Edwards Brothers, Inc.: News [Press Releases]

Edwards Brothers Book, Journal, Manufacturing

Edwards Brothers, Print Globally with gps Global Print Solutions

Edwards Brothers, Print Local with our Multiple Locations

Edwards Brothers, We Wrote the Book on Digital Printing

Edwards Brothers, Put More Life in Your Titles

Edwards Brothers, Reach a Bigger Market with EBooks

News [Press Releases]

Contact

Donna Coleman | Edwards Brothers, Inc.| 734-769-1000 | dcoleman@edwardsbrothers.com

Edwards Brothers, Inc. and Malloy Incorporated, Merge To Form Nation's Sixth Largest Book Maker

Ann Arbor, MI (February 6, 2012)—Edwards Brothers, Inc. and Malloy Incorporated, two leading book manufacturers, announced today that they would merge effective February 6, 2012, forming a new company called Edwards Brothers Malloy. The new company will have combined sales of $115 million and will be the sixth largest book manufacturing firm in the United States, offering publishers a global distributed print program and fulfillment services that combine to form a single print supply chain solution.

Edwards Brothers Malloy will have three offset facilities—Edwards Brothers’ plants in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Lillington, North Carolina and Malloy’s operation in Ann Arbor—along with eleven digital print plants in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. With Edwards Brothers’ gps Global Print SolutionsTM distributed print partnership, publishers will be able to print and distribute books with one order, one file, and one invoice around the world.

John Edwards, President and CEO of Edwards Brothers, says the merger brings two strong family-owned businesses together with over 170 years of book making experience between them. “I’ve known the Uptons my whole life, and I’ve always respected Malloy as a competitor. They have a great reputation for service and a very strong financial foundation. I’ve been amazed as we put this merger together how similar our companies are. We share a strong commitment to our employees, our customers, and the craft of book making.” Edwards also noted the fact that Malloy has roots in EB. Jim Malloy, who founded Malloy in 1960, was production manager at EB in the 1940s. As Edwards puts it, “In a sense, we’re being reunited.”

Edwards will be the CEO of Edwards Brothers Malloy. Bill Upton, President of Malloy, will become the Vice President of Operations for the new unified company, and Joe Upton, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Malloy will take over that same role with Edwards Brothers Malloy. Bill Upton believes the merger will result in additional business and jobs flowing into the current Malloy facility and is excited about the expanded services the new company will be able to offer to Malloy’s current customers: “We can’t wait to introduce the Edwards Brothers global digital printing platform to our customers. Our customers can now turn to us for print-on-demand (POD) service and use gps Global Print SolutionsTM to print closer to their international customers. Edwards Brothers Malloy combines two book manufacturers into one print supply chain solution.”

The focus of the new company will be on pursuing growth opportunities. To that end their current sales and customer services teams will remain largely intact. Both Upton and Edwards noted that they have relatively few common customers, which they believe will lead to new business as their respective customers become familiar with the capabilities of the other company.

Both Edwards Brothers and Malloy have invested heavily in recent years in digital printing equipment and technologies that help publishers better align their print quantities to demand. Edwards has established what is arguably the most expansive global digital printing platform in the industry, with ten digital printing centers spread across North America and the United Kingdom and the GPS alliance with four other international printing partners. GPS allows customers to place one order and have their books printed and distributed around the world.

For Malloy’s part, their technological and service enhancements have been focused primarily on web-based service tools that allow customers to more easily manage their work at Malloy. Malloy also has a storage and fulfillment operation that serves well over 100 mostly small publishers. Some publishers take advantage of this service to store and fulfill orders for all of their books, while many others use it to serve particular segments of their markets.

For cost-effective printing of longer print runs, the new firm will also have 15 Timsons web presses, the largest number of any manufacturer in the United States.

Edwards and Upton see the combination of Malloy’s focus on service with Edwards Brothers’ global printing platform as a game changer for publishers of all sizes. Says Edwards, “We are no longer simply a book manufacturer—though we are still good at making books—we are a supply chain manager and an inventory management and delivery company. We can save publishers a lot of expense and time being a trusted supplier with full responsibility for their print orders. We’ll make sure the publisher never misses a sale, never has too many books sitting in a warehouse, and never has to worry about the quantity of their last reprint.”

Edwards Brothers Malloy will have over 950 employees and will maintain its headquarters in Ann Arbor with eight sales offices located across the United States.

For more information, contact:

Donna Coleman
Edwards Brothers, Inc.
734-769-1000, ext. 325
dcoleman@edwardsbrothers.com

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc., is a leader in offset and digital book, journal, catalog and documentation manufacturing specializing in medium, short, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has eight sales offices and employs nearly 750 people in multiple facilities, including three Ann Arbor, Michigan and Lillington, North Carolina offset plants and nine on-site and remote digital printing operations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Edwards Brothers is also part of the gps Global Print Solutions^SM worldwide distributed print alliance. For more information, visit our web site at www.edwardsbrothers.com.

About Malloy Incorporated: Established in 1960 by Jim Malloy, and purchased by Herb Upton and his family in 1966, Malloy is a full-service one- and two-color book printer serving multiple markets and publishers, both large and small, across the United States. Malloy was the first printer in the U.S. to acquire a Timsons web press and one of the first commercial book printers in the country to go computer-to-plate. Malloy operates three production shifts out of one facility in Ann Arbor and is known for exceptional service to its customers. For more information, visit our web site at www.malloy.com.

Edwards Brothers, Inc. Named Best of the Best in Best Workplace in the Americas 2010 Competition

Tenth Year in a Row for EB on "Best Workplac" List

Ann Arbor, MI (January 31, 2011)—Edwards Brothers, Inc. has been awarded the Best Workplace in the Americas designation, Best of the Best 2010, for their exemplary human resources practices. Begun to specifically honor printing companies that provide a superior work environment, this year marks the eleventh year of the Best Workplace in the Americas program.

A panel of highly respected HR professionals with decades of experience in the graphic arts industry reviewed the submissions. All of the winning companies actively show their employees that they care about their work environment, their personal goals and ambitions, as well as the needs of the company. Applicants were judged on eight criteria: Management Practices; Work Environment; Training and Development Opportunities; Financial Security; Workplace Health and Safety; Work-Life Balance; Recognition and Rewards; and Health and Wellness Programs.

"We have been on the list for ten years, winning "Best of the Best" four times," said John Edwards, President and CEO. "Edwards Brothers is known for its employee length of service. Thirty percent of our employees have been here more than 15 years and 100 have been with us for more than 25 years. We’re honored that so many employees choose EB as a place to spend their careers."

"Best of the Best winners routinely exhibit the highest commitment to success in many ways, but particularly through their employees," said Michael Makin, president and CEO of Printing Industries of America. "Congratulations to Edwards Brothers."

For more information, contact:

Donna Coleman
Edwards Brothers, Inc.
734-769-1000, ext. 325
dcoleman@edwardsbrothers.com

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc., is a leader in offset and digital book, journal, catalog and documentation manufacturing specializing in medium, short, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has eight sales offices and employs nearly 750 people in multiple facilities, including three Ann Arbor, Michigan and Lillington, North Carolina offset plants and nine on-site and remote digital printing operations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Edwards Brothers is also part of the gps Global Print Solutions^SM worldwide distributed print alliance. For more information, visit our web site at www.edwardsbrothers.com.

