Proost (company)
Encyclopedia
Proost International Book Production is a Belgian
manufacturer and supplier for the book publishing industry. It is one of the companies of the printing valley around Turnhout, Belgium
. The company operates from 2 manufacturing sites in Belgium, one in Turnhout (Flanders
) and one in Fleurus
(Wallonia).
as director of the churchbook division. He founded his company in the Otterstraat in Turnhout and specialized in printing and binding of bibles and missals
. The company continued this way until the Second Vatican Council
, which causes a large decline of the need for church books. In 1962 the company changes from monochrome
to color printing
and diversifies its business beyond religious books. In 1976 Proost builds a new plant on an industrial estate near Turnhout, while it hass outgrown its old plant in the centre of the city. At the same time the first four-color CMYK web-press is installed, which can print on continuous rolls of paper. In 1990 the company continues to expand and acquires a second printing plant in Fleurus
, and becomes one of the biggest manufacturers in the world of books for children, comics
, educational books and illustrated books. After being a family-owned business for about 83 years the company is acquired LIBERfabrica plc (United Kingdom
) in 1996, which in its turn is acquired by Chevrillon Philippe Industrie (CPI) of France
in 1999. The entire group now operates in 5 countries and employs about 3400 people.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
manufacturer and supplier for the book publishing industry. It is one of the companies of the printing valley around Turnhout, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The company operates from 2 manufacturing sites in Belgium, one in Turnhout (Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
) and one in Fleurus
Fleurus
Fleurus is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Fleurus had a total population of 22,221. The total area is which gives a population density of 375 inhabitants per km²...
(Wallonia).
History
The company was founded in 1913 by Henri Proost, who previously worked at BrepolsBrepols
Brepols was once one of the largest printing companies of the world and one of the main employers in Turnhout . Besides its printing business, Brepols is also active as a publisher...
as director of the churchbook division. He founded his company in the Otterstraat in Turnhout and specialized in printing and binding of bibles and missals
Missal
A missal is a liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year.-History:Before the compilation of such books, several books were used when celebrating Mass...
. The company continued this way until the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
, which causes a large decline of the need for church books. In 1962 the company changes from monochrome
Monochrome
Monochrome describes paintings, drawings, design, or photographs in one color or shades of one color. A monochromatic object or image has colors in shades of limited colors or hues. Images using only shades of grey are called grayscale or black-and-white...
to color printing
Color printing
Color printing or Colour printing is the reproduction of an image or text in color...
and diversifies its business beyond religious books. In 1976 Proost builds a new plant on an industrial estate near Turnhout, while it hass outgrown its old plant in the centre of the city. At the same time the first four-color CMYK web-press is installed, which can print on continuous rolls of paper. In 1990 the company continues to expand and acquires a second printing plant in Fleurus
Fleurus
Fleurus is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Fleurus had a total population of 22,221. The total area is which gives a population density of 375 inhabitants per km²...
, and becomes one of the biggest manufacturers in the world of books for children, comics
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
, educational books and illustrated books. After being a family-owned business for about 83 years the company is acquired LIBERfabrica plc (United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) in 1996, which in its turn is acquired by Chevrillon Philippe Industrie (CPI) of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1999. The entire group now operates in 5 countries and employs about 3400 people.
Source
- De Turnhoutse Kempen, haar economische en sociale betekenis, Vlaams Economisch Verbond, pp. 88-90