CGX Increases Ownership Stake in Japanese Company

HOUSTON—Consolidated Graphics (CGX) announced the formation of a new joint venture with Asian printer Yamagata Corp. The investment comes as CGX experiences an increased focus on international growth to service its multinational corporation customer base.

CGX has held a strategic alliance with Yamagata since 2008, and recently deepened the relationship with a 51 percent ownership stake in the joint venture’s Gero, Japan operation. The new entity, CGX Yamagata Japan GK, offers an advanced digital printing facility in Asia. The Gero facility is integrated with Consolidated Graphics’ digital production infrastructure, and broadens the services Yamagata and CGX provide to the clientele the business serves.

“We’ve worked closely with Yamagata leadership and operations for several years now, and our opportunities for partnership continue to grow,” says Steven Brown, executive vice president of international business development for Consolidated Graphics. “With the increased demand from our larger customers in the United States for international solutions, committing ourselves financially and strategically to growth in our capabilities is a natural next step.”

CGX Yamagata Japan will act as a commerce portal to Asia for CGX’s U.S.-based customers. Tapping into Yamagata’s extensive Asian production footprint that spans 12 countries, including China, Thailand, Malaysia and India, the new company is better equipped to meet clients’ goals as the result of additional CGX resources and personnel in the region.

In addition to the Gero, Japan, facility, CGX has acquired certain assets of Yamagata America to establish an international project management office in San Diego, which will focus on the management of international projects and programs.

Yamagata specializes in the production, translation and printing of instruction manuals for products such as automobiles, aircraft, televisions, mobile phones and personal computers.