Local Printers Keep Ink Flowing Through the Years

HARRISBURG – With the local economy struggling to maintain a positive direction and prices – be they for consumers or producers- steadily on the increase, many area “Mom and Pop” businesses have seen difficult times lately.

One area business, tucked away on the north end of Cameron and 17th St. has actually managed to grow in the past two years. Art Communication Systems, a printing and graphic design house, recently celebrated their 20th anniversary and expanded their capabilities with the purchase of a million dollar five color press. Park Cook, president and owner, has been active in the printing industry for a number of years, first with Skelly and Loy, a local engineering firm, and then during the formative years of ACS – a direct offshoot of Skelly and Loy.

Cook has seen his company boom and now handles a variety of print projects locally and nationally. Most recently, ACS has handled the impressive work of the new Giant Center in Hershey – including the Cher concert media collaterals, as well as a number of State and trade association/organization jobs.

And with this growth ACS has experienced an increasing demand from clients for additional media and advertising support. Just this February, the company launched its “Sales and Marketing Strategies” branch designed to handle everything from branding projects to marketing analysis and direction and all forms of advertising support.

Cook, along with his son David, Chief Financial Officer, and Wilson Wolfe, Chief Operating Officer, decided it was time to capitalize on the momentum of demand and expand ACS.

“We have seen steady growth in the past couple years and felt it was appropriate to grow – both in the service arena and in our physical plant,” said Cook. “It’s refreshing to know that even in difficult economic times, there is still the possibility to fulfill a dream of taking a local company and developing it into something much larger.”

ACS, a Harrisburg based operation, also expanded its plant, by adding an new portion of the building, exclusively housing administration, graphic design and development.

“Our future is very bright,” remarks Cook, “and adding a new branch of Sales and Marketing is just one way we are expanding. Now, we can offer our existing clients even more complete project services and attract a whole new market to our business. It’s convenient, one-stop project development from start to finish.”

“Purchasing a million dollar press was a big step, but definitely a necessity in order to keep up with demand and provide customers with an even more refined product,” he adds.

One unique characteristic, again unusual in hard economic times, is the high amount of employee retention at ACS, with a number of veterans who have been with Cook and ACS for 10 plus years.

For more information on ACS and its firm commitment to growth in the Harrisburg market and beyond, please contact the marketing director for the company at 717-232-0144.