MGP pressed into expansion after 25 years

• January 26 2020
• http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sunday-finance/mgp-pressed-into_expansion_after_25_years_185551

As a sales representative at United Co-operative Printers, Arlene Wilson didn't know a lot about printing when she decided to get a small print press to do small jobs that got lost in the system. Today, she heads Mona Graphic Printers Company Limited (MGP) which celebrates its 25th anniversary and the opening of new building, in which she hopes will propel the company to the top of the printing industry and chart its path of continued success.

Equipped with a single colour AB Dick printing press and a hand held cutting machine, business began in 1995 in a rented property in Allman Town. Based on the demands on the company, within a relatively short period of time, Wilson had to seriously rethink the focus of the business.

MGP core business function is offset printing, complemented with digital and large format printing services.

In 2019 the need to carry out major expansion again became apparent as the space from which the company operated was totally outgrown.

In expanding with the help of the National Commercial Bank, MGP acquired a Heidelberg Speed Master, a five colour printing press and a Polar Mohr Guillotine machine and built a new building on the grounds of 15 Cunningham Avenue, Kingston to accommodate the machinery. MGP's digital platform also grew by acquiring a Xerox Versant Colour production printer and a Zerox D 95 black and white production printer.

This investment totalled some $60 million.

“In getting this new press, we're going to be very competitive because it's more advanced technology and can take on a lot more work. Prior to now we had four presses but we had a lot of problems,” Wilson told the Jamaica Observer.