Springfield printing companies merge

Photo provided by Color-Graphic Printing Inc.

Robert McCann, right, sells McCann Printing to Color-Graphic Printing, led by CEO Grant Johnson.

Last edited 12:13 p.m., Aug. 30, 2018

Two roughly 50-year-old Springfield commercial printing companies are merging.

McCann Printing, founded in 1966, is merging into Color-Graphic Printing Inc., which debuted in 1969. Terms of the deal, through which Color-Graphic Printing is the surviving name, are undisclosed, said President and CEO Grant Johnson. The transition becomes effective Sept. 1.

“We don’t overlap a whole lot in our customer base,” Johnson said. “We tended to have a fairly friendly relationship even starting even with my dad and Robert. We didn’t go after each other’s customers as much.”

With the sale, McCann Printing President Robert McCann is moving into a sale position at Color-Graphic Printing. Johnson said up to five McCann Printing employees are joining Color-Graphic, noting some did not submit applications to switch their employment to the latter firm. He said no layoffs were made. McCann Printing, he said, had around 12 employees.

“We’re always looking for good quality people,” he said. “Robert will still be taking care of his customers and Color-Graphic Printing will be helping him provide the quality service that they have received over the years from him.”

Through the deal, Color-Graphic also gains McCann Printing’s equipment. McCann Printing’s digital printing equipment, for instance, provides a step up for Color-Graphic employees, and other pieces will be used as backup in case machinery goes down for maintenance.

Color-Graphic Printing, which was founded by Johnson’s grandparents and previously run by his father, recently underwent a roughly $700,000, 10,000-square-foot expansion to its plant at 4150 W. Division St.

The expansion allows Color-Graphic Printing to grow its digital and wide-format printing department, which also is aided by the purchase of McCann Printing, Johnson said.

Combined with McCann Printing, Color-Graphic Printing has roughly 600-700 customers, he said.