Brown Printing Launches Expansion

WASECA, MN—Brown Printing has approved a three-year project that will see a 150,000-square-foot expansion added to its headquarters here, increasing plant capacity by about 15 percent. The project, which carries a $55 million price tag, is slated to begin next month.

The project will include the replacement of two older presses with two modern, high-capacity web offset presses. Harry Popiel, Brown Printing's vice president of human resources, said that the company had yet to sign a purchase agreement but had narrowed the field to two manufacturers. Perfect binders will also be added to match the increase in printing capacity.

Other planned acquisitions include an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to transfer and store materials.

"This initiative follows similar plant expansions and technology upgrades that have been completed recently at our two other printing plants located at East Greenville, PA, and Woodstock, IL," notes Tom Engdahl, president and CEO of Brown Printing. "Taken as a whole, our technology upgrades and more efficient operations prepare the company to continue to compete effectively in the years ahead."

While some areas will see a reduction in staffing, Brown Printing will retrain those affected and place them in new positions, where possible. The company expects that the expansion project will ultimately increase total employment by 30 positions.