News
Courier announces another expansion
5/4/2010
Author: Dennis Nartker
Published by: News Sun
Courier Corporation plans to expand its Kendallville book manufacturing plant and warehousing operation.
In an April 22 financial report, Courier chairman and Chief Executive Officer James F. Conway III announced the company will soon add a fourth main roland press to increase the Kendallville plant's four-color book manufacturing in both education and specialty trade. The new press operation will be available for the 2011 education season, according to Conway.
"As the economy struggled to emerge from recession, we continued to build for the future," said in the report. "We had good growth in sales in specialty trade books as well as sustained demand in education. Our plant utilization was high. We expect this strong demand for our four-color capacity to continue into 2011 based on our current level of business in the college market."
Mayor Suzanne Handshoe learned about Courier's local expansion plans last week, and described it as "fantastic news for Kendallville." The new press cost more than $25 million, and Courier officials anticipate it to be installed and running by December, she said.
Courier Corporation, based in North Chelmsford, Mass., is the third largest book manufacturer in the U.S. with 10 major operations across the country employing more than 1,900 workers. The Kendallville plant at 2500 Marion Drive in the East Industrial Park has 725 employees working three shifts. The local operation mainly prints textbooks and some specialty trade books.
In April 2009 Courier consolidated its warehouses by opening a $11.6 million, 200,000-square-foot warehousing operation at 3094 Lester Drive in the Roberts Addition to the East Industrial Park. At the time Courier officials announced the warehouse was part of a five-year, $30 million expansion of its Kendallville operations that would create 100-175 jobs. City Council granted Courier 10 years of tax abatement on the new warehouse site.
In December 2007 council granted Courier 10 years of tax abatement on $25 million of new equipment for its Kendallville plant.
The company's financial report did not state how many jobs the expansion will create in Kendallville. Handshoe said the Courier official she spoke to did not say how many jobs would be created. A Courier spokesman in North Chelmsford did not respond to phone messages and emails for comment.
Handshoe said the company will seek tax abatement on the new press and warehouse expansion. Its tax abatement requests will first go to the Economic Development Advisory Committee for review. Back to Top