IAPHC

BUTLER, WI - 2/1/08 - Western States Envelope &

Label of Butler, Wisconsin

 In an age of trendy start-ups and massive corporate mergers,
few companies today can tout a century-long history
that's still a success in the making. Western States
Envelope & Label is one of those proud companies celebrating
its 100th anniversary this year.

Western States opened its doors for business in 1908.
Founder George French Moss left the paper selling business
back then and opened the Company's first location
on Water Street in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. An
ambitious entrepreneur and visionary, Moss wanted to
create an enterprise for producing unique, reliable
envelopes. In fact, Western States was a pioneer in developing
a system for printing envelopes flat before folding.
"That commitment to innovation still holds strong today.
It's our progressive spirit combined with exceptional service
that sets us apart in the industry," noted Mark
Lemberger, President & COO for Western States
Envelope & Label.
Growth ever since the Company's early days has been
continuous and significant. By 1922, Western States
Envelope Company had grown substantially within the
U.S. and housed one of the world's largest inventories
that year. As Western States kept growing into the 1960s
and 1970s, it continued to emphasize customer service
and make production technology a priority. Beginning in
the 1990s, Western States became a sort of "Industry
Mecca" for the latest envelope printing and production
equipment, doubling its size and expanding its product
lines. By 2002, Western States became the country's sixth
largest envelope producer, creating 14 million envelopes
each day.
By its 95th anniversary in 2003, Western States was one
of the world's first test sites for Mark Andy's DT Series
digitally automated label printing and laser die-cutting
system. "Dedication to technology and increased product
value has kept us ahead of the curve in recent years,"
added Lemberger. "Being a beta site for the newest technology
in our industry is a source of pride for our
employees. It's also a promise to customers that we are
committed to the highest quality and most efficient methods
of manufacturing." Beyond an ongoing pledge to customer
service, innovation and product development, the
environment has always been a priority for Western
States. Ever since its first years, the Company saved
paper scraps from its manufacturing process and shipped
them back to the mills for recycling. In the early '90s,
Western States developed Recovery® and Globe 100™,
two lines of products made from 100% post-consumer
waste. Other eco-friendly products are reusable envelopes
and a line of "Please Recycle" products designed to
encourage recycling of discarded mail. In 2007, Western
States earned Chain-of-Custody certifications from the
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable
Forestry Initiative (SFI). "We can now certify that our
products originate from responsibly managed forests,"
said Steve Brocker, Western States' vice president of sales
and marketing. He added, "Our employees deserve all of
the credit for implementing the stringent Chain-of-
Custody process."
Western States has developed hundreds of new products
within the last decade to improve processing for mailers,
graphic options for designers, and an industry-leading
number of choices for printers-its largest category of customers.
Throughout 2008, Western States will be promoting its
100th anniversary to customers and vendors with a special
gift-a one-of-a-kind diorama style letter holder
depicting the first manufacturing plant with an early
replica of one of the delivery trucks parked in front.
Inside each holder are engraved cards, gold embossed
labels and gold trimmed envelopes. Western States will
also honor 100 years through special print industry advertising
initiatives and an anniversary celebration held at
each of its five locations.
Western States Envelope & Label is a nationally recognized
envelope and label manufacturer with more than
100 million products in stock daily. In business since
1908, Western States specializes in custom envelope and
label production using the world's most advanced equipment.
The Company exceeds its customers' needs from
five full-service locations: Butler, WI (headquarters);
Madison, WI; Erlanger, KY; Toledo, OH; and Vadnais
Heights, MN.
For more information about Western States Envelope &
Label contact Steve Brocker at (800) 558-0514.