Milbourn Is Born Again at New Site
EASTLAKE, OH—Frank W. Milbourn, president of The Milbourn Pressworks, started his company on his dining room table. It was a short-lived arrangement. Even the sturdiest of tables can't support a printing press. So five years ago, he moved out of the dining room and into a 3,000-square-foot facility in Wickliffe, OH.
As The Milbourn Pressworks grew, the 3,000 square feet eventually began to feel as cramped as the table. Milbourn leased more space, growing to 6,500 square feet. Ultimately, however, that still wasn't enough.
"We couldn't provide new jobs," Milbourn says. "We couldn't add new equipment."
Since Milbourn had leased out all of the available space in the Wickliffe home, relocation was the only logical solution. Recently, that's just what the company did, vacating the Wickliffe facility and settling into a 20,000-square-foot plant here.
As part of this $2 million expansion, Milbourn invested in plant improvements and new equipment. The company installed a five-color, half-size Komori sheetfed press, which joins Milbourn's two other half-size Komoris—both two-color presses. Milbourn also bulked up its bindery with a new folder, saddle binder and cutter.
Rounding out the new installations is a four-color, 60˝ Encad plotter. Wide-format printing has been a lucrative profit niche for Milbourn for years, and the new Encad illustrates the company's commitment to this market.
According to Milbourn, very few sheetfed printing companies offers wide-format services—all the more reason to grow this segment of the business. "It gives us a nice sales advantage," he says.
In addition to providing room for new equipment, the larger facility has given Milbourn room for something of arguably greater importance: staff. The Milbourn Pressworks currently employs 27 workers who provide promotional printing for Fortune 500 companies and ad agencies. Over the course of the next three to five years, Milbourn hopes to increase this work force to 50 employees. At the same, he hopes to grow other aspects of his business. Eastlake was a good place to start.
"Our investment in a larger and more efficient facility, new production equipment and more employees will allow us to expand our reputation for responsiveness, reliability and attentiveness to details," Milbourn says. "This consistent growth gives us additional means with which to deliver the quality our customers expect and the value they deserve."
By Jerry Janda