national distribution strategy.
“The expansion creates opportunity in a challenging market and better positions us to negotiate national contracts with suppliers to drive down costs for customers,” said First Edge President and CEO Robert M. Kraft. “The acquisition combats the shipping challenge that comes with national distribution as gas and oil prices continue to rise, and we can help our fortune 1000 to mid-size clients reduce national supply chain management costs. Strategically, this gives us a competitive advantage of a national production platform, along with a healthy roster of clients.”
Integrating into First Edge
One thing that attracted First Edge to Print1 Direct was the strength of its management, and those leaders will continue to help drive the company. Print1 Direct owner Bob Irvin has been named senior vice president of First Edge’s new southeast region.
“It’s a case of two plus two equals five,” said Kraft. “They have a first-class print facility with good clients, and we’ll add value to their operation with our proprietary software, processes and technology. As a multichannel expert, First Edge is especially strong in applying our data management discipline and skills to both marketing and business-critical applications.
“From an IT standpoint, by the end of Q1, we will have upgraded our new facility to theHIPAA/PHI standards that operate across our platform. With a unified platform, their customer base can immediately benefit from First Edge services and innovations such as Ordernet.com (proprietary Web-to-print platform), eGencee.com (proprietary e-commerce direct marketing platform), FE Agency (full service marketing agency), and Meet-Meme.com (proprietary social media platform).”
Cross-country Job Routing and Workload Optimization
According to Kraft, “The redundancy is ideal from the standpoint of capacity management and utilization. We can optimize multiple shifts across production facilities in Milwaukee, Phoenix and now Atlanta. As a result, we can offer the best distribution costs and plant capacity utilization. It’s also important for our quality standards, because if there is ever an interruption at one of our facilities, such as from bad weather for example, we can route work through the other sites and ensure we make every drop date.”
It’s About Data, Not Print
“With its own software and programmers, First Edge is driven by IT and not what’s on the plant floor, and that’s exciting to our employees,” said Bob Irvin. “Our team is eager to move forward with the technology integration. Adding the data management component gives us the ability to take our services to a new level.”
About Print1 Direct
Based in Marietta, GA, Print1 Direct has been the winner of many "Best of Category" awards from the Printing Industry Association of Georgia over the years. The company was started in 1986, providing desktop publishing services using first generation Macintosh computers, offset printing and copying. In the ’90s, they installed their first color copier and a DocuTech 135, and focused on bringing print on demand technology to clients. Since that time, they have continued with steady growth and innovation. Print1 Direct uses the latest in digital and offset printing to offer a wide range of printed products and services.
About First Edge Solutions
First Edge Solutions delivers innovative multi-channel communication, marketing, print and document management services. One of the largest digital print communication firms in Wisconsin, Arizona and now Georgia, the company started in April of 2003 and has experienced a steady growth rate year after year. Today, First Edge has production facilities in Milwaukee, Phoenix, and now Atlanta with sales offices in San Diego, Chicago, and New York. First Edge focuses on providing clients with innovative, cost-effective solutions using a strong technology foundation. Those technology solutions can be applied to web, email, mobile, social media, digital print, traditional offset print, mailing, fulfillment, and distribution services.
Source: First Edge Solutions.