About Printing Industries of America: Printing Industries of America is the world's largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with approximately one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. Together with its nationwide affiliate network, Printing Industries delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information. For more information about the Best Workplace in the Americas Awards, contact Jim Kyger at 202-730-7968.

Edwards Brothers, Inc. Announces New Digital Printing Partnership With Rockpoint Logistics

EB to Manage On Site Digital Print Center for Renamed Kaplan Logistics

Ann Arbor, MI (January 27, 2011)—Edwards Brothers announced today that it has partnered with Rockpoint Logistics to provide digital printing services for Rockpoint clients out of Rockpoint's Aurora, Illinois facility. Edwards Brothers will be taking over management of the staff and equipment of the existing operation under a multi-year contract, producing a variety of finished goods including perfect bound books, saddle stitched booklets, laminated covers, and more.

Rockpoint Logistics, formerly known as Kaplan Logistics, is a leading provider of outsourced logistics services to corporations across a variety of industries. The newly formed company was acquired this month by Lion Equity Partners from Kaplan, Inc., a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company.

"This partnership with Edwards Brothers, a proven leader in short run printing, enhances our offering and allows us to focus on the assembly and distribution of products for our clients," said Mark Pell, CEO of Rockpoint Logistics. "Under the agreement we'll continue to offer print-on-demand and micro-run printing and inventory management services to our clients with Edwards Brothers providing the manufacturing expertise."

"Edwards Brothers has been a leader in opening and running digital print centers in publisher locations for more than 10 years and runs numerous facilities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom," said John Edwards, President and CEO of Edwards Brothers. "This is an extension of our digital and offset footprint and an example of our ability to help our clients focus on what they do best while we bring 118 years of short run manufacturing expertise to the table."

Edwards added that Rockpoint will be utilizing Edward Brothers' One Touch Reprint® web ordering service to place their orders with the digital print center. The service allows easy online ordering and order tracking with automated order confirmation, ship notification, and invoicing.

The new digital center is part of Edwards Brother' ongoing investment in plant and technology, including a recent large-scale upgrade of equipment across Edwards Brothers' digital print facilities to allow for enhanced print-on-demand and short run production services, including Print Local^SM service to allow manufacturing and distribution closer to the end user's final destination. Edwards Brothers has also joined with CPI in the United Kingdom, CPI Buch Bucher in Germany, Markono in Asia, and Griffin Press in Australia to form a global distributed print alliance called gps Global Print SolutionsSM, allowing customers to place one order and have their books printed and distributed anywhere in the world. In addition to a sizeable increase in overall capacity, the upgrade also creates increased capacity for four-color and case bound work.

For more information, contact:

Donna Coleman
Edwards Brothers, Inc.
734-769-1000, ext. 325
dcoleman@edwardsbrothers.com

About Rockpoint Logistics: Rockpoint Logistics (www.rockpointlogistics.com), headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, provides end-to-end logistics services including warehousing and storage, pick-pack-ship, order fulfillment, short-run and print-on-demand digital printing, binding, labeling, packaging, kit assembly, and return servicing. Rockpoint operates out of a 290,000 sq. ft. facility that utilizes state-of-the-art technology and precision business techniques to provide superior results to its customers. Rockpoint is a leading provider of outsourced logistics services to corporations across a variety of industries, specializing in the publishing and education industries.

Edwards Brothers, Inc. Acquires New Timsons Zero-Make-Ready Press

EB's Large Format One and Two Color Capacity Expanded

Ann Arbor, MI (December 1, 2010)—Edwards Brothers announced the installation of a new Timsons T48A ZMR one and two-color press, giving Edwards one of the biggest fleets of Timsons presses in the country. This press will significantly increase Edwards' 11" capacity and help EB meet the needs of its professional and educational clients who have a growing demand for short- and medium-run offset book manufacturing.

ZMR or "Zero-Make-Ready" refers to the ability to run from one form to the next without stopping the press, resulting in minimal paper waste for one color work. There are two printing units on the web, allowing the press to continue printing while the next set of plates is installed for the next run. The two printing units will also allow the press to produce high quality two color text printing.

"Even in this difficult environment where making significant capital purchases can be unsettling, it makes sense to use technology to lower our manufacturing costs as well as increase capacity," said John Edwards, President and CEO of Edwards Brothers. "As a short-run manufacturer, we see opportunities as publisher print runs stabilize at new lower levels. This new Timsons press will help us meet that demand and at the same time, help increase our own efficiencies by reducing down time and paper waste during the manufacturing process."

The Timsons press purchase is part of a EB's program of ongoing investment in plant and technology in order to maintain the highest levels of quality and efficiency in the industry. Other recent investments include an upgrade of EB's fleet of digital print engines across multiple centers, a new binding line in EB's North Carolina digital book center, new stacker/palletizer equipment in the Ann Arbor offset facility, installation of a shop floor data collection system, and a multi-year installation of state-of-the-art business systems for improving overall processes and work flow.

For more information, contact:

Donna Coleman
Edwards Brothers, Inc.
734-769-1000, ext. 325
dcoleman@edwardsbrothers.com

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc., is a leader in offset and digital book, journal, and catalog manufacturing specializing in medium, short, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has eight sales offices and employs nearly 750 people in multiple facilities, including three Ann Arbor, Michigan and Lillington, North Carolina offset plants and nine on-site and remote digital printing operations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Edwards Brothers is also part of the gps Global Print SolutionsSM worldwide distributed print alliance. For more information, visit our web site at www.edwardsbrothers.com.

IPG Partners with Edwards Brothers, Inc. to Bring Print-on-Demand Services to its Publishers

Chicago, IL (July 15, 2010)—Independent Publishers Group (IPG), under its digital division IPG Digital, is pleased to announce it will be partnering exclusively with Edwards Brothers, Inc. of Ann Arbor, Mich., for its print-on-demand (POD) services.

With Edwards Brothers, Inc., IPG's enhanced POD services will offer greater flexibility of printing very short runs while increasing availability of mid-list titles and backlist titles. It will also help to reduce a publisher's risk in warehouse inventory.

Paul Murphy, who heads up IPG's digital division, said, "For many of our client publishers, we anticipate this will have a significant positive impact on cash flow among other benefits." Murphy is also Vice President of Professional and Academic Markets at Independent Publishers Group.

Edwards Brothers is an ideal partner for IPG's publishers as they have a firm understanding of the pressures and needs of the independent publisher given their long history as a successful independent printing company. Operating three offset manufacturing facilities and nine on-site and remote digital printing operations in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, Edwards Brothers Inc. is an acknowledged leader in digital short-run printing.

"We are pleased to partner with IPG. POD is a natural extension of Edwards Brothers' short-run orientation," notes John Edwards, President & CEO of Edwards Brothers. "Our ability to help publishers maximize revenue while maintaining inventory has always been our goal and strength."

