FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 18, 2004

GRAPHIC CONVERTING AND GREAT WESTERN INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCE DEAL.

Graphic Converting Inc (GCI) announced today it has completed its acquisition of the trading & game card converting segment of Great Western Industries of Dallas, TX. The move is designed to expand GCI’s share of the trading & game card market, increase its capacity and expand its business into the Texas market. The deal was finalized in January 2004.

Competitors for many years, GCI and Great Western Industries came together in 2001 to partner on packaging projects. GCI’s interest in expanding its market share in the trading and collectible game market and Great Western Industries interest in focusing on its folding carton, clear packaging and specialty product segments ultimately led to this agreement.

GCI will create a 60,000 sq. ft. facility located at 13445 Jupiter Road in Dallas, TX, adjacent to where Great Western’s printing and packaging facility is located. With this acquisition, GCI will provide foil stamping, embossing, die-cutting, slitting, over-wrapping, and packaging in the Dallas, TX, facility. Under the agreement, Great Western will continue to be the primary provider of conventional, UV and screen printing services for trading and game cards produced in the Texas facility.

Mark Golstab, plant manager at GCI’s Carlsbad, CA, facility will oversee day-to-day operations and continue to report to Steve Skalski, executive vice president and partner of GCI.

First opened in December 1976, GCI is now one of the largest turnkey graphic arts converting companies in the country with over 400,000 square feet of manufacturing in Carlsbad, CA, Niles, IL, and Dallas, TX.

While GCI was founded as a print trade finisher it has diversified over the years to include trading and collectible game cards, greeting cards and publishing, enhanced packaging and industrial packaging.

For more information please call 630-758-4100.