The major printing company that acquired IPC in St. Joseph nearly ten years ago and transformed it into Walsworth is growing by acquisition once again, this time through the purchase of Ripon Printers of Ripon, Wisconsin. The move will help Walsworth annual revenues to exceed $200M in the New Year.
Walsworth has announced today they will acquire Ripon on December 31, 2019. They tell us that the purchase will enhance Walsworth’s print manufacturing capabilities, giving customers additional printing, direct mail, fulfillment and digital communications options into the future.
The Ripon Printers plant will remain open and regular production schedules will continue as planned, however they will operate under the Walsworth brand beginning January 1st, 2020.
Don Walsworth, President of Walsworth, says, “Walsworth and Ripon Printers share a similar history and culture,” and adds, “Like us, they have a long history as a family-owned company focused on meeting the needs of their customers, employees and communities.”
Ripon Printers’ roots date all the way back to the Civil War, when the Ripon Commonwealth Press began publication. In 1962, the Lyke family bought that newspaper, and a few years later a web press was purchased, enabling Ripon to diversify its product focus.
Officials at Walsworth say that the acquisition of Ripon is consistent with the company’s strategy for growth. The purchase will augment their catalog manufacturing operations, which will increase Walsworth’s market share in that space.
It was back in 2010 that the company purchased IPC in St. Joseph, and two years later, in 2012, they acquired The Ovid Bell Press in Fulton, Missouri. Both facilities are key operations, as Walsworth expects Ripon Printers to be as well. The company has made significant investments in people, capital and technology and its goal is to continue to grow across all locations.
After the acquisition, Walsworth’s annual revenue will exceed $200 million.
Walsworth is a top-five book printer, a top-10 magazine printer and is the only family-owned printer of yearbooks in America. Started in 1937 by Don Walsworth, current leadership is under the second and third generations: Don O. Walsworth, CEO, and his son, Don Walsworth, President.
The company operates from administrative offices and printing and binding facilities in Marceline, Missouri; a prepress facility in Brookfield, Missouri; a sales and marketing office in Overland Park, Kansas; and a printing facility here in Saint Joseph, Michigan. Additionally, Walsworth owns the Donning Company Publishers, a specialty book publisher, as well as The Ovid Bell Press, a printer of journals and magazines located in Fulton, Missouri.
