Worth Higgins & Associates absorbs B&B Printing in major Virginia consolidation move

In a definitive move that underscores the ongoing consolidation trend in the North American commercial printing sector, Virginia’s Worth Higgins & Associates has finalized the acquisition of its longtime regional competitor, B&B Printing. The transaction, officially closed on June 3, 2026, transfers B&B’s intellectual property, customer accounts, and key sales personnel to Worth Higgins' headquarters in Richmond. This development brings an end to a 54-year independent run for Chesterfield-based B&B, while simultaneously cementing Worth Higgins’ status as the state’s largest privately held commercial printing and communications company.

A Strategic Absorption Driven by Capital Investment

The timing of this acquisition is far from coincidental. This strategic absorption runs parallel to a substantial $10 million capital injection by Worth Higgins into its infrastructure, marking the largest single investment in the employee-owned company’s history. Under the leadership of CEO Brian Losch, the firm has focused on alleviating production bottlenecks and future-proofing its pressroom.

Central to this upgrade is the installation of two cutting-edge offset presses, notably an advanced eight-color perfector designed for high-speed, double-sided output. In an industry grappling with skilled labor shortages and tightening turnaround times, modern perfectors drastically reduce makeready times and substrate waste. This machinery upgrade provides the exact capacity needed to seamlessly integrate B&B’s estimated $5 million revenue stream without disrupting existing workflows across Worth Higgins’ 117,000-square-foot main facility and its secondary 60,000-square-foot logistics warehouse on Commerce Road.

Equipment Liquidation Marks the End of an Era

While B&B Printing's legacy and customer relationships transition to Worth Higgins under the collaborative guidance of former president Michael Bland, the physical assets of the Chesterfield plant are taking a different route. Independent printing operations have officially ceased, and the facility is being decommissioned.

Graphic Arts Advisors has been tasked with managing the online auction of B&B's surplus equipment. The liquidation offers a glimpse into the operational backbone of a classic mid-sized commercial printer, with assets hitting the secondary market including digital workhorses like HP Indigo and Ricoh Pro presses, alongside Kodak prepress systems, Polar Mohr cutters, and Muller Martini saddle stitchers. For the broader converting and printing market, such auctions provide critical opportunities for smaller shops to acquire well-maintained secondary equipment amid ongoing supply chain adjustments for new machinery.

Unlocking Value for a Combined Client Base

For former B&B clients, the transition unlocks a significantly broader portfolio of in-house services. While B&B built a rock-solid reputation over five decades, migrating to Worth Higgins offers access to a highly diversified production environment. Worth Higgins operates robust digital capabilities—including early adoption of UV inkjet systems like the Komori Impremia IS29, which eliminates the need for special substrates or coatings—alongside wide-format graphics, custom finishing, direct mail processing, promotional products, and extensive fulfillment services.

In a commercial print landscape where scale, technological versatility, and automated workflows are essential for maintaining margins, bringing regional competitors into a centralized, high-tech production hub proves to be a highly effective growth model. It allows companies to scale revenue while optimizing the return on investment for heavy iron purchases.

Worth Higgins’ latest strategic maneuver exemplifies how smart capital allocation and targeted client-base acquisitions can securely fortify a regional leader's market position. Are we witnessing the final wave of independent mid-sized commercial printers, or will specialized niche players inevitably emerge to fill the void left by these regional consolidations? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai