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Von Hoffmann Continues Capital Expansion by Significant Strategic Web Press Additions

Press release from the issuing company

ST LOUIS, May 20 -- Von Hoffmann Corporation, a subsidiary of Visant Corporation, and a leading North American educational and commercial printer, today announced a major strategic investment in its printing platform. Von Hoffmann will be adding tandem, four-color 11" web presses to its Jefferson City, Missouri manufacturing plant. The Jefferson City manufacturing facility is currently one of the largest book printing facilities in the United States, with the largest installation of closed-loop color control systems in the United States. The new presses will have fundamental technological advantages enabling them to provide superior quality, productivity, and page layout flexibility. With a wider eight-page-across cylinder format, they will eclipse the installed base of 11" press platforms currently employed in the marketplace. The presses will also include advanced automation, including web center control, automated workflow, and closed loop color control. "The capital investment involved in this press expansion of over $15 million brings our total investment in equipment and plant expansion to $115 million in the last five years, excluding the equipment obtained in Von Hoffmann's acquisitions," remarked John R. DePaul, Executive Vice President of Von Hoffmann Corporation. "These investments allow us to firmly establish our leadership position in print services, and enable us to become the sole, full service provider in the markets that we serve, offering editorial, design, and composition, seamless printing of covers, text and components, and distribution services. These investments strategically position Von Hoffmann as the supplier best equipped to support the current and future needs of our customers," said DePaul. "Von Hoffmann has always led the way in investing in solutions for our customers," commented Mark Swisher, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing for Von Hoffmann Corporation. "These new web presses are the most productive assets on the market for the products we produce. These press additions provide our clients with exacting color quality, and the paging format flexibility needed to address the market trend to increased product versioning." "Von Hoffmann is poised for exciting growth, and this investment demonstrates our commitment to offer innovative solutions to our markets and valued customers," said Rich Dunn, Senior Vice President of Operations for the Jefferson City Facility. "The installation of these two, four-color 11" web presses, which are expected to be delivered in August and operational by this October, will increase our capacity by the equivalent of four of our existing presses, and further differentiate our already unmatched manufacturing platform."