When WhatTheyThink.com interviewedKBA president and CEO Ralf Sammeck in August, the executive laid claim to an “extremely customer-focused” organization that is determined to strengthen and expand its U.S. presence across all of the markets it serves. In reiterating the company's strong belief in the vitality of the offset sector, Sammeck said, “There are a lot of healthy offset printers around. This proves that you can be competitive and profitable with offset if you are focused and have the right partner.” While we take Mr. Sammeck at his word, we also are mindful that the proof is always in the pudding, and that printers on the front lines are often in the best position to assess what is (or isn't) happening in the marketplace.

WhatTheyThink asked Peter Buening, president of Philipp Lithographing, Grafton, WI, to talk about his company's experience both as a KBA customer and as a printer negotiating the shifting landscape of the printing industry.

Founded in 1913, Philipp Lithographing has established a niche as a high-quality, large-format sheetfed offset printer of point-of-purchase (POP) displays and labels for the packaging and corrugated industries. The company specializes in large-format display solutions, including life-sized, stand-up figures, header cards, counter cards, pole stackers, banners, display bins and posters. It is one of the top 25 printing firms in the Milwaukee area and one of the top 500 printers in North America.