Millcraft Paper to acquire Illinois-based printing equipment supplier KW Graphics, to close Aug. 31; KW to continue operating under Millcraft name, with Millcraft to offer its substrates, direct-to-garment printing, packaging capabilities to KW customers

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CLEVELAND , August 16, 2022 (press release) –

The Millcraft Paper Company announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire KW Graphics of Springfield, IL. The transaction is scheduled to close on August 31, 2022. Founded in 1978 by Karl Williams, KW Graphics has evolved over the last 40 years into one of the premier digital graphics printing and finishing equipment dealers in the U.S.

The Illinois-based business will operate under the Millcraft name and continue to help organizations looking to expand their printing and finishing capabilities. In the coming months, Millcraft’s product and service offering of substrates, direct-to-garment printing, packaging capabilities, and more will be available to KW Graphics customers. 

“KW Graphics has developed an incredible reputation for service when it comes to supporting the needs of companies who are investing in digital printing and finishing equipment,” said Travis Mlakar, Millcraft President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are excited to bring their market expertise to our Millcraft family. We also look forward to building upon the service they provide by giving their customers access to the more than 12,000 items that Millcraft stocks.”

“We have always been a service-focused company. We pride ourselves not just on selling quality equipment, but staying engaged with our customers through long-term support, training and maintenance,” said Matt Seei, KW Graphics President and Owner. “We are excited about joining the Millcraft family. They have more than 100 years of history serving and supporting customers in the same way that KW Graphics does. Collectively, we will be one of the premier wide format equipment dealers in the country with a service and support platform that is second-to-none. Now, offering a variety of substrates to our customers will help them grow into the future.”

The acquisition underscores Millcraft’s ongoing growth strategy of diversifying into new print markets such as sign & banner, garment decorating and packaging while preserving a commitment to its core customer base – today’s commercial printers who want to diversify beyond traditional paper and print to meet the changing demands of the marketplace.

“For several years, we have been talking about the evolution of the print industry,” said Courtney Enser, Millcraft Vice President of Sales. “We know our customers are expanding their capabilities, and as customers’ needs evolve, so does Millcraft. We look forward to growing not only our expertise and capabilities, but also our service-based platform.”

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About Millcraft:

Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Millcraft celebrated 100 years in business as an independent, fourth-generation, family-owned merchant serving the professional paper, packaging and graphic arts industries. Millcraft proudly serves a national customer base with a diversified product offering of printing and office papers and envelopes; industrial, retail and luxury packaging; sign and banner equipment and materials; food and beverage industry supplies and services; office, mailing and shipping supplies, and more.

The Millcraft service platform has 20 sales and retail distribution locations in 17 cities. These markets include Akron; Ann Arbor, Buffalo; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Columbus; Dayton; Detroit, Fort Wayne; Greenwich; Indianapolis; Lansing; Louisville; Nashville; Southfield, Sterling Heights and Toledo. Long committed to guiding principle of product sustainability, Millcraft paper and product lines are environmentally certified from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

Millcraft’s consistent success derives from an unwavering commitment to the guiding principles of its founders to “positively and meaningfully impact the people we work with every day – our co-workers, customers, supply partners, families, communities and friends". To learn more, please visit www.millcraft.com.

About KW Graphics:

Karl Williams Inc. was established in 1978 as a Ryobi dealer for Illinois. Since then, we have grown into a seller of digital graphics printing and finishing equipment and supplies for some of the top brands in the industries. Now operating under the name KW Graphics, we continue to be the leader in providing the best service for our customer. To learn more, please visit www.kwgraphicsdirect.com.

Contact: Courtney Enser                                                Contact: Matt Seei
Vice President, Sales, Millcraft                                       President, KW Graphics
800.860.2482                                                                 309.370.5934
enserc@millcraft.com                                                     mseei@kwgraphicsdirect.com

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