Nationwide Graphics

Consolidators, independents discuss merits of selling the business to a roll-up company. BY ERIK CAGLE To sell or not to sell? A difficult question with no easy, or clear-cut, answers. The last 15 years have been marked by considerable growth in the commercial printing industry. That growth has been bolstered by awe-inspiring advances in technology: computer-to-plate, offset press automation and digital prepress advances, which have all streamlined production processes and decreased turnaround time. By building a better mousetrap, printers large and small have made their industry highly competitive. While the National Association of Printers and Lithographers projects industry growth in the 4 percent range

HOUSTON—Nationwide Graphics, based here, has stepped up its consolidation efforts by recently acquiring three commercial printing/graphic arts companies. Nationwide has purchased Graphics West of Las Vegas, Lasertech Graphic Services of Miami and Offset Atlanta as part of a continuing effort to expand its printing and graphic arts portfolio. "Graphics West, Lasertech and Offset Atlanta are excellent initial platforms from which Nationwide intends to become a leading consolidator of commercial printing and graphic arts companies," notes Carl L. Norton, chairman and CEO of Nationwide. "Nationwide was founded to create a leading commercial printing and graphic arts consolidator by acquiring profitable, well-managed companies whose previous owners