Worzalla announces expansion plans

For the City Times
STEVENS POINT – Worzalla, an employee-owned company specializing in children’s books, movie tie-in books, and coffee table books, announced it will embark on an extensive modernization and expansion plan. Worzalla is investing $12.5 million in new machinery and capital improvements to the company’s headquarters in Stevens Point, over the course of the next few months.
“We’re making this investment in direct response to the growing market interest for additional U.S. book manufacturing capacity, as the demand for domestic book production has been steadily rising over the past two years,” said Jim Fetherston, president and CEO of Worzalla. “Additionally, we see ourselves as an integral part of the Portage County community with our 125-year history here in Stevens Point and want to ensure our longevity for future generations to come.”
Worzalla’s modernization plan consists of three components – a 50,000 square-foot addition to Worzalla’s manufacturing headquarters, a new Heidelberg 106 press, and a Kolbus perfect binder.
Due to quicker make-readies, enhanced efficiency and increased reliability, Worzalla expects to achieve at least a 30 percent increase in production levels following full implementation of all components of the plan. Worzalla will be hiring 50 new associates in a variety of roles to accommodate its expanded capacity.
“The goal of our modernization plan is to strengthen the long-term health of Worzalla for all current and future associates,” said Fetherston. “We have happy customers asking us to take on more work; we have the financial strength to make these investments to grow our business; and lastly, but most importantly, we have associates who are the very best in our industry at making the beautiful books that our publishers entrust to us.”