Harrisonburg, VA., June 21, 2004 – Banta Corporation, a technology and market leader in printing and supply-chain management, has expanded its Harrisonburg, Virginia distribution center by 179,000 sq. ft  to approximately 433,000 sq. ft. in size.  The addition will improve customer service, reduce operational complexity and provide room for future growth.  Banta expanded its distribution center to meet its clients’ increase in production volumes and accommodate new business growth.  The new distribution facility processes 5,500 cartons of books and materials a day, containing over 100,000 units.  Because it is connected to the Banta printing facility, the expansion enhances the distribution efficiencies that the original facility provided bygreatly improving time-to-marketfor Banta’s clients.  The expansion enables Banta to move finished products directly from the bindery to the distribution center without leaving the facility.  Self-guided vehicles (SGV) transport finished products from the print floor to the distribution area, and another SGV takes each pallet of finished goods to a staging area. Banta’s expanded facility is one of the few facilities in theUnited States that has both print and automated distribution under one roof.  “The new addition enables Banta to betterserve our clients,” said Dwayne Black, vice president of operations for Banta. “Because the printing and distribution facilities are co-located, we are able to cut down our fulfillment and transportation costs, and thereby pass the savings along to our customers.” Some additional features to the new facility include an area to create retail and point-of-purchase displays and to kit educational and other products, as well as an additional processing area which handles returns for Banta clients.  These clients range from publishers of how-to books on computers, home and garden topics, and home improvement to producers of textbooks and teaching materials.