March
15, 2004 (North Canton, Ohio). Graphic Enterprises of
Ohio, Inc. and Visual Edge
Technology, a California corporation, two leading national marketers
of copying and printing systems and services, have announced the
successful merger of their companies. The combined Company, named
Graphic Enterprises, Inc., headquartered in North Canton, Ohio,
brings together two complementary, privately owned organizations
with highly experienced management teams and skilled sales and
service operations throughout North America. The consolidated
organization will serve over 12,000 accounts in the U.S. and Canada,
marketing to the copier and multifunctional systems segment and
the general imaging, engineering systems and print-on- demand
markets with large format copying products as well as supply agreements,
software support and third party service contracts.
Graphic
Enterprises, Inc. (GEI) will be lead by talented veterans of the
imaging and printing
industry including Austin Vanchieri, Executive Chairman of the
Board, formerly President and CEO of Visual Edge Technology (VET)
since 1993 and prior to that a Corporate VP at Xerox. With over
twenty years of experience at Graphic Enterprises, Les Beyeler
will retain the position of President and CEO of the new Company.
Additional executive management talent consists of Mark Lewis,
COO, Daryl Miller, CFO and Greg DeMuesy, VP of Operations, each
individual having over twenty years of experience in the industry.
“The
combination of GEI and VET creates immediate synergies, significant
cost savings and enhanced marketing opportunities in the expanding
imaging, engineering and print-on-demand segments,” said
Mr. Vanchieri.“ We are already positioned in a leadership
role in these areas and are aggressively pursuing additional expansion
opportunities. This includes merger and acquisition options and
manufacturer alliances such as this week’s announcement
by Kyocera Mita America to appoint Graphic Enterprises, Inc. as
their Master Distributor of wide format products.”
“GEI
and VET have been working together to integrate the operations
of both companies since August of 2003.This pre-merger, joint
venture engagement period solidified the bonds between the individual
companies and clearly underscored our complementary strengths
and shared commitment to customer service,” said Mr. Beyeler.
Graphic
Enterprises Inc. has three operating business units that employ
over 275 people: the GEI Wide Format Division, the GEI Office
Solutions Division and the GEI CalGraph Division. This rare combination
of wide format sales leadership, copier solutions expertise and
service provider strength now places GEI in a unique leadership
position for growth in the overall imaging marketplace.
The
Wide Format Division is focused on sales of equipment, software
and consumables to the large format imaging market. It markets
the innovative FotoZoomer brand of products that produce on-demand,
photo quality poster size prints at retail kiosks and commercial
printstations.
FotoZoomer received the prized Innovative Digital Product Award
from the Digital Imaging Marketing Association for 2003.
GEI
CalGraph is a leading third party provider of support services
for its partners who specialize in wide format printing solutions.
Its North American operations include on-site support from 92
field technicians, customer call center, depot center, worldwide
parts distribution, installation and training services.
GEI Office Solutions, with over 70 dedicated sales and support
personnel, operates as a regional reseller of digital connected
copiers, color copiers, printers and multifunctional systems for
Konica Minolta, Muratec and Okidata, focusing on sales and service
of these brands in Northeastern Ohio.
About Graphic Enterprises:
Graphic Enterprises Inc., (GEI) headquartered in North Canton,
Ohio, was founded in 1970 and is a leading worldwide, value added
solutions provider that consists of product development, distribution,
service, and support. The company has separate operating divisions
with highly qualified sales, service and support personnel in
the office equipment and wide format market segments. A dedicated
third party service business unit (GEICalGraph) serves the wide
format market and is focused on delivering the highest quality
of service and support for its vendors and customers. More information
can be found on www.geiworldwide.com.
About
Visual Edge Technology:
Visual Edge Technology, (VET) based in California and New York,
was formed in 1986 as a developmental startup and repositioned
in 1999 under present management as a national marketer in the
wide format copier segment. Through strategic acquisitions including
K&E Engineering Systems, which formed the core of VET’s
business, the company grew to become one of the largest dealers
in the market with over 2,000 customers by the time of its merger
with Graphic Enterprises.
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