'Good, Basic Printing'

"We looked into digital printing, but the size of our print runs means that these jobs are done just as easily on offset," says Bill Northam, plant manager. "We also laminate many of our covers, and the laminate doesn't like to stick to the toners on digital presses."

The small publisher, owned by the Catholic Church-affiliated Christian Brothers, specializes in printing prayer books, as well as religious education textbooks for junior and senior high schools. With an annual operating budget of $1.3 million, the in-plant also takes on about 700 outside jobs per year consisting mostly of direct mail pieces and manuals.