AFTER 60 years serving the printing needs of local businesses, Lithographic Printers Ltd has pumped US$500,000 into what it believes will fast-track revenue growth for the company while securing a toehold in the international market.

The printing company, which currently operates from 14 East Avenue in Kingston Gardens near downtown Kingston, has added label printing to its portfolio of services with production expected to begin in three weeks.

Managing director of Lithographic Printers Sean Duquesnay reckons that the new business line will not only rake in revenue in excess of 30 per cent of the company’s current revenue stream, but also stands to effectively compete with at least two other non-Jamaican printing companies on the island.

Ultimately Lithographic Printing is targeting US$1 million in sales within the first two years, with plans to scale up the labels-printing business with the acquisition of a property in its environs to accommodate larger volumes.

“First we want to capture Jamaica. Trinidad and Barbados have been in our market for so long that they have set up shops in Jamaica, so we are stepping into that market to keep that profit here in Jamaica,” Duquesnay told the Jamaica Observer during a tour of the factory last Wednesday.

“It would also mean less importation. The technology on our machine is that we can service small enterprises. A business that needs just 200 labels, we can offer that with world–class qualities; we are not taking any minimums and as you grow we will grow with you,” he continued.

Lithographic Printers has its eyes on supplying local companies in the bottling, bakeries and pharmaceutical industries with the new labels service. Duquesnay plans to leverage relationships the company already has with corporate Jamaica giants in winning over contracts.

As for the international market, “Not necessarily Trinidad as yet, but maybe Cayman Islands, Grenada, Bermuda; the smaller islands is really where we going, because I don’t believe they have an investment like this in their country.

“Not to say that I’m opposed to going to Trinidad because the competition is fierce in that market; of course we will send a representation and then take on Latin America,” the managing director reasoned.

The company now has the potential to manufacture between 150,000 to 200,000 labels per order and has already contracted three individuals to manage the new business line, bringing to total 105 employees for the company. Plans are to add another seven staff members.

Aside from the new business, Lithographic Printers is also aggressive on the acquisition of smaller companies, and is also pondering listing on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.

“We have big plans, some of them we can’t disclose now, but it’s all being done on a phased basis,” he told Sunday Finance.

In celebration of the 60th anniversary, Lithographic Printers last Wednesday invited Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Audley Shaw, as well as president of Jamaica Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association Metry Seaga on a tour of the factory.

The operation, which currently covers 28,000 square feet, started out with offset printing services which saw the company printing on paper, magazines, calendars, posters and other promotional items for corporate companies and individuals.

Lithographic Printers then added a second division, the flexible folding carton department, allowing the company to secure packaging contracts for brands such as Foska Oats and Seprod Margarine. Today Lithographic Printers also deals in T-shirt printing, and four years ago added an outdoor solution division that provides vehicle, wholesale branding, corporate building signage, among other services.