Edwards Brothers Inc.

Book publishers are not alone in their attempts to adapt and thrive in a new digital era. Since the introduction of the ebook, printers have faced a radically different industry, one in which print demand has slowed and publishers seek the efficiencies of digital production and distribution. Printers have been forced, much like publishers, to reassess their value in the industry, be more nimble, and find new ways to cut costs and improve efficiencies.

The following are deals, court filings and closures in the printing, packaging, paper and related industries for the month of July: Transactions in the book printing industry took center stage in July; the headline act was the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of Cengage Learning. The company is now moving rapidly to a digital strategy, as it seeks to shed more than $4 billion in debt through the bankruptcy process. CEO Michael Hansen, as reported by Bloomberg, squarely placed the blame on the company itself for not adopting digital quickly enough.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) presented Edwards Brothers Malloy with its 2013 Business Leadership Award, which recognizes outstanding paper recycling programs. The award was presented to John Edwards, President and CEO, and Bill Upton, Vice President of Operations, at the Book Manufacturers’ Institute Spring Management Conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina on April 29th.

The six major annual book design shows listed above continue to anchor our industry in its traditions of craft, even though painfully unadorned ebooks and cluttered multimedia platforms proceed apace, charting their own course. Whatever the wide range of book show presenting criteria, as shown in the survey that follows, ultimately the purpose of book design is to enhance the readability and message of the book itself. 

Print will survive and thrive in those areas where it continues to fulfill that purpose. Where digital media prevail, irrepressible design aspirations will soon follow.

While some shows are beginning to provide digital edition categories (mostly fixed format and multi-media), print editions continue to be foundational platforms for book design and organization — at least for the time being. Leading edge designers are exploring ways to bring design criteria into the reflowable formats.

[Press Release] Ann Arbor, MI (November 29, 2012)—For over a century, Edwards Brothers Malloy has been a leader in 1- and 2-color book manufacturing.  With the purchase of a 40” Heidelberg Speedmaster offset sheetfed press dedicated to 4-color text work, Edwards Brothers Malloy can now offer 4-color book and journal printing in runs from one to 3,000 copies.  The Heidelberg offset press will be fully operational in the company’s State Street plant in Ann Arbor by the middle of January 2013.

Edwards Brothers Malloy is pleased to announce its support for World Book Night, an annual celebration designed to spread a love of reading and books.  In one day, April 23, 2012, the organization and its thousands of volunteers will go out into their communities to promote books and reading by giving out half a million free paperbacks.

Edwards Brothers, Inc. and Malloy Incorporated, two leading book manufacturers, announced today that they would merge effective February 6, 2012, forming a new company called Edwards Brothers Malloy. The new company will have combined sales of $115 million and will be the sixth largest book manufacturing firm in the United States, offering publishers a global distributed print program and fulfillment services that combine to form a single print supply chain solution.

Edwards Brothers Inc. has been awarded the Best Workplace in the Americas designation, Best of the Best 2011, for its human resources practices.

Begun by Printing Industries of America to specifically honor printing companies that provide a superior work environment, this year marks the 12th year of the Best Workplace in the America's program.

Printing Industries of America is a graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with approximately one million employees.

Edwards Brothers announced that it has received chain-of-custody certification from the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) for both its Ann Arbor and Lillington, North Carolina, offset manufacturing facilities.  Edwards Brothers now carries certifications from PEFC, the Forest Stewardship Council®, and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® programs.

Edwards Brothers announced the opening of a digital print center in Oxnard, Calif., making it the tenth digital print center owned or operated by Edwards Brothers.