GRAND RAPIDS, MI—Gilson Graphics has purchased certain assets of Integra Inc., creating a company with projected annual sales of $30 million. Gilson is now able to offer its customers products and services such as offset and digital printing (including large formats), perfect binding, UV coating, aqueous coating and diecutting. Creative and mailing services are among the other capabilities garnered in the acquisition.
MONTREAL—Transcontinental Inc. has acquired Conversys Inc., a Canadian print-to-Web provider that specializes in the seamless transformation of print marketing materials such as flyers and catalogs into rich, interactive Web content that is user-friendly and brand-consistent across multiple channels. The acquisition complements Transcontinental's existing print and interactive communications offering to major retailers.
HILLSBOROUGH, NJ—East Coast Media, based here, has merged with The Printing Co., of North Brunswick, NJ. The combined company will operate under the East Coast Media name. East Coast Media provides large-format printing, digital duplication, binding and mailing services, as well as graphic and Website design. The Printing Co. specializes in commercial printing, promotional products and forms.
WAUKEGAN, IL—The Visual Pak Cos., based here, has completed a deal to acquire Norka Inc., of Appleton, WI. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Norka will continue to operate in its Appleton facility and will provide Visual Pak with specialty packaging, commercial printing and custom paper conversion.
HOLLYWOOD, FL—Wayne Angstrom, chairman and CEO of St Ives U.S., is heading the management-led buyout of the division from St Ives plc of London. The deal is valued at $39 million, of which $34 million in cash will be paid upon completion. The consideration also includes a $5 million secured promissory note. The deal is expected to be completed January 21.
FARGO, ND—Knight, the parent company of Knight Printing, announced it has acquired Cook Sign, also of Fargo, the Bismarck Tribune reported. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The combined company will have more than 110 employees. Knight CEO Rich Slagle told the paper that the deal allows the companies to expand their products for new clients.
Two trusted names in the graphic communications industry – Clifton-based Premium Color Graphics, Inc. and Carlstadt-based Hand Pack, Inc – have merged to form Premium Color Group LLC (www.premiumcolor.com). The merger was the logical evolution of an alliance going back over eight years. All three principles, Mark Fitzgerald and John Watson of Premium Color Graphics and Andrew Griffin of Hand Pack, are Managing Partners of the new Premium Color Group.
RR Donnelley is consolidating the assets of its Minnesota plants in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen under one roof in order to reduce cycle times and minimize handoffs between facilities. The workflow will be re-engineered in a newly configured footprint at Chanhassen, allowing the printer to better meet customers’ transactional marketing communications needs in major metropolitan areas.
CHICAGO—RR Donnelley is consolidating the assets of its Minnesota plants in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen under one roof in order to reduce cycle times and minimize handoffs between facilities. The workflow will be re-engineered in the newly configured footprint at Chanhassen, allowing the printer to better meet customers' transactional marketing communications needs in major metropolitan areas. The Chanhassen facility is expected to be fully integrated and operational early next year.
TSK Names HBSI as U.S. Distributor PLAINFIELD, IN—TSK (Tokyo Shuppan Machinery) and TSK America announce the appointment of Hines Bindery Systems (HBSI), based here, as the exclusive U.S. and Canadian distributor of TSK’s line of perfect binders, gathering machines, tipping systems and three-knife trimmers. The firm’s “flagship” adhesive binders are the TMA-18, TMA-21 and TMA-24, rated at up to 10,000 books per hour. TSK also provides proprietary sensors, monitors and quality-control devices for its gatherers and binders, and for retrofitting to existing systems. According to TSK officials, HBSI was selected as the company’s exclusive distributor in the United States and Canada due to its