About Independent Publishers Group: Established in 1971, IPG was the first organization specifically created for the purpose of marketing titles from independent presses to the book trade. With consistent growth each year, IPG's success has come from supporting and encouraging the growth of its client publishers in the United States and worldwide. IPG has a wide reach in the market with its distribution of publishers with academic, Spanish-language, computer and general trade nonfiction and fiction titles. IPG was acquired by Chicago Review Press in 1987. Clients include publishers from the United States, Australia, United Kingdom,Canada, Ireland, Israel, Spain and other countries. In the fall of 2006, the senior management of Chicago Review Press, Inc., the parent company of IPG, bought Trafalgar Square Publishing, Inc., the leading U.S. distributor of UK publishers. Trafalgar Square Publishing was founded in 1973 and distributes for clients such as Aurum Press, Canongate UK, HarperCollins UK, Hodder & Stoughton, Headline, Orion Publishing, Random House UK and Simon & Schuster UK.

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc. is one of the largest book and journal manufacturers in the country, specializing in medium, short and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities and others. The fourth-generation family business has seven sales offices and employs nearly 750 people in three facilities: the Ann Arbor, Mich., headquarters and two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina. The company also operates nine on-site and remote digital printing operations in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.edwardsbrothers.com.

Edwards Brothers' Two New Digital Book Centers Now Operational

New Digital Print Centers in New Jersey and British Columbia, Canada

Ann Arbor, MI (May 3, 2010)—Edwards Brothers announced that the two digital book centers that it acquired as part of a multi-year agreement with Author Solutions, Inc. (ASI) earlier this year are now fully operational. ASI, the world leader in indie book publishing, remains one of the largest customers for these facilities.

The original agreement included Edwards Brothers' acquisition of ASI's Paulsboro, New Jersey digital print operation and the printing assets of Morriss Printing in Victoria, British Columbia. Edwards Brothers now owns and/or operates nine digital print centers, spread across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Combined with its three offset manufacturing facilities, Edwards Brothers digital centers form the nexus of a growing distributed print program that allows customers to print and ship closer to final destination.

Edwards Brothers has digital centers located in Michigan, North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, the United Kingdom, and now, New Jersey and British Columbia. The centers are part of Edwards Brothers' Life of Title® program, which allows publishers and authors to print more closely to actual demand on the most economical print platform available, from one copy to thousands.

"Being able to offer our customers more locations for short run printing helps us to meet their needs for printing locally, closer to distribution centers, wherever possible," said John Edwards, President and CEO of Edwards Brothers. "This allows publishers to reduce costs and maximize a title's revenues and profits from cradle to grave."

About Edwards Brothers, Inc.: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc., is a leader in book, journal, and catalog manufacturing specializing in medium, short, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has seven sales offices and employs nearly 750 people in three facilities: the Ann Arbor, Michigan, headquarters and two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina. The company also operates nine on-site and remote digital printing operations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our web site at www.edwardsbrothers.com.

Edwards Brothers, Inc. Named Best Workplace in the Americas in 2009 Competition

Ann Arbor, MI (November 2009)--Edwards Brothers, Inc has been awarded the designation Best Workplace in the Americas 2009 by the Printing Industries of America for their exemplary human resources practices. Begun to specifically honor printing companies that provide a superior work environment, this year marks the ninth year of the Best Workplace in the Americas program.

"It's gratifying to have Edwards Brothers honored once again by the Association as an exemplary workplace," said John Edwards, President and CEO of Edwards Brothers, Inc.

About Printing Industries of America: Printing Industries of America is the world's largest graphic arts trade association representing an industry with approximately one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. Printing Industries of America, along with its affiliates, delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.

Edwards Brothers, Inc. Sets Up New Digital Book Center for NA Publishing, Inc.

Dedicated center to be set up in Edwards Brothers facility

Ann Arbor, MI (October 30, 2009)--Edwards Brothers announced today that it has signed a three-year contract with NA Publishing, Inc. (formerly known as National Archive Publishing Company) to produce XanEdu CoursePacks as well as custom publications. The products, formerly produced on-site at NA Publishing, will now be produced at Edwards Brothers' Ann Arbor facility, creating an NA Publishing digital center within the plant. Edwards Brothers has hired former NA Publishing employees to join a team of EB employees to handle the work. Equipment will also be transferred to Edwards Brothers as part of the agreement.

Edwards Brothers pioneered setting up digital book centers in customer locations and runs numerous facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom. But this is the first time a customer-dedicated center will be set up on Edwards Brothers' property, which is just a few miles from NA Publishing.

"It's part of our long-term strategy to print locally, close to customer distribution centers," said John Edwards, President and CEO of Edwards Brothers. "It's a win-win situation. We get to grow with an existing client and expand our capacity. And we're able to offer NA Publishing expertise and economies of scale not possible with a small stand-alone operation."

Edwards Brothers digital book centers are part of its Life of Title® program. By offering multiple offset and digital print platforms that allow economical printing from one copy to thousands, Edwards Brothers helps customers control manufacturing, inventory, and associated carrying costs by printing more closely to actual demand. The result is the maximization of a title's revenues and profits from cradle to grave.

About Edwards Brothers, Inc.: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc., is Michigan's largest privately owned book, journal, and catalog manufacturing firm specializing in medium, short, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has seven sales offices and employs nearly 750 people in three facilities: the Ann Arbor, Michigan, headquarters and two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina. The company also operates on-site and remote digital printing operations for a variety of publishers in both the United States and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our web site at www.edwardsbrothers.com.

About NA Publishing, Inc.: NA Publishing, Inc. was established in 2005 and comprises established businesses acquired from ProQuest Information and Learning. The company specializes in preservation, custom publishing, and other services that enhance and ensure access to scholarly information. Its main customers are libraries, universities, students, professors, and others who need access to quality information. NA Publishing, Inc. is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. For more information, go to http://www.napubco.com.

Edwards Brothers, Inc. Wins Washtenaw County Excellence in Waste Reduction and Recycling Award

Ann Arbor, MI (October 2009)--The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners awarded the 2009 Excellence in Waste Reduction and Recycling Award to Edwards Brothers for its extensive recycling program, purchasing of recycled products, and fostering a conservation ethic among its employees.

The award was given as part of the county's 10th annual Environmental Excellence awards program, which is carried out annually during National Pollution Prevention Week. The program was created to honor local businesses and non-profit organizations that provide exceptional leadership in environmental protection and that consistently demonstrate a commitment to go beyond local, state, and federal requirements to improve environmental quality.

About Edwards Brothers, Inc.: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc., is a leader in book, journal, and catalog manufacturing specializing in medium, short, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has seven sales offices and employs nearly 750 people in three facilities: the Ann Arbor, Michigan, headquarters and two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina. The company also operates on-site and remote digital printing operations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our web site at www.edwardsbrothers.com.

Edwards Brothers' Lillington, North Carolina Plant Featured on C-SPAN

C-SPAN Video Now Available: Take an Inside Look at the Making of a Book

Ann Arbor, MI (January 22, 2009)--Last fall a C-SPAN production crew visited Edwards Brothers' Lillington, North Carolina plant to film production of a new book on Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln: Great American Historians on our Sixteenth President. The eleven-minute video offers an inside look at how a book is bound and finished and can be viewed in full on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/edwardsbrothers.

