Business Spotlight: U.S. Reprographics moves into digital future

At first glance, U.S. Reprographics looks like any other print shop. Reams of paper are stacked in corners, mounting boards and other materials are propped up against the walls and the press is whirring away. However, there's a lot more to this four-person operation than meets the eye.

U.S. Reprographics is one of three divisions of Western Blue Print, a Kansas City company recently named as one of that city's top 10 businesses. Western Blue Print was founded in 1908 and the leaders at this 92-year-old company believe key printing services are moving to a digital format. All of the services provided by U.S. Reprographics, such as high-speed copying, color prints, large-format color and blacklines, are done digitally.

U.S. Reprographics client base primarily consists of architects, engineers, attorneys, and interior and graphic design artists.

Several years ago Western Blue Print began diversifying, and the company now has three divisions: U.S. Reprographics, Document Automation and Development (DAD) and American Repro.

DAD collects, stores, catalogs and distributes information. This information is captured using the latest technology, enhanced and then converted to an electronic format and stored on another medium, such as a CD-ROM.

According to Jeff Barthol, vice president of operations for Western Blue Print, the DAD division will experience tremendous growth in coming years as more people and businesses start converting their documents to an electronic format that takes up less space and can be searched more quickly. DAD already counts businesses such as National Geographic among its clients, and the company recently converted every issue of this popular magazine into a digital format. This information was republished as a CD-ROM set that now is being marketed.

American Repro, Western Blue Print's newest division, specializes in high-speed copy jobs. As with the company's other divisions, it offers free pick-up and delivery. In fact, free pickup and delivery for customers is probably the company's most traditional printing service.

Its computer network, on the other hand, is definitely its most progressive.

By using Western Blue Print's computer network, U.S. Reprographics can contact and ship digital files to any one of 120 print shops nationwide. These files are printed on-site, and then delivered to customers located nearby.

The computer network also allows the company to provide customers with other state-of-the-art printing services. As a result, U.S. Reprographics attracts a number of customers who need services provided by another Western Blue Print division, such as high-speed copying and document imaging.

"We have a computer network that lets us send work to other Western Blue Print divisions or to affiliated print shops located nationwide," said Troy Shirk, sales manager. "Because we can pass jobs around within each division, we can never take on too much work, and we rarely see a job that can't be handled by one of our divisions."

"Our computer network also provides our customers with a competitive advantage," Shirk said. "Architects and engineers in Springfield have been able to submit design proposals for jobs located outside of the area by using our network. It also allows them to work on more jobs because they continue to work right up to the deadline, and then ship it to the needed location where it will be received within a matter of minutes. They don't have to work around Fed Ex's timetable, or drive to another city to get a job delivered."

U.S. Reprographics has one of the largest bases of Oc 9800 digital printers and plotters in the country. Shirk, who has worked in the printing industry for more than 15 years, said Oc machines outperform other large-scale printers and plotters when it comes to speed and quality.

In addition, U.S. Reprographics sells or leases computerized printing equipment, software and other supplies to architectural, engineering and law firms in the area.

According to Manager Mike Guffey, the biggest challenge U.S. Reprographics faces is increasing its client base. Many businesses in the area already have standing contracts with local printers. Others aren't yet familiar with U.S. Reprographics, which started doing business in Springfield two years ago.

According to Guffey, U.S. Reprographics prices are very competitive, which has helped the company increase its local market share. Because it's part of a large company, U.S. Reprographics is able to negotiate volume rates for the supplies and equipment it buys. According to Guffey, these savings are passed along to the customer.

Still, pricing isn't everything, especially in the print industry where customer service is paramount.

"You have to earn the business of your customers," Shirk said. "People want things fast, they want quality service, and they want a good-looking product. We can give our customers all of these things because we use the latest computer technology and printing processes available. We are the future of printing."

U.S. Reprographics

Year founded: 1998

Owner's name: Western Blue Print LLC

Address and phone number: 1925 E. Bennett, Ste. F, Springfield 65804; 823-7568

Web site: www.westblue.com