Advertek commemorates 20th anniversary with photo plant opening

Advertek Printing commemorated 20 years in business with a Sept. 5 open house at its new 30,000-square foot personalized photo product plant in Vaughn, Ontario. The facility joins the existing 30,000-square foot litho plant in nearby Brampton, Ontario. Between the two facilities, Advertek offers a full range of traditional commercial printing services, personalization and mail, large format printing, and bindery and finishing. In recent years, the company has added digital photo personalization printing, dye-sublimation printing and photo gifting services for some of Canada’s largest retailers.

Co-CEOs Joe Montalbano and Simon Spina bought the Advertek business in 1999, three years after its founding. Montalbano had 17 years of previous sales and executive experience, while Spina was an ex-banker who had a minority interest in a commercial printer. Lifelong friends, the pair’s skills complement each other.

The new 30,000-square-foot facility produces small- and large-format digital printing, case-bound and PUR books, dye-sublimation products for gifting, like drinkware and plaques, as well as canvas. Color and black-and-white work is produced on Xerox iGen 4 and 5 platforms; production equipment also includes Epson roll printers and Agfa flatbed printers. Among the company’s innovative offerings is the capability to offer personalized books in custom shapes.