Wally Steuck, Bindery/Distribution Services Manager at the Lillington plant guided C-SPAN videographer Richard Hall throughout the printing process, explaining what was taking place on the Kolbus bind line and beyond. "We walked through the process from the point of the signatures to the job being gathered, book blocks being capped, books being cased-in, dust jackets applied, and the job being boxed for shipping," says Steuck. The initial print run was for 22,000 copies.

The book is edited by C-SPAN founder and CEO Brian Lamb and C-SPAN President and Co-COO Susan Swain. Published by Public Affairs Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group, the title was published in conjunction with C-SPAN's yearlong celebration of the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth coming up on February 12th. It's an enlightening, wide-ranging anthology on Lincoln by top historians, illustrated with Lamb's own photographs of Lincoln landmarks. To help promote the book, C-SPAN featured clips from the video during an interview with publisher Susan Weinberg on its Washington Journal program.

About Edwards Brothers, Inc.: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc., is one of the largest privately owned book and journal manufacturing firms specializing in short, medium, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has eight sales offices and employs nearly 750 people in three facilities: the Ann Arbor, Michigan, headquarters and two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina. The company also operates onsite and remote digital printing operations for a variety of publishers in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Sales in 2008 were $80 million. For more information, visit our web site at www.edwardsbrothers.com.

Edwards Brothers Inc. Named Best Workplace in the Americas in 2008 Competition

Ann Arbor, MI (January 2009)--Edwards Brothers, Inc has been awarded the designation, Best Workplace in the Americas 2008, for their exemplary human resources practices. Begun to specifically honor printing companies that provide a superior work environment, this year marks the eighth year of the Best Workplace in the Americas program.

"It's an honor to be recognized by the industry as a company that offers a superior workplace," said John Edwards, President and CEO of Edwards Brothers, Inc.

Michael Makin, president and CEO of PIA/GATF, agrees. "Best Workplace in the Americas winners routinely recognize that success is generated in many ways, and importantly, through their employees. Congratulations to Edwards Brothers.

Edwards Brothers, Inc. is Now SFI^® CERTIFIED: Certificate # SGS-SFI-COC-183

Industry Leader Committed to Environmentally Sound Practices

Ann Arbor, MI (October 30, 2008)—Edwards Brothers announced that it has received chain-of-custody certification from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative^®® (SFI Inc.) for both its Ann Arbor and Lillington, North Carolina, manufacturing facilities. SFI^® standards promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and forests with exceptional conservation value.

"Ninety-five percent of the papers we stock are SFI^® (and/or FSC^®) certified—by volume it's even higher," said John Edwards, President and CEO of Edwards Brothers. "Becoming certified allows us to offer customers the guarantee that the materials they have requested have been vetted and handled properly from an environmental perspective throughout the procurement and production process. It helps to raise customer confidence levels about the environmental choices they make."

To become SFI^® certified, a company must have a tracking system in place that identifies and tracks the amount of certified, uncertified, and recycled content in the forest products it buys, uses, or sells. The certification process requires an initial third-party audit as well as annual audits to maintain the certification.

Along with the SFI^® certification, Edwards Brothers also has FSC^® chain-of-custody certification and participates in the Green Press Initiative. All of these initiatives are part of Edwards Brothers' fifty-plus year commitment to balancing cost-effective manufacturing processes with environmentally sound practices that help to preserve natural resources.

In addition, Edwards Brothers' on-site recycling program challenges all employees to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much waste as possible. Some of these efforts include:

Recycling or using 97.5% (with a goal of 99%) of all raw materials entering the plant by shipping them out as finished products or as 27 different recyclable by-products, including paper dust to be used as bedding for local horses
Printing on recycled stock and forest-friendly papers whenever possible
Using soy- or vegetable oil-based inks
Using energy-efficient compact fluorescent lighting

That translates to almost 19 million pounds of paper and over 600,000 pounds of aluminum recycled every year, with related conservation of 4 billion gallons of water, 25.6 million kWh of electricity, and 4.8 million pounds of aluminum ore.

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc., is Michigan's largest privately owned book, journal, and catalog manufacturing firm specializing in short, medium, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has eight sales offices and employs more than 700 people in three facilities: the Ann Arbor, Michigan, headquarters and two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina. The company also operates on-site and remote digital printing operations for a variety of publishers in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Sales in 2007 were $80 million. For more information, visit our web site at www.edwardsbrothers.com.

About SFI Inc.: SFI Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit organization and is solely responsible for maintaining, overseeing and improving the Sustainable Forestry Initiative^® program. SFI Inc. directs all elements of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative^® program including the SFI^® Standard, chain-of-custody certification, labeling, and marketing. SFI Inc. is overseen by a three-chamber Board of Directors representing social, environmental, and economic sectors. For more information about the SFI^® program, visit www.sfiprogram.org.

Edwards Brothers, Inc. is now FSC^® Certified: COC Certificate # SGS-COC-004946

Industry Leader Committed to Environmentally Sound Practices

Ann Arbor, MI (August 8, 2008)—Edwards Brothers announced that is has received Chain-of-Custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council^™ (FSC^®) for both its Ann Arbor and Lillington, North Carolina, manufacturing facilities. By certifying that environmentally and socially responsible practices have been followed in the production of wood products, the Council and those who adhere to its standards promote the preservation of forests and the wildlife that dwells there.

"This new certification is part of a larger, ongoing effort at Edwards Brothers to be responsible corporate citizens and to better serve our customers, who are increasingly looking for environmentally sound alternatives," said John Edwards, President and CEO of Edwards Brothers. "FSC^® Certification is another step in our total program to balance cost-effective manufacturing processes while preserving our natural resources. At Edwards Brothers, accountability is sustainability."

FSC^® certification serves as an inventory control system that verifies the source of papers utilized in manufacturing and tracks these certified products throughout the inventory and distribution process. To become certified, companies work with accredited, independent certification agents who evaluate both forest management activities and chain-of-custody tracking of materials passing through mills, manufacturers, and distributors.

Edwards Brothers is also in the process of securing certification from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative^®, Inc. (SFI^®), another organization dedicated to responsible forest management. That certification should be complete within two months.

Edwards added: "We've actually been an active recycler for over 50 years. Nearly all materials entering our plants leave as finished books; virtually all of the rest is recycled. Our goal is to have less than 1 percent going to landfills and we're nearly there. These certifications, combined with our ongoing company-wide conservation and recycling initiative, demonstrate Edwards Brothers' long-term commitment to the environment."

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc., is Michigan's largest privately owned book and journal manufacturing firm specializing in short, medium, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has eight sales offices and employs more than 700 people in three facilities: the Ann Arbor, Michigan, headquarters and two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina. The company also operates onsite and remote digital printing operations for a variety of publishers in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Sales in 2007 were $80 million. For more information, visit our web site at www.edwardsbrothers.com.

