Printing Industries of America

Printing Industries of America
Name	Printing Industries of America
Type	Trade association
Founded	1887
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois
Region served	United States
Key people	George W. Reid; John H. Mullen; Samuel H. Kress
Website	Official site

Printing Industries of America

Printing Industries of America was a major United States trade association representing commercial printing and related graphic arts sectors, providing education, advocacy, and certification to printers, publishers, and suppliers. The organization engaged with trade groups, labor organizations, standards bodies, and educational institutions across North America to influence technology adoption, workforce development, and business practices.

History

Founded in the late 19th century, the association intersected with milestones such as the rise of mechanized letterpress production, the expansion of newspapers like the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, and the growth of printing hubs in cities such as Philadelphia, Boston, and Brooklyn. Leaders within the association corresponded with industrialists and philanthropists including Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and J.P. Morgan during periods of consolidation exemplified by trusts and cartels. The organization navigated legal and regulatory landscapes shaped by cases like United States v. E. C. Knight Co. and legislative measures debated in the United States Congress alongside chamber groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers and the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. During the 20th century, it adapted to disruptive events including the Great Depression, the World War I mobilization effort, and the technological shifts after World War II that paralleled the development of offset printing and early digital presses championed by companies like Heidelberg, Kodak, and Xerox.

Organization and Structure

The association operated through regional chapters, national committees, and technical councils, coordinating with entities such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and labor bodies like the International Brotherhood of Teamsters where distribution touched logistics networks. Governance featured a board of directors, officers, and advisory panels that engaged with peer organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Society for News Design, and the Publishing Industries Guild. The administrative headquarters liaised with municipal stakeholders in Chicago and with state-level trade regulators in states like New York and California while collaborating with educational partners including Rochester Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Columbia University.

Membership and Certification Programs

Membership encompassed commercial printers, in-plant operations for institutions like General Motors and United States Postal Service, suppliers including Agfa, Goss International, and Manroland, and service providers working with publishers such as Time Inc. and Condé Nast. Certification programs provided credentials recognized by procurement officials at corporations like Procter & Gamble and government agencies including the Government Publishing Office. Certifications referenced standards from bodies like Underwriters Laboratories and the International Organization for Standardization and were promoted at industry events featuring exhibitors such as Canon, Ricoh, and Epson.

Training, Education, and Research

The association ran training initiatives that partnered with vocational schools, community colleges, and universities including LaGuardia Community College, Georgia Tech, and University of Missouri School of Journalism, and hosted workshops drawing instructors from companies like Heidelberg and Komori. Research projects covered topics such as color management, substrate development, and workflow automation, often citing methodologies from Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers conferences and working with testing facilities like those at National Laboratories and the Printing Industries Research Organization. The organization organized annual conferences and expos comparable to events run by Graph Expo, Drupa, and PRINTING United Expo.

Industry Advocacy and Standards

Advocacy efforts involved lobbying legislative bodies, engaging regulatory agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, and collaborating on standards with organizations like ANSI, ISO, and the PDF Association. Campaigns addressed issues such as environmental stewardship influenced by protocols like the Kyoto Protocol and sustainability initiatives similar to certifications from the Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable Forestry Initiative. The association issued technical guidelines aligning with practices used by publishers like The Wall Street Journal and standards cited by corporate procurement policies of companies including Walmart and Amazon.

Mergers and Affiliations

Throughout its history, the association formed alliances and underwent organizational changes, affiliating with regional federations, state printing associations, and international counterparts such as the Federation of European Publishers and the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations. Strategic consolidations mirrored corporate mergers among industry firms like Mergenthaler, Goss, and Rockwell, and occasional affiliations with media trade groups including Association of Magazine Media bolstered its membership base and program offerings.

Impact on the Printing Industry and Legacy

The association influenced workforce skills, technological diffusion, and business standards across the commercial printing supply chain, impacting firms ranging from small family-owned shops to multinational corporations like News Corporation and Hearst Communications. Its legacy includes training frameworks adopted by academic programs at institutions like Savannah College of Art and Design and technical standards referenced in procurement by government entities such as United States Postal Service and corporate buyers at Johnson & Johnson. The organization’s archival materials have been used by historians studying industrial transformation alongside works on printing history such as those referencing Johannes Gutenberg, the Industrial Revolution, and the evolution of publishing from print to digital media championed by innovators including Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.

Category:Trade associations based in the United States Category:Printing