Family-run St. Paul printer wins recognition while navigating labor gaps
St. Paul — A family-owned commercial printing company that has supplied major Twin Cities firms for more than 40 years is drawing attention this summer for both its longevity and the workforce pressures that come with an aging skilled labor force.
Ideal Printers Inc., founded in 1979 and based in St. Paul, was named among the Minnesota Manufacturing Awards honorees this year. The company, led by members of the same family since its founding, lists customers that include Ecolab, Honeywell, Best Buy and Great Clips, according to the company profile released with the awards.
Company leaders say their business model rests on long-term relationships with customers and employees. That steadiness helped the firm earn recognition as a manufacturer in the state’s competitive industrial landscape.
- Founded: 1979
- Ownership: Family-run since founding
- Noted customers: Ecolab, Honeywell, Best Buy, Great Clips
Even as Ideal Printers celebrates the honor, the company — like many manufacturers in Minnesota — is confronting a generational shift in its workforce. Leaders highlighted the retirement of skilled press operators as a key challenge, signaling broader concerns about recruiting and retaining trained production staff in a tight labor market.
"The commercial printing company has been led by the same family since 1979 and prioritizes long-term relationships with both employees and customers."
The issue is not unique to one plant. Manufacturers across Ramsey County and the state have reported similar strains as experienced operators retire and fewer young workers enter the trades. For local employers that rely on specialized skills, that dynamic can mean higher training costs, temporary slowdowns and pressure to modernize equipment or processes to reduce labor intensity.
For St. Paul’s economy, small and medium-sized manufacturers such as Ideal Printers are significant: they supply larger corporate customers, support supply chains, and provide jobs that often pay above entry-level wages. The company’s ability to maintain client relationships and transfer institutional knowledge to new workers will shape both its future and the health of the city’s manufacturing sector.
| Factor | Implication for St. Paul |
|---|---|
| Long-term customer base | Stability for local supply chains |
| Retiring skilled operators | Recruitment and training pressures, potential service disruptions |
As policymakers and industry groups in Minnesota explore workforce development initiatives, the trajectory of long-standing businesses like Ideal Printers will be watched closely. Their experiences offer a window into the kinds of investments—apprenticeships, technical training, or equipment upgrades—that may be needed to sustain manufacturing employment in St. Paul and across the state.
The Minnesota Manufacturing Awards spotlighted the company this year, underscoring both its place in the community and the challenges it shares with peers statewide.
