The printing company ‘ Walsworth’ has purchased the real estate that houses its Saint Joseph operation, located on Maiden Lane in Saint Joseph Township. Walsworth acquired IPC Print Services (a/k/a Imperial Printing) in 2010, taking over the building’s lease in the process, and has been utilizing the plant’s printing capabilities since then. Now, it has taken full ownership of the real estate.
“Purchasing this building tells our employees, and the Saint Joseph community, that we’re here to stay,” said Phil Archer, General Manager of Walsworth – Saint Joseph. “It’s another step in showing our commitment to this location.”
Lucas Vandermolen, the Manufacturing Support Manager at Walsworth – Saint Joseph, feels that the purchase is a big step for the future of the plant. “The investment to own our facility is a huge commitment by the Walsworth family to our employees, customers, and community,” said Vandermolen. “This purchase shows how much Walsworth values our plant and our people. This will help with our mission to create opportunities for our team, customers and communities through print.”
The company said the purchase was driven by the success of the Saint Joseph plant and its workers. “This is a culmination of our relationships with our customers, our growth as a plant, and how we’ve been able to make the most out of our past capital investments,” Archer added. “Bottom line, it’s a reflection on all the hard work our employees have put in to satisfy our customers’ needs.”
CFO Jeff Vogel feels that this decision speaks to the company’s overall strategy and values. “This just reaffirms that we are not short-term people,” Vogel said. “Our company is long-term-minded, and we feel strongly about the commitments we make to our employees and our communities. We’re just putting our money where our mouth is.”
Don Walsworth, president of Walsworth, concluded the company’s statement: “Through this purchase, Walsworth proudly shows its commitment to the community of Saint Joseph. We’re thankful for the hard work of our Saint Joseph employees, and how it has contributed to our company’s growth over the last decade.”
Walsworth is a family owned company with headquarters in Marceline, Missouri. It is said to be the third largest printer of both books and magazines in the United States. Walsworth has printing plants in Missouri, Wisconsin and here in St. Joseph.
