For half a century, Associates International has been dedicated to staying ahead of the curve and delivering exceptional products and services to our customers. As we celebrate our 50-year anniversary, we reflect on our rich history, commitment to quality and unwavering loyalty to innovation.
From our humble beginnings to our current status as a leading provider of print and digital solutions, Associates International has acted as industry pioneers for decades, setting the standard for excellence in several service areas.
Continue reading for a glimpse at what value we’ve provided to our customers in the last five decades.
History of Associates International
Throughout the years, Associates International has expanded our printing capabilities, won numerous awards, and implemented new technology to improve our workflow and services. Let’s go back in time together.
Associates International started in 1973 as Reports, Inc., a newsletter publisher and printer founded by Lammot Copeland. In the late 1990s, we were among the first to invest in Indigo presses, which allowed us to introduce digital printing capabilities to our services. We were one of the first in our industry to adopt the Lean Manufacturing methodology around that time. In 2008, we won several international design and print production awards in Germany, which was a proud moment for our team.
In 2011, we made additional investments to expand our services even further. We moved into packaging in 2016 and expanded our mailing capacity in 2019.
We installed a second die-cutter to further support our packaging department in 2021. The following year, we began implementing a fully automated workflow with Enfocus Switch and autoFlow to streamline our processes. As of 2023, we have invested millions in state-of-the-art printing equipment and plan to continue in the second half of the year, including a new cutter and MIS system.
The Associates International Value
The benefit of partnering with industry visionaries is multi-fold. Let’s break down some of the guiding tenets that we’ve held for the last 50 years.
1. Commitment to Quality
Associates International provides fast and excellent client services with an average turnaround time of 24-48 hours, utilizing advanced process automation that saved one client over $500,000 in the first year, while continuously training their team on the latest industry trends and best practices.
2. Innovation and Adaptability
As innovative leaders in the print and digital industries, we provide solutions like Ai Connect and Ai 360, adapt to changing customer needs, and help them achieve their goals by increasing their ROI for every campaign dollar invested through real-time monitoring of campaign performance and ROI calculations.
3. Customer Service
At Associates International, customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do. From the moment a customer first contacts us to the successful completion of their project, we strive to exceed their expectations every step of the way.
I have so enjoyed working with you…You are always the definition of “miracle workers” and “print professionals” to me. Always a joy to work with Associates International and your product is always outstanding.“
Director of Communications and Marketing
4. Future Outlook
As we continue to evolve and grow, we are constantly exploring new technologies and solutions that can help our customers achieve their goals. In fact, we are excited to share our latest investment of an AccurioJet KM-1, Konica Minolta inkjet printer. How will this benefit our customers?
- Unlimited print services. This press can print on a wide range of paper thicknesses from 40# opaque up to 24 points for packaging applications. The UV ink offers the ability to print on textured or synthetic stocks—even plastic. For mailing applications, UV ink provides durability with direct mail and other applications needing scratch resistance.
- Shortest turnarounds and highest efficiency. This press boasts a high productivity rate of 18,000 full bleed 8 ½ x 11 pages an hour, with no waiting time for ink drying. Previous jobs that were printed on offset shells and then imprinted can now be run in one pass matching or exceeding offset quality.
- Efficient workflows. This press features easy integration into existing offset workflows, an inline interface for third party post-press equipment and a newly adopted tape inserter. With a planned integration into our online proofing platform, clients will be able to approve proofs and send them directly to the press.
Associates International will continue to innovate and stay ahead of the curve. We recognize that the print and digital industries are constantly changing, and are committed to investing in new technologies and solutions that can help customers achieve their goals.
Looking For Someone to Grow With You?
Join us in celebrating our 50-year anniversary by experiencing the exceptional products and services offered by Associates International. Contact us today to learn more about our latest investments and how they can benefit your next project.
Comments are closed.