Branch-Smith Expands, Plans to Double Sales
FORT WORTH, TX—Branch-Smith Inc. recently completed a expansion, adding more than $2 million in equipment. The move is expected to double sales in its Printing Division by the end of the year 2000.
During the first half of 1999, Branch-Smith has reconfigured its printing plant and created what officials say are more efficient work processes. Newly installed equipment includes an eight-color Heidelberg press and new CTP prepress equipment.
David Branch, Branch-Smith's chairman and CEO, notes, "We are excited that our Printing Division's market focus on bound products has created such success and demand. These enhancements will enable us to improve our response to current customer needs while putting us in a position to grow very quickly."
More staff has also been added: Five sales and customer service representatives have already been added, and approximately 20 more employees will be hired over the next year.
Branch-Smith began in Fort Worth as Smith Printing Company, which was established in 1910 by Aaron Smith. Smith published the Weatherford Democrat newspaper before forming the company that bears his name. Fort Worth's oldest printing company, Branch-Smith officials say they are one of two ISO 9001-certified printers in Texas.
Branch-Smith comprises five separate divisions: Branch-Smith Printing; Branch-Smith Publishing; Branch-Smith Promotional Products; a computer services division; and Generations Design Group, a full-service advertising agency.
This summer, Branch-Smith Printing received the prestigious Texas Award for Performance Excellence, a recognition administered by the non-profit Quality Texas Foundation and endorsed by the governor's office as a means to promote business excellence and competitiveness by Texas companies.
In other recent Branch-Smith news, it acquired a majority interest in Real Estate Magazines, a publishing firm with offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth, which publishes five magazines affiliated with local building owners and managers associations across the United States.
