Banta Packaging & Fulfillment Inc history

1901 George Banta incorporates his printing business as George Banta Printing Company.

In 1911, 18-year-old George Banta, Jr., dropped out of college and assumed charge of the office.

1946 A 42,000-square-foot Midway Plant is completed, located midway between Menasha and Appleton.

Even as it kept expanding its printing business, the company contracted its name, dropping the “Publishing” to become George Banta Company, Inc. in 1954.

On Wilterding’s retirement in 1965, however, George Banta III, the son of George, Jr., took over.

In March 1971 Banta was ready to go public, selling 455,000 shares (a 29 percent interest) at $12.50 per share.

Ling Products of Neenah, Wisconsin, acquired in 1973, made disposable products for the health and food service industries, such as examination gowns, table covers, and bibs.

KCS Industries of Milwaukee, purchased in 1975, produced point-of-sale displays.

Moreover, R.J. Carroll of Harrisonburg, Virginia, bought in 1976 and later named Banta Harrisonburg, provided Eastern production facilities for Banta’s basic education-oriented business.

Roberts, Kay, “The Founder’s Wife,” Appleton (Wise.) Post-Crescent, February 4, 1979.

A search for a new site resulted in the purchase in 1980 of approximately 14 acres of land located at 1180 American Drive in Neenah, WI. The building that was built at this location started at 30,000 square feet.

Banta’s most important acquisition came in 1988, under the leadership of chairman and CEO Harry W. Earle, when Minnesota-based Beddor Companies joined the fold.

Acquisition Doubles Sales, Moves It into Fast-Growing Field,” Barron’s, May 29, 1989.

In 1994 Banta established a software documentation unit in the Netherlands, which enabled domestic customers to download data for printing and distribution overseas.

During 1998 Banta made its first release of Bzmedia, a digital content management system for storing, archiving, retrieving, and “repurposing” digital information for print or electronic distribution.

Meanwhile, in January 1999 Banta signed a $100 million contract with IDG Books Worldwide, publisher of the bestselling “For Dummies” series and other trade titles.

In addition, Banta's investment in a dot-com business went sour, causing the printer to take an after-tax charge of about $7 million in the first quarter of 2001.

Banta President and COO Stephanie A. Streeter succeeded Belcher as CEO in 2002.

Bach, Pete, "Menasha, Wis.-Based Printing Firm Holds Strong in Catalog Production," Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, January 1, 2003.

Dresang, Joel, "Printers Find Growth in Niches," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 21, 2005.