Published in: PIANKO's The Communicator
By: Staff Writer
With a freshened name and new logo, Coyne Graphic Finishing Inc. has completed its transition from printing company to high-quality binding and finishing services provider.
“We’ve been a finishing company almost exclusively for more than ten years,” says President Kevin Coyne, “Yet we still had the word ‘printing’ in our name. It was important for us to reiterate to our customers that binding and finishing is what we do.”
The company began in 1974 when Bob and wife Alice Coyne purchased and renamed the former Manufacturing Printers, located in Mount Vernon, Ohio. The company expanded in 1980 when Bob and Alice purchased Merchandising, Inc., of Heath, Ohio. The company continued to operate out of multiple facilities until Kevin purchased the company from his parents in 1990.
A Successful Transition
The transition from printer to finisher began shortly thereafter. Kevin recognized that there was a void to be filled on the finishing end of the production cycle, and added die cutting and mounting equipment to handle projects for some of Coyne’s existing customers. The company continued to add equipment and expand the company’s finishing capabilities throughout the decade, steadily shifting the focus of the business along the way.
In 2000, the company consolidated its operations into a single 60,000-square-foot facility in Mount Vernon. The new space was nearly double the size of the company’s previous two-facility operations, and allowed for a more optimal equipment layout.
“One of the biggest benefits of this building is our ability to place equipment in logical production sequences,” says Jeff Ramsey, Operations Manager. “The less handling a project requires during production, the faster it can be turned around.”
Today, Coyne Graphic Finishing boasts a complete range of binding and finishing services, including many highly-specialized capabilities. In addition to large-format die cutting and mounting, the company specializes in film laminating, folding, collating, straight cutting, plastic spiral and Wire-O binding, eyeleting, grommeting, calendar tinning and more.
Products include both large and small point-of-purchase (POP) displays, presentation folders, consumer product packaging, calendars, coupon pads, catalogs, directories, and custom-made presentation and display materials.
Going Big
One niche in which Coyne specializes is large-format finishing services, which includes die cutting, high-speed collating, mounting, film laminating, easel construction, taping and more. These services are valuable to designers, agencies and other customers with the need to create large-format, life-size display pieces and other signage, says Ramsey.
“Customers with large-format products, such as ‘standees’ or self-standing displays, appreciate our ability to die-cut and mount these products as a single piece,” explains Ramsey. “On smaller equipment, these products must be converted in sections and glued together.”
Coyne’s large-format die cutting capabilities are among the most versatile and comprehensive in the country. The company boasts four large-format die cutting machines, the largest of which is able to handle sheets up to 144”. Coyne’s latest large-format addition is a 65” x 120” Cauhe die cutter, which was installed this January. This state-of-the-art machine was custom-manufactured in Spain for Coyne, and allows the company to offer customers even greater design and production versatility.
According to Phil Schlaegel, General Manager, the installation of the Cauhe die-cutter is in response to increased customer demands for specialized die cutting.
“Customers constantly bounce ideas off us,” says Schlaegel. “They may say, ‘We have an idea for a display, but we don’t think anyone can cut it the way we want it.’ In this case, it made sense for us to improve our die cutting capabilities – and we hate to say ‘no’ to our customers – so we went ahead and added the Cauhe.
“We’re not afraid to add a new technology,” adds Schlaegel. “That’s helped fuel our growth, and helped position us as problem-solvers in the eyes of our customers.”
That problem-solving attitude led to the addition of another niche capability a couple years ago. Coyne began receiving requests to convert projects that were too thick for die cutting – some of which were for applications outside the graphic arts industry. Coyne responded by adding computerized CNC routing. This software-driven equipment uses cutter tooling spinning at more than 18,000 rpm to cut materials such as styrene, plywood, acrylic, plastic, and particle board into almost any shape imaginable.
“Some of our binding and finishing customers have used our CNC routing capabilities to create products such as durable, weather-resistant displays,” says Schlaegel, “But we’ve also handled projects for customers in the furniture and automotive industries as well. The versatility of this equipment opens up a slew of new markets to us.”
According to Kevin Coyne, combining all of these services under one roof has made Coyne Graphic Finishing a single, “go-to” resource for a wide range of companies.
“We pride ourselves on being able to tell customers, “Yes, we can do that,’” says Coyne. “For example, if a customer wants to create exterior and interior signage, point-of-purchase displays, table tents and brochures for a retail store, they know we can handle all of it. And we’re constantly upgrading our capabilities to do it more efficiently and economically.
“We want to demonstrate to our customers that we will grow with them,” continues Coyne. “As they expand into new markets, or come up with new and exciting products, we’ll continue to be a trusted resource for them.”
Beyond Equipment
As a new PIANKO board member, Kevin Coyne is eager to share his knowledge and experience with the Northern Kentucky/Ohio graphic arts community, a role he believes reflects his optimism about the industry as a whole.
“This is an exciting time to be involved in the printing and graphic arts industry,” says Coyne. “That’s one of many reasons I look forward to being an active PIANKO board member.”
Although the company continues to bear his family’s name, Kevin Coyne is quick to point out that its continued success lies with his dedicated team of more than 35 employees.
“When it comes down to it, your people are what differentiate your company,” says Coyne. “Our range of equipment may get us in the door, but it’s the experience, friendliness and persistence of our people that keep our customers coming back year after year.”
For more information about Coyne Graphic Finishing, contact Kevin Coyne by phone at (740) 397-6232, or by email at k.coyne@coynefinishing.com.