Type Center expands with relocation to College Street

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Jim Meinsen is taking the term "movable type" literally. Type Center Inc., where he serves as vice president, will move from 601 S. Grant Ave. to 615 W. College St. over the Labor Day weekend.|ret||ret||tab|

The new location, formerly the site of AAA Mailing Service, is one the company has had an eye on for a while. "We've said for several years now, Boy, if that building ever came on the market, we'd buy it,' And sure enough, it did about three months ago," Meinsen said. |ret||ret||tab|

Meinsen, who is the process of taking over ownership of The Type Center from his father-in-law, founder and president Fred Lorenz, said the company purchased the new location Aug. 7 from Craig Bills for $190,000.|ret||ret||tab|

Type Center prepares documents for the printing industry, converting graphic designers' work into printer-friendly formats. The company also works with advertisers on banners, laminating projects and trade-show graphics.|ret||ret||tab|

Type Center's original location on Grant, which first opened in December 1975, is now on the market for $89,900. Reba Huett, of Century 21 Heritage in Marshfield, is the listing agent.|ret||ret||tab|

Before purchasing the AAA building, Type Center owners took time to look at many other buildings in Springfield including the former KLFJ building at 811 Boonville Ave. and the former Roark printing building at 738 S. Glenstone Ave. While the Roark building was a good size, Meinsen said, the asking price of $435,000 was too much for his company, even considering the value of the site's visibility.|ret||ret||tab|

"We just don't need Glenstone or that frontage for the type of business we do," Meinsen said. Walk-in traffic is not a big part of the company's clientele.|ret||ret||tab|

While other buildings in Springfield did fit the company's price range, Meinsen said, "they just didn't quite fit our needs."|ret||ret||tab|

Many of the buildings needed more renovation than what the buildings were worth, Meinsen said. Only minor renovations will be necessary for the new College Street location. The company will spend about $4,500 to build a darkroom and for minor changes to the building. |ret||ret||tab|

To save money, the company will have employees take care of the moving process.|ret||ret||tab|

"We've got big pieces of equipment but nothing we can't handle," Meinsen said. "Considering the short distance we are moving, I don't think (the move) is going to be a big deal. We are literally moving a quarter to a half mile away at most."|ret||ret||tab|

With 5,800 square feet, the new location is more than double the size of the Type Center's current location and the new space is expected to increase productivity. In November 2002, the company added a new high-speed laminator that crowded the companies existing space. |ret||ret||tab|

"We have two laminators, a big one and a smaller, faster one, and we have to roll one in and roll the other out when we use them. Now we'll be able to set up a full line and we won't have to be moving equipment around," Meinsen said.|ret||ret||tab|

One thing that will move with the company is the challenge of a changing industry.|ret||ret||tab|

With the development of computer programs and decreasing material costs more companies are doing in-house work for film development, match prints and color proofs leaving less work for places like the Type Center. |ret||ret||tab|

The company's recent addition of a large format laminator was purchased in an effort to make up for the loss of profit in this area. Meinsen also hopes new marketing strategies will help support the new location.|ret||ret||tab|

"We're going to need to grow to pay for everything, but I don't think that is going to be a problem," Meinsen said. "There's a big market out there for courtroom graphics. As soon as we get moved I'll be looking into that area, calling lawyers and that sort of thing."|ret||ret||tab|

Moving comes at a good time since business is slow this time of year. Meinsen said the industry starts picking up in September and October as other companies prepare for the Christmas season. The Type Center's busiest months are January through March the time period when companies start preparing for trade shows and special events.|ret||ret||tab|

Type Center has 75 to 100 customers who use the company's services on a regular basis.|ret||ret||tab|

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