Quad/Graphics: Daring to think differently
Quad/Graphics is the embodiment of one man’s dream to find “a better way.” That man was Harry V. Quadracci, who has been celebrated as much for his printing industry accomplishments as for his forward-thinking management philosophies. Harry launched Quad/Graphics on July 13, 1971, in an abandoned millwork factory in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.
Quad/Graphics’ big break came when we landed Newsweek in 1978. A turning point for our fledgling company, the weekly magazine work enabled us to establish a consistent workload and the opportunity to prove ourselves as a quality-minded, innovative print services provider. (We still print Newsweek today, as well as numerous other newsweeklies, prestigious monthly magazines, top catalogs and more.)
We continued our rapid-fire expansion, building additional plants and equipping them with the latest technology.
Today the next generation of Quadracci family leadership has emerged. Harry’s son, Joel, became President & CEO in 2006, the 35th anniversary of our company’s founding.
Today, Quad/Graphics is the largest privately held printing company in the United States, and we remain fully committed to realizing Harry’s vision of finding “a better way,” whether that is putting ink on paper, servicing customers beyond expectation or taking care of employees and their families.
QuadWinkowski: A Print Pioneer
The Winkowski company was established in 1998 by Tadeusz Winkowski, a printing entrepreneur, at the former Rolling Stock Repair Plant in Piła, Poland, a picturesque city in the northern part of Greater Poland. By merging the printing company in Piła with Supercolor, a Radzymin-based entity, as well as enlisting as a shareholder leading American printer Quad/Graphics, the Winkowski company was born.
Thinking ahead, Winkowski initiates a printing-oriented class at the Technical College in Piła. The syllabus is based on itsown original program.
At the same time we opened the sales and marketing office in Warsaw, with a staff of 8 people.
The company's annual turnover at that time was PLN 250 million.
In 1999, Winkowski implemented new CTP (Computer to Plate) technology. Today, 99 percent of all work is done using this technology. We also modernized our equipment by being the first in Poland to install Sunday M 4000 offset presses. An MM Korona perfect binding line was also installed.
Selective binding with ink-jet capabilities was added in 2000. Our capital expenditures enhanced our production possibilities and print quality. The number of press machines grew from 9 to 15 web offset machines and 3 sheetfed machines. By this time, a great number of publishers have put their trust in the company, which now prints more than 120 titles.
The year 2001 brought about many changes as well. We launched the second Sunday M 4000 press. The company began its European expansion by opening a sales office in Stockholm. Modern binding and stitching lines were put into place, enabling the company to meet a wide variety of client requirements and expectations. With up-to-date technology, the company provided comprehensive services.
Winkowski’s exports grew from 5.6 percent of total sales in 1998 to 18.7 percent in 2002. Despite the tough market situation and competition, our sales increased in 2002 and 2003. Improvement of the company's performance was possible as a result of large investment outlays and introduction of state-of-the-art technologies. We have been The Royale Castle partner since 2002, what shows, that we are interested in cultural and art promotion.
A Vienna office was opened in 2003 and its sales now constitute a quarter of the market share. QuadWinkowski won several awards: two Business Gazelles, 2003 New Technologies Leader, 2003 Gold Font and 2003 Gold Griffin for the best print in the Colourful Magazines category.
In 2004, we purchased a large-format Rapida 162 sheetfed press. Also that year, we installed a Sunday 3000 Duplex machine; one of only two printing presses of this type in Europe. An office was established in Germany. At this point, Winkowski exported to 22 countries, and the company became a serious competitor in the European market. New awards to the company included: the 2004 Gold Griffin in the Colourful Magazine category for the best print and the 2004 Success Leader. Sales increased significantly. During the 2004 Drupa Fair we signed contracts for 5 Heidelberg M 600 heatset presses, a VLF computer-to-plate Magnus system by Creo, and 9 CCS systems by QuadTech. Also in 2004 we purchased two more facilities from the Railway Stock Repair Works in Piła, thus increasing the area of both printing divisions to 65,500 sq.m.
In 2005, a logistics and printing center was established in Wyszków. This investment was based at a former Daewoo-FSO plant and was co-financed by the European Union. The investment in Wyszkow directly related to the protection of the environment, since it was implemented in an industrial plant left vacant by the previous occupant and then rehabilitated to eliminate risks to the environment. The environmental solutions, such as removal of asbestos and other materials, were also successfully applied in the factory in Pila.
As a result of the investments, more than 700 new jobs were created, with more than 400 jobs going to women. In the new space, an impressive equipment base was developed. Here, in addition to other machines, the company added the first large-format Rapida 162a for sheetfed printing; two sheet presses (a Speedmaster CD-102 and XL-105); a Magnus CTP system from Creo; and M1000 heatset and Sunday 3000 presses. Also in 2005, Tadeusz Winkowski, the Company’s Founder, earned the prestigious honor of Top Entrepreneur of 2005 in a competition organized by Ernst and Young. The company received the 2005 Certificate of Innovation, which is granted annually by the Polish Academy of Sciences to the 500 most innovative companies. The company also received the Diamond Griffin award for the best quality in printing for three consecutive years. In its first year of operation in Wyszków, the company established a printing-oriented class at the local technical college.
In 2006, Winkowski opened a sales office in England. Wyszków operations expanded. Seventy percent of the estimated 50 million Euro investment is completed. Nine printing presses, two CTP systems, a modern bookbinding operation and shipping bay were in use at the printing plant in Wyszków. By this time there were approximately 600 employees working at Wyszków Centre with many more to come. Winkowski received another prestigious award, the Reliable Employer of 2005.
By 2007, Winkowski’s printing plants were among the largest and most modern in Europe as the company was an undisputed leader in Central and Eastern Europe. As much as 38 percent of its production was exported. 21 web presses, 7 sheetfed presses, and 22 finishing machines were operating in state-of-the-art printing plants. More than 600 titles were being produced. It was more than just business. Alongside Quad/Graphics, Winkowski supported printing education by funding one-year scholarships at a U.S. technical college near Quad/Graphics headquarters as well as providing the opportunity to work at Quad/Graphics’ U.S. printing plants (“Scholarship Passports”).
In 2008, the company became a full member of the Quad/Graphics worldwide network and the name was changed to QuadWinkowski. A new sales office was opened in Moscow, formally marking QuadWinkowski’s presence in Russia.