Quad/Graphics shifting magazine printing from Edmonton to Aurora

Quad/Graphics, which bought printer Worldcolor (formerly Quebecor World),  has announced it is consolidating operations, closing a plant in Quebec and shifting its magazine printing business from Edmonton to its huge plant in Aurora, Ontario. According to a company release, about $23 million will be invested in new plant and equipment next year. 

The St.-Jean-sur-Richelieu plant in Quebec, a 240,000 square foot facility that employs 270 people will start to wind down immediately. The Edmonton plant will now concentrate on retail inserts and directories. When the restructuring is complete, the company will have 8 printing plants in Canada: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; Montreal, St. Laurent and LaSalle, Quebec; Aurora and Concord, Ontario; Edmonton, Alberta; and Vancouver, British Columbia as well as a premedia and prepress facility in Toronto.

"While we are very focused on integrating operations and achieving synergies, we are also focused on finding ways to better serve our clients and help them grow and succeed in the Canadian marketplace," Mr. Quadracci said. "We have more solutions than ever to help clients capitalize on the power of print as part of a multichannel communications strategy."

Quad/Graphics acquired Worldcolor in July and had already indicated that integration of the two huge companies would result in some consolidation and a projected savings of  $225 million within 24 months. The company's six month net sales to the end of June were $2.17 billion.