Edwards Brothers Acquires 11" Timsons Web Press

Ann Arbor, MI (March 24, 2008)—Edwards Brothers announces a significant addition to its one-color and two-color book and catalog manufacturing capacity in its Ann Arbor, Michigan, facility. The purchase of a Timsons wide-body, double-web press designed for 11" product will provide the highest overall output speed and impressions per revolution of any press at the company. The new equipment will expand print capacity for EB's growing book, journal, and catalog customer base by 30 percent. It will be particularly effective in the K-12 and higher education instructional materials market to insure Edwards Brothers' ability to manage the significant peaks in state adoption activity and traditionally seasonal reprint cycles of this market.

As a result of the installation in Ann Arbor, a Timsons single web press is in the process of being relocated from the Ann Arbor plant to the Lillington, North Carolina, facilities. The added press in Lillington will increase 9" web print capacity there by 100 percent for the book and journal market, and it will provide additional print capacity to align with the new high-output Kolbus binding line installed in Lillington in 2007.

According to Ken Buss, Director of Carolina Operations, "We are excited by the arrival of this press; it will expand our offerings and create new jobs in this location. We believe Harnett County is a good place to do business and appreciate the local support of our operations since the early 1980s." Currently the Lillington facility has 24 job openings with 22 of those as a direct result of this press moving to North Carolina. The press will be operational in June of 2008.

These significant investments in equipment represent a continuation of Edwards Brothers' strong commitments to our core book, journal, and catalog markets, and are a response to customer needs and anticipated future growth.

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc., is Michigan's largest privately owned book and journal manufacturing firm specializing in short, medium, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has eight sales offices and employs more than 700 people in three facilities: the Ann Arbor, Michigan, headquarters and two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina. The company also operates onsite and remote digital printing operations for a variety of publishers in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Sales in 2007 were $80 million. For more information, visit our web site at www.edwardsbrothers.com.

The Perseus Books Group Announces New Digital Printing Partnership with Edwards Brothers

Digital Printing Services to be Available to Both In-House and Client Publishers

New York, NY (January 28, 2008)—The Perseus Books Group announced today a partnership with leading printer/manufacturer Edwards Brothers to provide digital printing for independent publishers, whether those publishers are Perseus-owned, joint venture partners or client publishers. The service will be made available to all Consortium, PGW and Perseus Distribution clients that choose to participate.

"This is the first of a range of digital services that we are making available to our independent publisher clients after years of in-house experience. In the highly competitive, fast-changing, long tail business of publishing, we believe independent publishers' needs in the digital arena will only grow," said David Steinberger, President and CEO of Perseus. "Our goal is to give independent publishers all the tools and support they need to succeed."

Under the partnership, Perseus and Edwards Brothers will set up and operate a new digital print center in the Perseus Books Group's distribution complex in Jackson Tennessee. This will enable independent publishers to print very short runs on-site, increasing availability of mid-list and backlist titles while simultaneously reducing the publisher's investment in warehouse inventory.

"We were an early adopter of digital print technologies and have more than eight years experience in integrating digital print into our own publishing programs. The most exciting component of this partnership is that we will now be able extend these digital print capabilities to our clients in a highly efficient and cost effective manner," said Joe Mangan, Perseus' Chief Operating Officer.

"The Perseus Books Group has always been on the leading edge when it comes to innovation. This new partnership is a natural next step for both parties," said John Edwards, President and CEO of Edwards Brothers.

"We have a long-standing relationship with Edwards Brothers as a trusted print partner and look forward to extending that relationship through this new endeavor," said Melissa Serdinsky, Vice President of Perseus' Production Manufacturing. "Edwards Brothers is an acknowledged leader in short-run printing."

The new digital print facility will be up and running by fall 2008. In the meantime, Edwards Brothers will use their offsite facility to help Perseus and Perseus' clients ramp up titles in the program.

About the Perseus Books Group: The Perseus Books Group is an independent company committed to enabling independent publishers to reach their potential whether those publishers are Perseus-owned, joint ventures or owned by third parties. Member publishing programs include Avalon Travel, Basic Books, Basic Civitas, Da Capo Press, Da Capo Lifelong Books, Running Press, Seal Press, Vanguard Press and Westview Press, as well as partnerships with PublicAffairs and with Nation Books. Through Consortium, Perseus Distribution and Publishers Group West, the Perseus Books Group is also the leading provider of sales, marketing and distribution services to independent publishers. For more information, visit our website at www.perseusbooks.com.

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc. is Michigan's largest privately owned book and journal manufacturing firm specializing in short, medium, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has eight sales offices and employs more than 700 people in three facilities: the Ann Arbor, Michigan headquarters and two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina. The company also operates onsite and remote digital printing operations for a variety of publishers in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Sales in 2007 were $80 million. For more information visit our website at www.edwardsbrothers.com.

Edwards Brothers, Houghton Mifflin Company Collaborate on Digital Book Center

Local book manufacturer to open 5th remote print-on-demand facility in early 2007

Ann Arbor, Michigan – Book and journal manufacturer Edwards Brothers has inked a deal with Houghton Mifflin Company, one of the leading educational publishers in the United States, to equip and staff a remote digital book center inside Houghton Mifflin's Geneva, Illinois location. The turnkey site is slated to open in early 2007. Houghton Mifflin publishes textbooks, instructional technology, assessments and other educational materials for teachers and students of all ages.

According to Edwards Brothers President and CEO John Edwards, "We are excited about this agreement with Houghton Mifflin, a longtime offset customer. Our goal will be to utilize our Life of Title® inventory management strategy to print smaller quantities, turn the inventory at a faster rate and ultimately, reduce Houghton Mifflin's total cost of manufacturing. It's a win-win opportunity for both companies."

The forthcoming Houghton Mifflin print-on-demand site is Edwards Brothers' fifth satellite operation. Others include a warehouse location at Rowman and Littlefield in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania (2000); another for The University of Chicago Press (2001); a small digital book center in the Landover, Maryland warehouse of National Academies Press (2004); and, a print-on-demand facility at NBN International in Plymouth, England (2005). Edwards Brothers also operates an on-site digital book center at the company's Ann Arbor headquarters (1997) and North Carolina (2004) that prints and fulfills orders for a variety of publishers

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc. is Michigan's largest privately owned book and journal manufacturing firm specializing in short, medium, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has eight sales offices and employs more than 700 people in three facilities: the Ann Arbor, Michigan headquarters and two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina. The company also operates several onsite and remote digital printing operations for a variety of publishers in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Sales in 2006 exceeded $78 million.

About Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Company is one of the leading educational publishers in the United States, with more than $1 billion in sales. Houghton Mifflin publishes textbooks, instructional technology, assessments and other educational materials for elementary and secondary schools and colleges. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers. With its origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation.

The End of an Era: Martin Edwards, Ann Arbor Business Leader & Edwards Brothers Chairman, Dead at 74

Ann Arbor, MI (August 2006)—Book and journal manufacturer Edwards Brothers is mourning the loss of Chairman Martin (Marty) Edwards, who died Monday, August 7, 2006. The well-respected and successful businessman was 74.

Marty Edwards joined Edwards Brothers — which was founded by his grandfather, John J., and two brothers in 1893 — in 1954 after receiving his Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. After graduation he spent two years in the U.S. Army. Upon returning to the U.S., Marty began his career at EB.

