U.S.-based TEAM Concept Printing, has purchased a six-color Komori Lithrone G40 (GL640) press to meet the demand of a growing customer base that is asking for more sophisticated packaging applications. The GL640 is TEAM Concept’s third Komori press and represents a significant milestone in the company’s carefully planned growth strategy.
“We understand the importance of being in the 40-inch market. It is important for us to be in that space so we can continue to grow and serve the needs of our clients,” said Tony Rouse, founder and CEO of TEAM Concept. “We’ve been positioning the company to make a move like this for the last 18 to 24 months.”
Rouse had been in the printing industry for more than a decade when he founded the company in 1998. Starting with eight employees and three small two-color presses, TEAM Concept predominantly acted as a trade printer working with brokers to resell the business cards and stationery the company produced. The business has grown over the years to accommodate changing customer demands. Today TEAM Concept employs 80 people and is expanding its plant in Carol Stream, Illinois, to 60,000 sq ft.
In 2008, Rouse and his partner, Vince Manini, obtained their first Komori, a 20″ x 28″ half-size press, through the acquisition of another firm. Since then, the company has added a Komori SX29 with H-UV capability. The SX29 enabled Rouse to get into specialty packaging, which currently accounts for 10-15% of its work. With the new GL640, he is looking forward to having the capability to handle larger packaging projects that can be produced on difficult stocks, like uncoated or matte, and to create special effects and embellishments with specialty UV coatings and reticulating varnishes. Additionally, Komori has guided him in the addition of diecutting and converting equipment, as well as folding and gluing equipment, to complete the production process.
