Warners Midlands plc

The headquarters of Warners Midlands plc

Warners Midlands plc are specialist printers of magazines, journals, brochures and catalogues. This is one of Britain's prestige printing companies but it sprang from humble beginnings.

In 1927 the late Lorenzo Warner, together with his sister Lily and brother Ernie, founded Warners Midlands Ltd, a company specialising in newspaper distribution. The first shop was situated in Abbey Road, Bourne, but by 1936 the company outgrew these premises and acquired a shop in West Street that also included a printing works. The rest, as they say, is history. 

The company prospered and today occupies a 10-acre site centred on the Old Maltings further along West Street, employing 500 people and generating more than £50 million in annual revenue. Warners is now among the most comprehensive printing factories in the country comprising origination, including scanning and computer to plate facilities, printing, binding and stitching, individual mailing and bulk distribution with its own fleet of vehicles. 

It boasts a comprehensive range of printing machinery, incorporating the very latest technology and has built up a wealth of expertise in handling print and publishing jobs of all sizes, from reprographics through to distribution and mailing. In 1999, the company invested over £2.5 million in their latest printing machine, the new Heidelberg M-600 full-width heatseat web press, one of the largest expansion projects undertaken so far.

Their clients include the John Lewis Partnership, Wilmington Publishing and the British Heart Foundation. Continued investment has enabled Warners to maintain its unique status within the short to medium run market. In 1996, the company acquired the ISO 9002 quality guarantee and the Investors In People recognition at their first attempt in 1998, the advantages including improved aspects of performance and teamwork, all of which enhances the business relationship with clients.

The company acquired the former St Peter's Hospital in 1999 and two years later, demolished the complex of buildings to make way for a temporary car park. Plans were subsequently lodged with South Kesteven District Council in the summer of 2002 to build a new single storey press hall and bindery on the site, an investment of more than £10 million. Work began in June 2005 and was completed early the following year and will eventually house a new 32-page press and binding machine, adding to the eight presses already in use.

The new premises were officially opened on Friday 21st April 2006 by managing director Philip Warner, grandson of the founder, with 180 invited guests including staff and customers. "The new development has been completed after five years of planning and will secure the future and well being of the company and enable it progress and move forward", he said. The opening also coincided with the company winning an ISO 14001 environmental award.

The company celebrated its 80th anniversary is 2008 by publishing a commemorative brochure detailing its history, work and achievements. It has remained a family owned business and by this time it had become the seventh biggest combined printing and publishing company in the U K.

REVISED FEBRUARY 2008

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See also Lorenzo Warner     St Peter's Hospital     The Old Maltings

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