Sustained growth.

After serving in a variety of roles from sales to general manager, in 1975, Marty Edwards became President of the then third generation company (taking over for his brother, Joe, who had been president since 1949), serving in that capacity until 1998 when son John was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. Daughter Laura serves as company Marketing Specialist and son James is Director of New Business Development. (Another son, Stephen, composes music for films.)

Marty stayed on board as Chairman, and helped nurture the company to its current position as Michigan's largest privately owned book and journal manufacturer. He also remained active in the Book Manufacturing Institute (BMI) as well as a board member for Hillsdale College, and other trade, academic, and civic organizations. He received plenty of recognition for his leadership skills and management style, too, including induction into the Printing Impressions Hall of Fame, as well as the Signature Award for Lifetime Achievements in 2001 from the BMI.

A proven formula.

In a 2001 interview, Marty reflected on Edwards Brothers' formula for success and lessons learned from his father:

"Of all that my father taught me, three main things stick out in my mind. Number one: take care of your people. Don't just pay them and allow them to put a roof over their heads, but help them develop their careers so they can reach fulfillment themselves, just as we are enjoying our lives and fulfilling our expectations. Number two: get the very best equipment; don't skimp on it. You need quality equipment to help you do quality work. Number three: stay focused on your product niche."

He stayed true to these principles and today, Edwards Brothers has 9 sales offices and employs more than 700 people in three short to medium run production facilities: the Ann Arbor headquarters, and two plants in Lillington, North Carolina. The company also operates several remote digital operations in customer locations across the United States and in Plymouth, England. Sales in 2005 topped $77 million.

Customer kudos.

Respected in and out of the boardroom — as well as on and off the golf course, where he boasted an 8 handicap and made regular appearances as an amateur in the Bob Hope Classic — Marty Edwards is described by longtime customer-turned-close friend Jed Lyons, President of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group in Lantham, Maryland, as "one of the most exceptional human beings I've ever met: a true gentleman. I've always thought he was a Midwestern Connecticut Yankee — hard-nosed, tough minded, an unassuming, self-effacing man with a heart of gold. He's loyal to his friends and customers. He has all those old-fashioned values, along with a good sense of humor." But perhaps, Marty Edwards best summed up his lifelong pursuits when he described his career this way:

"This [family printing heritage] has been a wonderful opportunity for me. With it came some very important responsibilities to our employees, customers, suppliers, and to the community. It all adds up to something called stewardship, which I've taken pretty seriously." And which has been ingrained in the minds and business styles of his children as they continue his legacy.

"Our father taught us how to operate a successful business honestly and fairly, treating our employees, suppliers, and customers as we would like to be treated. We look forward to continuing our family's long history of innovation and service to the publishing community," said Edwards Brothers President and CEO John Edwards.

Edwards Brothers, National Book Network Take Digital Book Production across the Pond

New facility set to print and ship books in UK, June, 2005

Ann Arbor, MI (April 2005)—Edwards Brothers, the book and journal manufacturer headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI, has entered into an agreement with National book Network (NBN), part of Rowman & Littlefield publishing Group of Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania. The result is Edwards Brothers UK, Ltd., a digital book production facility inside the national book Network International (NBNi) operation in Plymouth, England. NBN acquired the Plymouth site in 2003. By June, Edwards Brothers UK Ltd. expects to be producing and shipping books on demand for Rowman & Littlefield and for NBNi client presses in the UK and Europe.

According to John Edwards, President and CEO, "This new site in England is a logical extension of our decades-long relationship with Rowman & Littlefield. Now, thanks to our trademarked "Life of Title" inventory management strategy, we can produce and distribute books on demand for NBNi and their UK and European publisher clients and customers – more quickly and efficiently than ever before."

James E. (Jed) Lyons, President of RLPG, agrees: "Edwards Brothers is an expert at print-on-demand. And now with this expanded relationship, we can help our clients better manage inventory with a competitively priced, true on demand option in conjunction with the ability to print small quantities and keep titles alive indefinitely. This solution integrated POD seamlessly with NBNi's order processing system so digitally printed titles are perpetually available. As a result, our clients in the U.S. and abroad will save money, reduce waste, and – most importantly in such a competitive environment – keep their own customers happy."

In 2004, Edwards Brothers trademarked "Life of Title", a print on demand inventory management process. This process is designed to eliminate excess inventory and enhance client profit potential by producing books in the right quantity, at the right time, and on the right press configuration.

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc. is Michigan's largest privately owned book and journal manufacturing firm. Edwards Brothers specializes in short, medium, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has eight sales offices and employs more than 700 people in four facilities; the Ann Arbor, Michigan headquarters; two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina; and, Wolverine Printing and Publishing in Hutchinson, Kansas. Sales in 2004 exceeded $75 million.

Ann Arbor Firms Earn 2004 Optimas Award

Edwards Brothers, Malloy Inc., Washtenaw County EDC, and Washtenaw Literacy Share English as A Second Language Tutoring Program Partnership Honors.

Ann Arbor, MI (March 3, 2004)—A unique partnership between Ann Arbor-based book manufacturers Edwards Brothers, Inc. and Malloy, Inc. - and driven by the Washtenaw County Economic Development Council and Washtenaw Literacy, a volunteer-based non-profit agency - has been recognized with a 2004 Optimas Award in the Partnership category. The award from Workforce Management, sponsor of the annual competition, is the result of an innovative and successful English as A Second Language (ESL) program pairing volunteer employee-tutors with fellow employees in need of improved English language skills. The 2004 Optimas Awards presentation will be held on March 25 at the Four Seasons Chicago.

ESL was piloted in early 2001. According to Chris Roberts, executive director at Washtenaw Literacy, "Many human resource details needed to be addressed collectively before this project could move forward." Since then, volunteers from both companies have worked with fellow employees who do not use English as their primary language to help them broaden their English communication skills and gain a better understanding of American - and more specifically, workplace - culture. "The result? Participants improve their ability to understand directions and ask questions on the job, resulting in increased safety, quality, and production results," says Roberts. "Multi-tasking and proactive initiative become possible as their level of understanding increases. Worker morale improves and resentments held by English-speaking co-workers dissipate"

To date, eight Edwards Brothers employee tutors have volunteered more than 1,000 documented hours to work one-on-one with eight co-workers. At Malloy, 12 tutors have worked with eight learners, mirroring Edwards Brothers' documented hours. "In addition to the documented time, the tutors and learners each spend a substantial amount of personal time preparing for the sessions," says Bill Upton, president of Malloy, Inc.

The Optimas Awards are given annually to 10 outstanding organizations that have demonstrated how their workforce management strategies, policies, and programs affect the bottom-line success of their organizations. This year, the ESL partners are being honored alongside several Fortune 500 companies including Mattel, Union Pacific Railroad, Lockheed Martin, and General Motors, among others. "In and of itself, the tremendous success of our ESL partnership is quite an accomplishment," says Edwards Brothers' Employee Relations Manager Colleen Hosken. "We're proud to be recognized with an Optimas Award for our efforts in partnership with Malloy, Washtenaw Literacy, and the Washtenaw County EDC, not to mention being selected along with some of the biggest names in American business."

