National Print Group is investing over $4.5 million to bring its entire eastern U.S. operations to Chattanooga, a move officials said will expand the company’s presence here, add efficiency and boost sales.
The multiformat printing company has been incorporating its Knoxville operations into a similar unit in Chattanooga, company President Phil Harris said.
Later this year, National will begin moving its screen printing division from Kennesaw, GA, he said.
"I hope it allows us to improve our productivity and customer service," Mr. Harris said. "We feel like it will give us a solid ability to start cutting production costs and cutting the communication timetable between the facilities."
Many of the company’s customers come on site to approve products such as billboard art and point-of-sale displays before the products ship, Harris said. Since many customers use a combination of National’s screen, lithograph and digital printing operations, it makes sense to have them housed in one spot, he said.
Chamber officials were first contacted about the possible expansion last summer, said Steve Hiatt, Chamber director of existing business. Hiatt said National’s decision underscores the city as a good place to do business.
"If it didn’t help their bottom line, they wouldn’t have chosen to make the move," he said.
The Chamber is working with National on a financial assistance package, said Trevor Hamilton, Chamber vice president of economic development.
"We’re always pleased to see our existing companies grow and expand," Hamilton said. "National has been on a great growth pattern, and we’ve been engaged in assisting them in being able to move more jobs to the area."
The consolidation process and expansion of Chattanooga facilities was set in motion earlier this year when National sold off a 60,000-square-foot building, part of its Amnicola Highway campus, and purchased a larger structure at 1601 Holtzclaw Ave.
