BOFORS Adds Kohnke Printing

San Mateo, CA—High-end sheetfed printing specialists BOFORS, based here, announces it has been joined by Kohnke Printing, of San Francisco.

The agreement gives BOFORS control of Kohnke Printing's accounts. Dave Kohnke, president of the Bay Area printer, liquidated its assets.

Kohnke wanted to be linked with a printer the quality of employee-owned BOFORS, which generated revenues in excess of $18 million in 1998.

"The 90 employee-owners at BOFORS take pride in their company and their work," Kohnke remarks. "We are proud to be associated with the BOFORS name."

BOFORS President Vit Eckersdorf feels Kohnke, a general commercial printer, is a perfect fit with BOFORS.

"Kohnke's long-standing reputation for quality printing, exemplary service and a 'who's who' of top corporate clients match up well with our equipment, technological prowess and employee-driven, customer-first focus," Eckersdorf remarks. "David has been in the business for a long time and has the expertise and knowledge. This is good for BOFORS."

Founded in 1946 by Trygve Bogevold and Kyell Forsmann as primarily a blueprint and drafting supplies business, BOFORS found its niche as a high-quality printer and has served the Bay Area in that capacity. BOFORS became an employee-owned company in 1978.

Over the last year and a half, the company has upgraded its prepress department to digital technologies. In addition, BOFORS recently added a new eight-color Heidelberg Speedmaster CD press to complement the capabilities of seven other Heidelberg presses, ranging from one to six colors.

BOFORS also boasts full finishing capabilities. Among its array of bindery equipment are a pair of Polar guillotine cutters, a folder and a Muller Martini Centurion saddle-stitcher.

Eckersdorf left the door open to the possibility of adding other companies with similar goals as BOFORS.

By Erik Cagle