Edwards Brothers President and CEO John Edwards, who also sits on the Washtenaw Literacy Council board, agrees. "Our English as a Second Language program has proven to really work for our tutors and their students. It's very gratifying so receive industry recognition for this innovative approach to helping all of our employees succeed in the workplace, and beyond." Bill Upton concurs. "Malloy's group of ESL learners has been as successful in our workplace as any group of eight people we have hired in recent years. As a group, the learners are very bright and well motivated. However, without the help provided by our ESL program, the language barriers they faced would have made it very difficult for them to succeed here."

In summing up the award-winning ESL program, Chris Roberts says, "The participating companies have demonstrated a high level of commitment to the project and improving the skills of their respective employees in order to make this level of cooperation possible. I do not know of any other collaborations that cross-sectors the way this one does." Upton attributes the program's success to the content developed by Washtenaw Literacy and the dedication and commitment of everyone involved. "Each pair of learners and tutors has developed a relationship built on trust, pride, collaboration, generosity, deep friendship, and respect. I think it's those relationships that have kept the program going for more than three years."

Edwards Brothers, Scholastic Books Partner on Final Harry Potter Adventure

Confidential Assignment Keeps Plants Busy Into Summer for Book & Journal Manufacturer

Ann Arbor, MI (June 21, 2003)—With the long-anticipated global release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on June 21 comes word that local book and journal manufacturer, Edwards Brothers, played a key role in placing the title on the summer reading lists of millions of readers worldwide. The Ann Arbor-based company was tapped by publishing giant Scholastic Books to run a half-million copies of the coveted title, part of an 8-million-copy initial run.

Within hours of the announcement in January that J.K. Rowling's fifth and final installment of the boy wizard's adventures was on its way, Order of the Phoenix had already topped the bestseller lists of both Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Several months later, Edwards Brothers was part of the phenomenon.

The ‘top secret' order from Scholastic Books marked Edwards Brothers' third Harry Potter adventure. The company printed 200,000 each of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Volume 2) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Volume 3) two years ago. Then, beginning in mid-May, Edwards Brothers printed 75,000 copies in Ann Arbor and 50,000 copies in its Lillington, North Carolina plant each week for a month. "Keeping the job under wraps took a little doing," says John Edwards, President and CEO. To thwart the chance of bootleg release, employees - and select vendors and plant visitors - were required to sign a confidentiality agreement. In return, each employee received a complimentary copy of the new book on the release date. As a further safeguard amid tight security, Edwards Brothers shipped books to Scholastic weekly as units were completed.

"It's been an exciting opportunity for us to be part of Harry Potter-mania beyond this order for 500,000 copies of the latest title," continues Edwards. "After all, J.K. Rowling has created a storybook hero with unparalleled powers. Who would have ever dreamed that children of all ages would turn off their TVs and put down their Game Boys in favor of a comfortable chair and a book?"

Research shows that children who start reading early develop a lifelong love of books. "That's good for them and for our industry," Edwards concludes.

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc. is Michigan's largest privately owned book and journal manufacturing firm specializing in short, medium, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has eight sales offices and employs more than 800 people in four facilities: the Ann Arbor, Michigan headquarters; two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina; and, its newest acquisition, Wolverine Printing and Publishing (formerly Polk City Directories) in Hutchinson, Kansas. Sales in 2002 exceeded $80 million.

The Future is Now: MIT Press Launches Print-on-Demand Program

Ann Arbor, MI (2003)—Saying that the time has arrived to end "a perennial problem for book publishers," the MIT Press this week announced that it has officially launched an ambitious print-on-demand (POD) publishing program to keep available titles on the press's backlist regardless of demand. In partnership with Edwards Brothers printing, the MIT Press Classics Series now offers more than 250 Classics Series titles, with the list scheduled to include 1,750 titles by the year's end. Orders are routed directly to Edwards in Ann Arbor, MI for production and fulfillment, with U.S. customers promised delivery of their books within seven business days.

MIT Press's Gina Manaktala said the program, which MIT has been developing for the better part of a decade, "is one that could transform the industry." The model could be especially good news for university presses, whose specialized lists and short-run titles suffer acutely from the costs of warehousing, printing, and fulfillment. The value of POD has been touted by university presses for several years, with the results not quite living up to the hype. But MIT officials say this program is different.

This is how it works. MIT Press provided Edwards Brothers PDF files of Classics Series titles. R.R. Donnelly/Allentown Digital Services "pre-flighted" those files, checking fonts, image resolution, and other issues to ensure the quality of the finished book. Metadata, including author, title, ISBN, unit price, and type of file, was also added and the final text and cover files, ready for POD, also delivered to Edwards Brothers. For now, all MIT Press Classics titles will have uniform black covers, but future titles will retain their original cover designs. Within 48 hours of the initial order, the book is printed, bound, packaged and shipped-- completely bypassing the Press's warehouse. "Ultimately, the goal is for all MIT Press books to be available to customers who may want them, even if their sales have fallen below the point at which we could afford to print and warehouse them conventionally," notes MIT Press Marketing Director Vicki Lepine. For more information, see mitpress.mit.edu/Classics.

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc. is Michigan's largest privately owned book and journal manufacturing firm specializing in short, medium, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. The fourth-generation family business has eight sales offices and employs more than 800 people in four facilities: the Ann Arbor, Michigan headquarters; two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina; and, its newest acquisition, Wolverine Printing and Publishing (formerly Polk City Directories) in Hutchinson, Kansas. Sales in 2002 exceeded $80 million.

Edwards Brothers Celebrates 110 Years of Success

4th Generation Family Business is Michigan's Oldest Privately-Owned Book & Journal Manufacturer

Ann Arbor, MI (May 7, 2003)—Recognized as a Michigan centennial business in 1993, Ann Arbor-based Edwards Brothers, Inc. is celebrating another milestone on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 110 years and four generations of book and journal manufacturing. As Michigan's largest privately owned book and journal manufacturing firm, Edwards Brothers specializes in short, medium, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others.

To mark this year's milestone, Edwards Brothers sponsored an anniversary logo design competition among its employees. More than 50 entries were received. The winning design has been imprinted on T-shirts and will be presented to each employee at the Company's monthly plant meeting. As part of the anniversary celebration, biannual profit sharing checks will also be distributed. (Edwards Brothers initiated a profit sharing plan in 1949 and has paid out more than $14 million over the past 54 years.)

"We're proud to be going strong despite the recent economic downturn," says President and CEO John J. Edwards, great-grandson and great-great-nephew of the Company's founders. "Our goal is to become a more valuable partner to both our employees and our customers. This anniversary shows that we've been, and continue to be, successful in achieving that goal."

Founded in 1893 by three brothers who recognized a business opportunity in mimeographing and selling their University of Michigan Law School lecture notes, Edwards Brothers was first located in a small office on Main Street in Ann Arbor. As business and staff size grew, Edwards Brothers added offset presses and constructed a new plant on John Street in the 1920s. In 1954, Edwards Brothers broke ground on its present headquarters facilities at 2500 South State Street.

