The Industry Turns in the Right Direction

Despite a tight year, future indications look hopeful for printed products.

Transcontinental is no longer reporting its sales in the independent segment of the printed products industry. The company's departure cuts the Top 100 revenue figures almost in half. Removing Transcontinental's sales of $2 billion from last year's numbers shows a drop in Top 100 sales of three percent or $90 million to $2.78 billion.

But, Transcontinental is not the only change in this year's Top 100 Manufacturers list. Calibrated Forms is now part of Ennis Business Forms, propelling Ennis to the top of the charts with sales of $240.8 million, just ahead of PrintXcel, which reported sales of $240 million. GBF Graphics was acquired by Crabar/Witt to form Crabar/GBF, the latest company to reach $100 million in sales.

Another change this year was the creation of UnigraphicsUSA, an alliance of nine manufacturers with combined sales of $166.6 million. These manufacturers include Wright Business Graphics, The Flesh Company, New Jersey Business Forms, B&D Litho, Woodbury Business Forms, Printgraphics, Specialized Printed Forms, Skyline Business Forms and Superior Business Associates. While individual members of the group remain independent, the group hopes to take advantage of its size with combined marketing programs, national coverage and combined buying power. (See related story on page 8.)

Facts and Figures

This year's $2.78 billion in sales broke down into $1.27 billion in forms (45.7 percent), $621 million in labels and tags (22.3 percent), $164 million in commercial printing (5.8 percent), $130 million in promotional products (4.7 percent), $112 million in direct mail (4 percent) and $486 million in other products (17.5 percent), mainly plastic cards, services and office supplies.

The total number of employees reported by the Top 100 this year was 19,360, a decrease of 302. The total number of locations dropped by three to 366.