Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Attended by Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, Speaker Pro Tem Gayle Manning, JobsOhio Representatives and Local Officials
Installation of Manroland Goss LITHOMAN Press Represents Investment in Premier Customer Service and Commitment to Manufacturing in Willard
[July 15, 2025] – Willard, OH – Lakeside Book Company (“Lakeside”) announced today the addition of a state-of-the-art manroland Goss LITHOMAN at the company’s Willard, Ohio facility. This new, 64-page, 4-color offset, wide-web press is now operational, enhancing automation and setting a new standard for efficiency and sustainability. Built with cutting edge technology, the manroland Goss LITHOMAN press includes inline control systems with self-correcting features to manage all aspects of quality, ensuring color consistency throughout the printing process.
This significant enhancement to Lakeside’s book manufacturing platform was achieved in collaboration with the State of Ohio’s Department of Development (ODOD), JobsOhio, the City of Willard, Huron County Growth Partnership, the Ohio Department of Transportation, Jobs & Commerce, and Team NEO.
“Today is a big day for book printing and advanced manufacturing in the United States, and the great state of Ohio. We are creating and retaining hundreds of jobs and reinvigorating our commitment to long-term growth in the Willard community while enhancing our ability to deliver superior, comprehensive, and highly reliable solutions to our customers,” said Dave McCree, CEO of Lakeside Book Company. “We are fortunate to have the incredible support of our local and state Ohio officials who value the investment we are making to grow our business in Ohio as much as we do.”
Lakeside Book’s Willard facility is 1.3 million square feet and employs more than 500 talented employees producing upwards of 50 million books annually. The business began operating in Willard in 1956, printing telephone books, and grew substantially in subsequent years to serve blue-chip customers across the publishing industry. As the book printing business transformed in the 2000s, the team at Lakeside’s Willard location became the industry leader in printing education-related materials.
“We’re excited to see Lakeside Book Company continue to grow and invest in Ohio,” said Lt. Governor Jim Tressel. “Ohio has a long history of manufacturing excellence, and today’s announcement builds on that legacy with a new automated process that will help the Willard facility continue to succeed while supporting the skilled workers who make that success possible.”
“Ohio has long been a national leader in manufacturing, and today we celebrate another important step forward,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Gayle Manning. “The investment Lakeside Book Company is making here in Willard not only showcases the power of innovation, but it also reinforces the strength of our workforce and our communities. I’m proud to see our state leading the way in creating jobs and advancing technology that keeps Ohio at the forefront of American industry.”
“When you invest in a company that has a track record of innovation, you get results like this,” said Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “We are proud to support Lakeside Book Company’s continued growth in Willard, where their commitment to excellence is creating new jobs, retaining hundreds more, and reinforcing Ohio’s place as a global leader in advanced manufacturing.”