What Goes Into a Book: Interview With a Master Book Printer

It’s no secret: creating a book is hard work. Taking a book through writing, editing and design is no small feat, and after that, it takes an experienced team of print employees to finalize the author’s vision. But what goes on within the walls of a printing facility? What is it like to be a part of the book printing process? We spoke with Drew Elliott, Pressroom Manager at Walsworth – Marceline, to learn more about how books come together and what it’s like to be a master book printer.

Drew’s Beginnings in the Print Industry

Drew’s path to book printing wasn’t exactly traditional. With a degree in athletic training, his career began with a job working with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Drew made the decision to move back home to Brookfield, Missouri. Soon after, a conversation with Gary O’Toole, Walsworth’s Executive Vice President of Manufacturing Operations, would change his career path forever.

“The job market wasn’t the best at the time,” said Drew, I was looking for a good, steady job. Gary mentioned they had a Management Trainee position open. I applied, went through the interview process, and I’ve been here ever since.”

Lifelong Learning: A Printer’s Constant Companion

One of the things Drew emphasized is that as a book printer, the learning process never truly ends. “I still learn new things every single day,” said Drew. “It took the better of the entire 18-month management trainee program to fully understand the print, binding and business aspects. Plus, it’s always changing with different machinery, technology and customer needs.” Even our most experienced printers have to stay on their toes in order to keep up with advancing print technology, which helps us stay on the cutting edge.

The Magic of Book Printing

While the core principles of printing are consistent between books, magazines and catalogs, there’s something special about crafting books. “Printing books is unique because of all the binding types we can do, specifically our binding capabilities here in Marceline,” said Drew. Magazines normally print on standard paper substrates. For casebound books, plexiglass, linens, and acrylics have really taken off. There are lots of different substrates we can print on and offer to our customers.”

A Team Effort

So, how many pairs of hands work together to create a book? Drew estimates that a typical project involves somewhere between 30 and 40 skilled workers across various departments.  From the prepress employees who create impositions to the bindery workers who make sure our books are securely bound, and everyone in between, a Walsworth book print is truly a team effort.

Tips for a Smooth Printing Journey

For authors and publishers embarking on their printing adventure, Drew offers some valuable advice: keep an open line of communication with your dedicated Customer Service Representative and don’t be afraid to ask questions. “Meeting with your CSR and laying all questions out on the table gives us a chance to tell you yes or no or test what you want to be done before we commit to the project,” said Drew. “An experienced printing company like Walsworth will be happy to accommodate an author’s design and printing specifications to help achieve their vision.”

The Unexpected Wonders of the Printing Press

Even though books are a part of most of our daily lives, the vast majority of people have never seen books being printed or even set foot in a printing plant. When asked if there’s anything that might surprise the average person about the book printing process, Drew replied: “How crazy technology is on these presses. Printing 18,000 sheets an hour, both sides of the sheet, and aligning the four CMYK dots down to the micron level to achieve optimal color and registration – it’s absolutely amazing.”

More Than Just a Job: How Drew Found a Home at Walsworth

Even though Drew Elliott didn’t originally set out to work in print, he is thankful for the career he’s built at Walsworth.  He finds joy in the connections he’s built, the challenges he tackles every day and the ever-changing nature of the work. “I love the people I work with, truly every day is a new day,” said Drew. “Walsworth has been good to me and my family – I met my wife working here.” Drew’s story is a reminder that the world of book printing is more than just ink and paper; it’s a world of dedication, precision, and a shared passion for bringing the written word to life.

If you’re ready to partner with passionate people like Drew to create your next book project, contact Walsworth today to get in touch with one of our Sales Representatives! Or, if you’re interested in working for a family-owned company with over 87 years of printing history, browse our open positions.