Through the years since, business has grown steadily, creating the need for more room to house new presses, cameras, typesetting, and building equipment. The first major addition was completed in 1959, followed by three more in the years to come, bringing the facility to 196,000-square-feet in 1973.

In 1979, Edwards Brothers acquired The Graphic Press, located just a few blocks from the capitol in Raleigh, North Carolina, to provide additional pre-press, press, and soft bindery capacity. Recognizing the limitations of this downtown location for an expanding operation, the Company - now known as Edwards Brothers Carolina - moved to its new home, Lillington, in 1983. This facility's proximity to many major customers enables Edwards Brothers to offer convenience and enhanced customer service. Today, EB-Carolina operates two plants (one for soft bound work and the other for hard bound work) with over 100,000 square feet of space and combined sales in excess of $30 million.

Edwards Brothers expanded into digital book production by opening the Digital Book Center in 1997. Then, in 2000, Edwards Brothers located an on-demand book manufacturing center in a customer's warehouse - the first of a growing roster of on-site and remote custom printing solutions crafted to meeting changing customer needs. These new operations focus on the production of ultra-short run book production - run lengths of 50 to 250 copies, or less - and offer both case and perfect bound capabilities using traditional book paper and cover materials.

"This marriage of progressive technology and innovative partnerships demonstrates Edwards Brothers' commitment to the future," says Edwards.

In 2001, Edwards Brothers acquired Hutchinson, Kansas-based Wolverine Printing and Publishing from Polk City Directories of Livonia, Michigan. This 50,000-square-foot specialty facility complements Edwards Brothers' existing business and adds significant capacity.

In 2002, Edwards Brothers embarked on an ambitious, multi-year investment in new technology, committing more than $12 million for a variety of equipment configurations at every plant. "Our ability to keep ahead of trends is not new," explains Edwards. "Since the very beginning, EB has been an innovator - first with my great-grandfather and his brothers mimeographing and selling their law school lecture notes and more than a hundred years later, creating an innovative approach to extending the title life and marketability of publishers' more obscure backlists. We're so passionate about the latter, in fact, that we have trademarked the phrase Life of Title®.

"Today, Edward Brothers' unique selling proposition is our knack at putting together custom publishing solutions that help our customers improve their profitability and, in turn, improve our own chances of success," Edwards says. "From what we can tell, it appears to be working."

Edwards Brothers has been recognized both nationally and locally as an employer of distinction, earning back-to-back recognition by Printing Industries of America as a Best Workplace in America/Best of the Best. The Company has eight sales offices and employs more than 800 people in its four production facilities. More than 35% of EB's employee base has been with the Company for ten or more years, and dozens of families and over 300 family members are on staff. Sales in 2002 were nearly $80 million.

Making Progress at Edwards Brothers North Carolina Operation

Lillington, North Carolina (May 2002)—After weeks of preparation and anticipation, the first of five new MAN-Roland sheetfed presses that were custom-designed for Edwards Brothers and its customers arrived in Lillington. Five trucks were required to bring the massive, 61-ton press to the plant. It arrived on March 18 and 19. Man-Roland representatives have been onsite since delivery, setting the press up for testing and training which began in mid-April.

The new MAN-Roland 900 will deliver high quality offset printing while significantly out-producing the sheetfed presses currently installed at EBC. According to Ken Buss, EBC operations manager, "The high quality and high production are possible due to the advanced technology incorporated into all aspects of the press including automatic blanket washers and automatic ink roller wash-up devices."

Many press functions can be performed from the operator's console including ink control, stock thickness adjustment and format adjustment. In addition, the press is equipped with semi-automatic plate changer. Lastly, a computerized diagnostic system monitors the mechanical and electrical elements of the press at all times. EBC's MAN-Roland press will begin running live work in early May.

Edwards Brothers' North Carolina Plant Prepares for First Man-Roland Press

Lillington, NC (April 2002)—Lillington has been busy making room for the first of five MAN-Roland presses that will be acquired by Edwards Brothers over the next three years. Barring anything unforeseen, the press, which was crated and shipped from Germany in early March, arrived in North Carolina in early April. The second will be delivered to Ann Arbor this fall.

According to EBC Division Manager Ken Buss, preparations for the massive press began on February 12 and included building forms, reinforcing steel, and pouring a new foundation following MAN-Roland's exact specifications. "Because the press weighs 122,000 pounds (that's 61 tons!), the foundation must support 4,000 pounds per square inch," he said. "That required pouring 50 yards of cement, and took six trucks, seven men, and three hours to complete." After 12 days, the preparations wrapped up on March 1 and awaiting the installation scheduled for April 1.

Edwards Brothers Chairman of the Board Named to Printing Impressions Hall of Fame

Induction ceremonies to be held in Chicago at PRINT 01 on September 10

Ann Arbor, MI (June 2001)— Martin Edwards, Chairman of Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Edwards Brothers, Inc., has been selected as an inductee into the 2001 Printing Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame, co-sponsored by Printing Impressions magazine and the Rochester Institute of Technology School of Printing Management and Sciences. He is among a group of four industry leaders chosen for this honor from a field of approximately 40,000 printing companies across the United States.

Each year, Printing Impressions inducts four individuals into the Hall of Fame based on their nomination and selection by the executive directors of the Printing Industries of America, National Printing Equipment and Supplies, Graphic Arts Technical Foundation and National Association of Printers & Lithographers, as well as the magazine staff and RIT. Other 2001 inductees joining Edwards include: Donald Duncanson, Dynacolor Graphics, Miami, Florida; John Fosmire, Anderson Lithograph, Los Angeles, California; and Gerald Henseler, Banta Corporation, Menasha, Wisconsin.

"I am delighted to be in such great company," says Edwards regarding his fellow inductees. "This industry recognition is a real honor to me, personally, and a great tribute to the fine work we've been doing at Edwards Brothers for more than 100 years."

To formally induct the 2001 Hall of Fame honorees, a special reception and dinner will be held during PRINT 01 on Monday, September 10, at McCormick Place in Chicago. This event coincides with the annual Gold Ink Awards (printing contest) and the Production Executives Hall of Fame ceremony, honoring four outstanding print buyers. In addition, the September edition of Printing Impressions — featuring the winners' profiles — will be distributed to the publication's more than 86,000 readers. Inductee names will also be permanently inscribed on a plaque hanging at RIT.

Martin Edwards, who joined Edwards Brothers in 1954 after receiving his Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan, remains Chairman of the Board after turning his responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer over to son John, Edwards Brothers President, earlier this year. He remains active in the Book Manufacturing Institute and other trade, academic, and civic organizations.

About Edwards Brothers: Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers, Inc. is Michigan's largest privately owned book and journal manufacturing firm specializing in short, medium, and ultra-short runs for publishers, authors, scholarly societies, industrial firms, universities, and others. Sales in 2000 exceeded $77 million. The company has eight sales offices and employs nearly 900 people in four facilities: the Ann Arbor, Michigan headquarters; two production plants in Lillington, North Carolina; and, its newest acquisition, Wolverine Printing and Publishing (formerly Polk City Directories) in Hutchinson, Kansas.

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News [Press Releases]

Sustained growth.

A proven formula.

Customer kudos.