Diversified Labeling Solutions

Diversified Labeling Solutions Inc., a Chicago-based label converter with production facilities in Illinois, Georgia, Texas and Nevada, has completed the relocation of its Georgia facility to a much larger location in Duluth, Ga.

The company moved all of its east coast operations into a facility located at 1790 Satellite Blvd., Duluth, Ga. The new plant is now the second largest of Diversified's national locations, encompassing more than 63,000 sq. ft. of production and distribution space.

Nearly three years have passed since the Print Services & Distribution Association (PSDA) joined forces with management firm SmithBucklin and relocated its headquarters from Alexandria, Va., to Chicago. Now the PSDA is making bold moves once again.

The nation’s current state of financial turmoil has trickled down to every sector, including the printing industry. Sales and profit margins are deteriorating, forcing companies to shrink salaries and workforces and come up with creative ways to maintain and boost their customer bases. It ain’t pretty. And the picture isn’t expected to brighten any time soon.

You can run, but you can’t hide. There’s no escaping [cue dramatic music]: The Recession. Had enough of the media’s fear-inducing headlines? Like it or not, this is reality—and not just for the printing industry. But that doesn’t mean suppliers and distributors have to close their eyes and wait for miracles to fall in their laps.

A little change never hurt anyone. With that in mind, this year’s big show promises a change of pace, a change of scenery and a change in demand. The newly revamped PSDA (formerly DMIA) will host its annual Print Solutions Conference and Exposition on Oct. 23-25 at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore. This year’s featured general session keynote speaker will be Charlie Pesko, founder and president of InfoTrends, a leading market research and consulting firm in the digital imaging and document solutions industries. Technological advances and refined marketing strategies are just some of the issues gaining momentum in a slowing economy. To encourage print

1 Ennis Headquarters: Midlothian, Texas Annual Sales $(000): 584,713 Principal Officer(s): Keith Walters, Chairman, President, CEO Employees: 6,200 Locations: 44 2 Champion Industries Headquarters: Huntington, W. Va. Annual Sales $(000): 145,188 Principal Officer(s): Marshall T. Reynolds, CEO Employees: 740 Locations: 22 3 Western States Envelope & Label Headquarters: Butler, Wis. Annual Sales $(000): 117,900 Principal Officer(s): Mark S. Lemberger, President Employees: 731 Locations: 5 4 Printegra Headquarters: Peachtree City, Ga. Annual

1 Discount Labels Headquarters: New Albany, Ind. Labels & Tags Sales $(000): 84,356 Total Sales $(000): 84,356 2 Label Art Headquarters: Wilton, N.H. Labels & Tags Sales $(000): 49,000 Total Sales $(000): 49,000 3 Diversified Labeling Solutions Headquarters: Itasca, Ill. Labels & Tags Sales $(000): 45,600 Total Sales $(000): 45,600 4 Kay Toledo Tag/Special Service Partners Headquarters: Toledo, Ohio Labels & Tags Sales $(000): 42,750 Total Sales $(000): 45,000 5 Gill Studios Headquarters: Shawnee Mission, Kan. Labels

RFID has come a long way since Charles Walton’s 1983 U.S. patent—the first to be associated with the acronym. His invention, designed to facilitate quick and accurate identification of remotely located objects, used an identifier for generating and transmitting a signal in the radio frequency range, allowing data communication without physical connection. Today, Doug Seitz, manager of the RFID/thermal portfolio for Boulder, Colorado-based InfoPrint Solutions (IPS), observed the list of industries and items incorporating RFID is steadily expanding. From tracking surgical sponges in the operating room, fish in public aquariums and kids at amusement parks, to opening car doors, managing inventory and serving toll

Rank: 1 Company: Discount Labels, New Albany, Ind. Labels & Tags Sales $(000): 76,269 Total Sales $(000): 76,269 Rank: 2 Company: Label Art, Wilton, N.H. Labels & Tags Sales $(000): 47,000 Total Sales $(000): 47,000 Rank: 3 Company: Diversified Labeling Solutions, Itasca, Ill. Labels & Tags Sales $(000): 39,200 Total Sales $(000): 39,200 Rank: 4 Company: Data Label, Terre Haute, Ind. Labels & Tags Sales $(000): 33,729 Total Sales $(000): 33,729 Rank: 5 Company: Gill Studios, Shawnee Mission, Kan. Labels & Tags Sales $(000): 31,350 Total Sales $(000): 47,500 Rank: 6 Company: Lancer Label, Omaha, Neb. Labels & Tags

Rank: 1 Company: Ennis, Midlothian, Texas Sales $(000): 559,397 Principal Officer(s): Keith Walters, Chairman, CEO, President Employees: 6,200 Locations: 42 (*Does not include sales figures for Block Graphics, acquired 08/09/06.) Rank: 2 Company: Champion Industries, Huntington, W. Va. Sales $(000): 135,000 Principal Officer(s): Marshall T. Reynolds, CEO Employees: 768 Locations: 22 Rank: 3 Company: Western States Envelope & Label, Butler, Wis. Sales $(000): 111,000 Principal Officer(s): Mark S. Lemberger, President, CEO Employees: 733 Locations: 5 Rank: 4 Company: Printegra, Peachtree City, Ga. Sales $(000): 87,706 Principal Officer(s): Casey Campbell, President, CEO Employees: 822 Locations: 14 Rank: 5 Company: PrintXcel, Montrose,