A Green Bay printer is growing, so it's building a new facility and adding jobs
LAWRENCE — A Green Bay printing business is building a new facility, and new jobs are expected to come along with the move.
Seaway Printing scheduled a groundbreaking Thursday for its 57,000-square-foot office, production and warehouse facility at 2812 American Blvd., in the town of Lawrence. It was designed and will be constructed by Bayland Buildings, Inc., which is located in Green Bay and has more than 200 employees.
Seaway Printing employs more than 85 people and is a leading publications printer which serves publishers nationwide, according to a news release. The origins of the business date back to 1884, when the original company opened its doors as a book manufacturer.
“We are a company made up of a diverse team of talented, dedicated people who have worked hard to help establish our reputation for excellence in the industry," Kevin Heslin, Seaway's president said in the release.
"The new facility enables us to provide the highest quality print solutions to our customers, to continue supporting the community, creating job opportunities and building upon a legacy of excellence and innovation at Seaway," he said.
Why is Seaway building a new facility?
The new facility will accommodate Seaway's "rapid growth."
"The company has experienced significant success," with a 20% compound annual growth rate over the last seven years, "fueling their decision to expand operations into new facilities," according to the release.
There are multiple reasons for this, said Steve Gumm, vice president of marketing.
Seaway built a reputation for itself among publishers as a reliable partner that continues to elevate the level of quality and service it provides, Gumm said. Plus, Seaway was an early adopter of inkjet technology, "which opened up significant new opportunities in the market and better serve our existing customers," Gumm said.
There's also been an increase in mergers and consolidation of printers across the country over the years, leaving many publishers looking for alternatives, and Seaway has filled that need, he said.
Seaway is focused on serving a specific niche of publishers, allowing the company to plan ahead, according to Gumm.
"When the industry experienced a paper shortage due to supply chain problems, we were ready," he said. "Thanks to our long-standing partnership with our paper supplier, we had paper when other printers were out of inventory, helping us to fill that need and earn new customers."
More: Why tissue, packaging and specialty papers look promising for Wisconsin's paper industry
When will the new facility be ready?
Construction is expected to be done by the end of the year, and Seaway tentatively plans to move in by the end of 2023 or early 2024, Gumm said.
Will Seaway hire more people with the new facility?
"Our continued growth means we are always adding new jobs," Gumm said.
Seaway is currently looking for experienced operators for open positions, he said, and the company plans to hire 10 to 15 new employees in 2024.
What will happen with Seaway's current location?
The company leases its space at 1609 Western Ave., in Green Bay, Gumm said.
More: Here's how some Wisconsin paper mills have remained family or locally owned amid industry shifts
What does Seaway make?
"We take great pride in serving publishers across the nation, including some of the most renowned names in the industry," Gumm said. "From captivating graphic novels to indispensable educational materials, as well as thought-provoking journals and magazines, we have a deep understanding of what it takes to bring ideas to life."
Reach Becky Jacobs at bjacobs@gannett.com or 920-993-7117. Follow her on Twitter at @ruthyjacobs.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Seaway Printing hires Bayland Buildings to build Lawrence facility
