CHAPTER X
THE PRINTING DEPARTMENT
NEARLY all of the larger paper box manufacturers are operating their own printing departments. Many of the smaller paper box-making concerns are also operating private printing plants, and when managed efficiently, the printing department is a profitable investment for any paper box factory, large or small.
The writer knows of several large printing concerns, of New York City and Philadelphia, who are specializing in the production of wrappers and other printed matter for paper box manufacturers. All of these printing establishments are continually busy, and from all indications, are earning substantial profits on their work. In fact, it is certain that these printing concerns are making money on their specialty lines, for they have been in business for a long time; are paying their employes the standard scales of wages, and are keeping their plants in first class physical condition by installing new machines and labor-saving devices immediately as they are placed on the market. Now unless a printing firm is earning a fair margin of profit on all of its product, certainly it would not be in the financial position to do the things which have just been mentioned.
If a printing company can afford to operate a large plant, running almost exclusively on work for paper box manufactures, there is no reason why the box-makers themselves cannot make money by having their own printing plants. The writer, however, has heard some box manufacturers complain about not earning any profits from private printing plants, and in this article the writer will attempt to point out to the box-makers the ways and means of profitably conducting a printing department. With my eighteen years experience as a practical printer and executive, I feel that I am capable of offering information regarding the printing business which should prove helpful to paper box manufacturers in general.
EQUIPMENT SUGGESTED FOR A MEDIUM-SIZE PRINTING
DEPARTMENT
It is my intention to suggest the newest material and mechanical equipment for a printing plant rather than material and machines which are not quite up-to-date, and this will explain why I shall mention such things as steel composing-room furniture, and automatic feeders for platen presses.
One 14 × 22 Hartford, or John Thomson press, equipped with individual motor.
One 10 × 15 Chandler & Price press with individual motor.