Company Information

Recent News

Western Graphics Passes the 100,000 Files Processed Milestone
Western Graphics continues its’ Lean Manufacturing efforts by becoming a forerunner in using workflow automation. We are happy to announce that we recently passed a huge milestone. The Western Graphics Digital Print Team has processed over 100,000 items/products through custom automated workflows created in the last 12 months.

Western Graphics’ CEO Speaks to Printing Industries of America Conference April 2010
Tim Keran, CEO of Western Graphics in Saint Paul, Minnesota, spoke to attendees at the Printing Industries of America’s Continuous Improvement Conference in Tampa, Florida on April 19th, 2010.

The conference stresses practical ways to cut wasted money and time, including the application of Lean manufacturing principles and tools (such as 5S, standard work, and quick changeover) to the printing industry. The heart of the event are case studies taught by some of the most progressive and successful companies in and out of the printing industry.

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Recent Awards

Western Graphics Wins 21 Awards in Midwest Print Competition
St. Paul, Minnesota – March 8, 2012 – Western Graphics has won a total of 21 awards in the recent Star of Excellence Print Competition. The Star of Excellence Awards is an industry printing competition hosted by the Printing Industry of Midwest (PIM), the region’s trade association for printing, communication and graphic arts industry.

Competing against entries from printing and graphic arts firms throughout the Midwest, Western Graphics received three Best of Class, one Best of Division and seventeen Certificate of Merit awards. “We are very proud of our winning team,” said Tim Keran, CEO. “It is an honor to be recognized by the industry as a company that produces top quality, award winning materials.”

PIM President David Radziej agrees, “This was a close competition with a very impressive standard of entries from five states. The judging process was very challenging. Western Graphics should be proud of the company’s achievement and the excellent work done by employees.”

The Star of Excellence Awards recognizes those responsible for the creation and production of print communications in the Midwest. The competition promotes excellence in print communications and rewards companies and individuals who produce the best in print media.

2012 - 21 Awards, three Best of Class, one Best of Division and seventeen Certificate of Merit Awards.
2011 - 28 Awards, eight Best of Class, one Best of Division and nineteen Certificate of Merit Awards.
2010 - 20 Awards, one Best of Category, six Best of Class, and thirteen Certificate of Merit Awards.
2009 - 19 Awards, two Best of Category, four Best of Class, two Best of Division and eleven Certificate of Merit Awards.
2008 - 25 Awards, one Best of Category, four Best of Class, one Best of Division and nineteen Certificate of Merit Awards.
2007 - 16 Awards, one Best of Class & 15 Certificate of Merit Awards.
2006 - 12 Awards, one Best of Category, six Best of Class and five Certificate of Merit Awards.
2005 - 10 Awards, one Best of Category and nine Certificate of Merit Awards.

Best Workplace in the Americas
Printing Industries of America (PIA)
For a fifth time, Western Graphics has been awarded the designation Best Workplace in the Americas from the Printing Industries of America (PIA) for their exemplary human resources practices. Begun to specifically honor printing companies that provide a superior work environment, a panel of highly respected U.S. and Canadian HR professionals with decades of experience in the graphic arts industry reviewed the submissions. Applicants were judged on eight criteria: Management Practices; Work Environment; Training and Development Opportunities; Financial Security; Work-Life Balance; Recognition and Rewards; Health and Wellness Programs; and Workplace Health and Safety.

2010 - Best Workplace in the Americas
2009 - "Best of the Best", Best Workplace in the Americas
2007 - Best Workplace in the Americas
2006 - Best Workplace in the Americas
2001 - "Best of the Best", Best Workplace in the Americas

2012 Best Lean Culture Award
SAINT PAUL, MN – MARCH 2012 – Western Graphics of St. Paul, Minnesota has been awarded the prestigious 2012 Best Lean Culture Award by the Manufacturers Alliance.

Criteria for the award included employee engagement, education and training, demonstrable bottom line improvement, and becoming more competitive.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the industry as a company that provides a healthy and rewarding employee culture," says Tim Keran, CEO. "This award marks an important milestone in our company’s continuous improvement journey. Our amazing employees have created a high level of participation and deserve the credit for this award.

The Manufacturers Alliance provides peer-to-peer training, education, and resources, that allow Minnesota-based member manufacturers to continuously grow, improve, and stay competitive.

Management Plus Award, National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL)
Western Graphics received the Gold Award for Management Excellence in the National Association for Printing Leadership's (NAPL) 2010 Management Plus Awards Program. Western is a twelve time winner in the competition. Management Plus entrants are judged on how they perform against industry standards in nine key areas: internal control systems, financial performance, marketing/sales plan; business planning; human resources; environmental/safety concerns; quality control; community/industry affairs; and vendor relations.

2010 - Gold Award, Category 4 - $10-$25 Million in Sales
2009 - Silver Award, Category 4 - $10-$25 Million in Sales
2008 - Silver Award, Category 4 - $10-$25 Million in Sales
2007 - Silver Award, Category 4 - $10-$25 Million in Sales
2006 - Silver Award, Category 3 - $5-$10 Million in Sales
2005 - Gold Award, Category 3 - $5-$10 Million in Sales

Top 100 North American On-Demand Printshops
Western was recently ranked as the 2nd largest print-on-demand company for a single location in Quick Printing Magazine's Top 100 North American On-Demand Printshops for 2011 and 8th overall in the country by total print-on-demand sales.

2011 - Ranked 2nd for a single location and 8th overall.
2010 - Ranked 1st for a single location and 6th overall.
2009 - Ranked 2nd for a single location and 8th overall.
2008 - Ranked 2nd for a single location and 12th overall.
2007 - Ranked 4th for a single location and 12th overall.
2006 - Ranked 4th for a single location and 13th overall.