Quad/Graphics Debuts New Oklahoma City Operation

OKLAHOMA CITY—Quad/Graphics recently inaugurated operations at its newest plant with a grand opening celebration headlined by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry, Newsweek magazine executives and Quad/Graphics President and CEO Tom Quadracci.

The event—which featured a plant dedication and ribbon cutting, equipment startup, lunch and tours—drew approximately 500 guests, including Oklahoma state, county and city officials, as well as Quad/Graphics employees and family members.

The new Oklahoma City plant, located off I-240, is Quad/Graphics' ninth domestic printing plant and the company's first printing facility west of the Mississippi River. The company is also constructing another 385,000 square feet of manufacturing space to accommodate the startup of gravure operations in the fall of 2004. Once completed, Quad/Graphics will have three gravure facilities nationwide.

The expansion will also enable the company to immediately grow existing web offset printing and finishing capabilities. When complete one year from now, the 603,200-square-foot plant will reportedly be the single largest print production facility west of the Mississippi River and represent a total investment of more than $130 million.

Why Oklahoma?

Quad/Graphics announced its intent to expand to Oklahoma City in December 2000—following the purchase of 168 acres of land—and broke ground in October 2002.The printer chose Oklahoma City over other locations, including Phoenix and Dallas, for a variety of reasons, the most important of which were the state's central U.S. location, affordable utilities, an abundance of skilled labor and a desirable quality of life. The printer anticipates hiring another 150 employees by the fall of 2004 to accommodate its rapid growth.

"We're proud to make this investment on behalf of our clients to ensure that they have access to the most modern, most advanced printing capabilities anywhere," enthuses Tom Quadracci.

Despite economic uncertainty, the printer has moved forward with construction of the plant because "we believe in the U.S. economy and we believe in Oklahoma," Quadracci adds.

"We want to be ready when the economy turns around. As Will Rogers once said, 'Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.' We intend to be ready."

Quadracci also announced that Quad/Graphics will install a variety of equipment next year for fall 2004 production, including:

* Two 108˝ Cerutti gravure presses, fully automated from cylinder loading through signature delivery and equipped with Quad/Tech computerized process controls.

* Two fully automated Hell Helioklischograph K6 gravure cylinder engravers, which are so technologically advanced, they can practically run unattended in the dark, according to Quadracci. The engravers reportedly will be the first of their kind to be put into live production in the world.

* An eight-unit, gapless MAN Roland ROTOMAN 2x6 press, bringing the plant's total number of web offset presses to three.

* Three saddle stitchers, bringing the facility's total number of stitchers to six.

As part of the plant dedication, Quadracci announced that the main entrance would be named "Admiral's Way" in honor of the late Harry V. Quadracci.

" 'Admiral' was the name by which many employees knew Harry, so we thought it appropriate to remember him always," Quadracci says of his late brother. "And while Harry isn't physically here with us today to celebrate, I know he is present here on some level."

Following a ribbon cutting outside the plant, guests were invited inside to celebrate the installation of the company's first pieces of equipment. Quadracci and Angelo Rivello, senior vice president of manufacturing and worldwide distribution for Newsweek, led the startup of the plant's first MAN Roland ROTOMAN 2x6 press, which was running advance forms of Newsweek's November 10 issue.

"In the 1970s, Newsweek took a chance on a fledgling printer, giving us the traction we needed to become what we are today," Quadracci notes. "We are proud to be Newsweek's largest printer and its best, having earned Newsweek's coveted 'Printer of the Year' award for the past 18 consecutive years."

"Having this state-of-the-art facility here is going to add to our operations in a way we've dreamed about for a very long, long time," adds Rivello. "The plant's location will enable Quad/Graphics to better service Newsweek readers in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana, which are growing states for the magazine's business."

Eventually, Quad/Graphics' Oklahoma City plant could encompass two million square feet and employ more than 1,000 Oklahomans.