Stevens Point company launches Phase III of modernization plan

For the City Times

Worzalla, in Stevens Point, has entered its third phase of upgrades to its book manufacturing facility.

Phase III of Worzalla’s modernization and expansion plan features a $10 million investment to add additional print capacity for the U.S. book market.

“We will continue to do everything possible to meet the needs of our customers, publishers across the country, as the market for books printed in the United States continues to see explosive growth,” said Jim Fetherston, president and CEO at Worzalla. “Phase III of our modernization plan will further increase our capacity and streamline our operations in order to meet this demand and deliver quality products for our customers.”

Worzalla’s Phase III investment covers the addition of a new casemaker with a wide range of casemaking applications and a non-stop case feeder for cutting and making covers of books.

Worzalla has also purchased a Goss Sunday 2000 32-page Double Web Press that provides a broad range of print formats and page configurations, including 4/c full size 11 inch books, for high-volume printing. Installation of the press is expected to be complete later this year. Phase III completion is expected to increase Worzalla’s large book format capacity by 30 percent.

Phase II was completed in 2020 and included a $12 investment to add 50,000 square feet to Worzalla’s facility plus the addition of a new Heidelberg 106 press and Kolbus perfect binder. The expansion of the facility completed in Phase II has allowed for the purchase and placement of the new Goss Sunday printing press in the Phase III expansion. In total, investments in Worzalla facility total more than $30 million over the last few years.

Along with Phase III expansion, Worzalla continues to grow their workforce for the day-to-day operations creating the millions of books ordered by Worzalla’s customers each year. Worzalla is currently hiring for 40 open positions on its manufacturing floor including entry-level production, skilled production, team leads, and more. Worzalla offers on-the-job training for new associates.

“As global markets have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, Worzalla stands ready to meet the needs of the book industry due to constant investment in our facility, equipment, and workforce,” added Fetherston. “Worzalla is well-positioned to take on additional capacity and to continue operating as one of the country’s top book manufacturers.”