Gilson Graphics

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Gilson Graphics, Inc.
Company typePrivate company
IndustryPrinting
FoundedMichigan, United States (June 6, 1948, as Gilson Press, Inc.)
Headquarters
2000 Oak Industrial Ave., Grand Rapids, Michigan
Number of employees
170
WebsiteGilsonGraphics.com

Gilson Graphics, Inc. is a commercial printing company in

Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since its incorporation, Gilson Graphics has acquired selected assets of Knickerbocker Press, National Correct Color, Axis Digital Print and Imaging, Photolith, Commercial Printing Co., Hastings Press, and Integra Printing, Inc. Founded as Gilson Press Inc. in 1948 by Lars Gilson, the business now runs two locations in Grand Rapids and also operates a composition department in Atlantic, Iowa. Subsidiaries of the company include North Star Teacher Resources (which produces and distributes educational material) and Ignition New Media Workshop (which handles multimedia and programming). The company is one of the largest printing companies in Grand Rapids.[1]

History

Grand Rapids has a rich

letterpress printer Dependable Printing, renamed it Gilson Press, and invested in new technology to supplement the existing equipment.[3]

As

lithographic offset press in 1952. Construction of federal highway U.S. Route 131
in 1957 caused Gilson Press to relocate to 631 North Avenue, which is the current location of their print production department.

In 1974, Lars Gilson's oldest son, David, joined the company and four years later his second son, Mark, became an employee as well.

floppies regardless of what dedicated word processor was originally used; the first printer in Michigan to offer this service.[5] That same year Lars Gilson's youngest son Chris entered the business, creating a family business where all three sons worked for their father's company.[4]

In 1985, Gilson installed the Xyvision graphics system (precursor to

XML Professional Publisher), becoming the second in the United States to do so.[4]

In 1991, the company decided to change their name to Gilson Graphics, Inc., to reflect new capabilities as the company moved from a printing company that relied on outside sources for certain steps to one able to deliver all components of the reproduction process under one roof.[5] In 1993, the company implemented an Iris printer and installed a Dolev 800 for large format output. In 1995, Gilson Graphics was selected as one of three sites in the United States for installation of the Doplate 800 and imposition workstations to drive both the Dolev and Doplate.[3] These additions made the business the first printer in Michigan and the second in the United States with Computer to plate (CTP) workflow.[4]

Commercial Printing Co.

In 2001, Gilson Graphics expanded prepress, layout, and design capabilities by purchasing selected

Addy Awards, led to the addition of Ignition, a division within Gilson Graphics that offers multimedia services.[8] In early 2009, Gilson Graphics also purchased selected assets of Integra Printing, Inc., adding about 70 employees as well as a new headquarters.[9] This move expanded the company's capabilities with offset and digital printing and created a Fulfillment and Mailing Services department, altogether nearly doubling sales revenue.[10] Most recently, Gilson Graphics became the first company in North America to install Fujifilm's new J-Press 720 system, a high quality sheet-fed inkjet press.[11][12]

Awards and recognitions

Gilson Graphics won the 1996 Beckett Papers’ award for excellence, placing top among international entrants. In total, ten awards were given, only two of which went to U.S. companies. The winning project was produced for the Grand Rapids Children's Museum.

In 1998, Gilson Graphics won the Gold Award as North America's Printer of the Year from Sappi Inc., the world's largest papermaker. The ceremony, held in Washington D.C., awarded six printing companies in North America in individual categories. Gilson Graphics won the catalog category as judges considered the overall impact of the piece, degree of difficulty, and technical excellence.[13] Gilson Graphics was one of the first in the world to implement CTP technology, and the only company among 3,000 entrants to use it in the competition.[4] Gilson Graphics then went on to the international competition in Monte Carlo, where they competed against other award winners from Europe and South Africa for the International Printer of the Year honors.[4]

Each year since 2009, the

trade journal Printing Impressions has named Gilson Graphics as one of the Top 400 printers throughout the United States and Canada.[14][15][16][17][18]

See also

  • Photolith

References

  1. ^ "New Focus: Gilson Press Has New Equipment and a New Name." The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, MI) (January 30, 1991): D5. Grand Rapids Press.
  2. ^ Cassard, Mary. "Area Print Shops Booming." Grand Rapids Business Journal. Grand Rapids: January 12, 1987. Vol. 5, Iss. 2; Sec. 2. pg. P
  3. ^ a b c Aylsworth, Karen. "Gilson Surges on Techno Roller Coaster." Grand Rapids Business Journal. Grand Rapids: January 20, 1997. Vol. 15, Iss. 3; pg. B1
  4. ^ a b c d e f McKeown, Karen. "David Gilson: Inside Track." Grand Rapids Business Journal. Grand Rapids: June 15, 1998. Vol. 16, Iss. 24; pg. 5
  5. ^ a b Luymes, Robin. "Gilson Changes in Place." Grand Rapids Business Journal 9, no. 8 (1991): 3.
  6. ^ Aylsworth, Karen. "Craig Lampani: Inside track." Grand Rapids Business Journal 15 (1997): 5.
  7. ^ "Risky business to brisk business." The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, MI) (June 10, 2003): B8. Grand Rapids Press.
  8. ^ "Three West Michigan agencies capture Addy awards." The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, MI) (June 21, 2001): A23. Grand Rapids Press.
  9. ^ "Gilson Graphics Acquires Certain Assets of Integra --PI News". Printing Impressions. February 9, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  10. ^ "Gilson Bolsters Capabilities with Acquisition". Printing Impressions. February 13, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  11. ^ Skotzko, Stacey. "J Press 720 Moves Beyond the Showroom". WhatTheyThink.
  12. ^ Putting a Face on a Printing Firm
  13. ^ Ducey, Michael. "Six Printers Win Top Awards." Graphic Arts Monthly 70 (1998): 83.
  14. ^ The 2009 Printing Impressions 400
  15. ^ The 2010 Printing Impressions 400
  16. ^ The 2011 Printing Impressions 400
  17. ^ The 2012 Printing Impressions 400
  18. ^ The 2013 Printing Impressions 400

External links

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