RR Donnelley will invest $15.9 million to improve its four-color digital print operations at Crawfordsville.
In 2013, RR Donnelley moved $2 million worth equipment to Crawfordsville from an Illinois site without seeking tax abatements. That equipment has served between one and 100 copies per run.
Platform Vice President of Operations Stephen Seamans said adding that equipment was the company’s “first step in the digital arena.”
“We were moving here to serve our customers here,” Seamans added. “We were moving here because this work was going to be fulfilled with our Plainfield warehouse, which has grown to 800,000 square feet. It is full of books, most of which come from Crawfordsville.”
Now, RR Donnelley is preparing for the second part of the process. It is investing $15.9 million to install digital book presses, binders, book block makers and other equipment at its 600 State Road 32 West location. The company’s goal is to maintain and expand its print volume.
A 4/c Inkjet module will enable the company to fill the void between 100 and 1,000 copies per run. The company plans on adding one in 2015 and another in 2016.
“It fills the gap from 100 to 1,000, which is where offset picks up,” Seamans said. “It’s a very critical piece to the full range platform that you can’t find anywhere else.”
Tax abatements were a significant factor in the company’s decision to invest in the Crawfordsville plant.
“We are competing with a neighboring state that doesn’t have personal property taxes,” Seamans said.
Crawfordsville City Council approved a declaratory resolution Monday night for the improvements. The resolution establishes a 10-year tax abatement on the $15.9 million in equipment purchases.
“This is a bold step for RR Donnelley, and we are glad to be a part of it,” Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton said. “We are excited about the business potential.”
The improvements will add at least 16 jobs over the next few years.