SOLAR PRINTING OPERATION TO MOVE FROM PERRYVILLE

PERRYVILLE - Solar Communications of Perryville will be without its printing operations soon but will continue its direct marketing operations.

Solar Communications, which has been in the industrial park since 1988, is a supplier of printing, packaging and market services to the direct marketing industry, has announced a consolidation of manufacturing facilities.

The moves include closing Solar's trading card finishing facility in Aurora, Ill., and transferring the printing-related portion of its Missouri operations at Perryville to its Naperville, Ill., headquarters' card pack and commercial print facility.

"We don't yet know how many workers here will be affected by the move," said Vince Adelman, manager of the Perryville facility. "We will be losing some people from our pre-press and bindery departments."

The Perryville plant employs about 200 and is listed among the "Top 60" industries in the Southeast Missouri area.

"This is a temporary setback for the Perryville plant, which occupies 160,000 square feet, "but a year from now, we'll be a stronger company."

Solar Communications established its Missouri operation in Perryville in 1988, as Solar Press, in a 40,000-square-foot shoe factory that became available when International Shoe ceased operations.

More than a year later, the operation moved into a new 100,000-square-foot building at 1205 Corporation Lane in the city's industrial park.

Later, with a new name, -- Solar Communications -- the company almost doubled its facilities, to 160,000 square feet, with a new warehouse, freeing space in the production area.

At this time, two new Siemens printers, LabelAire machines and other new equipment were moved into the facility.

The latest reorganization is in response to Solar's continuing efforts to concentrate exclusively on the direct marketing industry.

The decision to exit the trading card industry is because of Solar's desire to stay focused on its primary customers by using core competencies, said Frank C. Hudetz, Solar's chairman and chief executive officer.

"We have structured our company to focus specifically on customers' direct marketing needs," said Hudetz. "Trading and collectible cards do not meet this criteria. Therefore, it did not make sense for us to continue pursuing this marketplace."

Hudetz said the company "felt it prudent" to consolidate the printing process under one roof with lettershop mailing services. "We feel the new changes demonstrate our determination to meet the demands and exceed the expectations of a constantly changing marketplace."

Solar is an employee-owned printing, packaging and marketing company with about 600 employees.