Milwaukee-based First Edge Solutions has acquired Proven Direct, a Milwaukee-based on-demand marketing, document output services and photo book publishing company.
First Edge, which also has production facilities in Phoenix and Atlanta and satellite offices in Chicago, San Diego, New York and St. Louis, provides multi-channel communication, print and document management services.
First Edge will move its headquarters from 544 S. First St. to Proven Direct’s facility at 1301 W. Canal St. in Milwaukee. The move will add about 25,000 square feet of space, allowing for increased production efficiency by putting all production equipment in one location.
“Strategically, this gives us a competitive advantage of expanding our one-to-one technology and our data-driven communication platform,” said Robert Kraft, president and chief executive officer of First Edge. “They have a first class digital print and mail facility with good clients, and we’ll add value to their operation with our proprietary multi-channel software and national footprint.”
Acquiring Proven Direct will allow First Edge to increase its printing, finishing and mailing capabilities using the company’s manufacturing equipment. Proven Direct has six HP Indigo presses, two Videojet BX Inkjet printers and an Axode Video Matching System.
Business operations will move forward under the First Edge Solutions name. According to a First Edge spokesperson, “Proven Direct released several employees prior to the acquisition in order to get costs in line. This included members of the Proven Direct leadership team.” First Edge now has 110 employees at its Milwaukee, Phoenix and Atlanta facilities.
“With the additional equipment we are able to not only increase capacity in Milwaukee, but in our Atlanta and Phoenix locations as well,” said Mike Herald, vice president of manufacturing. “Now we can handle every job in any of our three production facilities, which increases our production efficiency and reduces costs. We’ve added the ability to produce hard cover photo books and other unique products giving our customers a variety of printing options that they didn’t have before.”
