Friesens Corporation is Canada's largest

printer Printer may refer to: Technology * Printer (publishing), a person * Printer (computing), a hardware device * Optical printer for motion picture films People * Nariman Printer (fl. c. 1940), Indian journalist and activist * James Printer (1640 ...

hardcover A hardcover, hard cover, or hardback (also known as hardbound, and sometimes as casebound (At p. 247.)) book is one bookbinding, bound with rigid protective covers (typically of binder's board or heavy paperboard covered with buckram or other clo ...

books. They are

employee-owned Employee stock ownership, or employee share ownership, is where a company's employees own shares in that company (or in the parent company of a group of companies). US employees typically acquire shares through a share option plan. In the UK, Emp ...

, specializing in hardcover books and

yearbook A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a type of Annual publication, a book published annually. One use is to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school. The term also refers to a book of statistics or facts published annually ...

s, and located in

Altona, Manitoba Altona is a town in southern Manitoba, Canada, about 100 km south-west of Winnipeg and 158 km north of Grand Forks, North Dakota. The population at the 2021 Census was 4,390 residents. Old Altona was founded in 1880 by Plautdietsch-spe ...

, Canada. Friesens also operates a

self-publishing Self-publishing is an author-driven publication of any media without the involvement of a third-party publisher. Since the advent of the internet, self-published usually depends upon digital platforms and print-on-demand technology, ranging fro ...

subsidiary named FriesenPress, launched in 2009.

History

* Friesens was founded by David W. Friesen in 1907 as a

confectionery store A confectionery store or confectionery shop (more commonly referred to as a sweet shop in the United Kingdom, a candy shop or candy store in North America, or a lolly shop in Australia and New Zealand) is a store that sell confectionery, whose i ...

. * In 1933, the family purchased a

printing press A printing press is a mechanical device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a printing, print medium (such as paper or cloth), thereby transferring the ink. It marked a dramatic improvement on earlier printing methods in whi ...

* In 1941 launched weekly '' Altona Echo'' newspaper later amalgamating with the '' Morris Herald'' into the '' Red River Valley Echo''. * In 1950 incorporated as D.W. Friesen & Sons Inc,. * In 1959 built new 16,500 sq. ft. plant. Purchased first offset press * In 1960 began employee profit sharing and post secondary

scholarship A scholarship is a form of Student financial aid, financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, Multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion, athleti ...

s for employees' children * In 1965 started selling school

s in

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

and

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada. It is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and to the south by the ...

* In 1970 launched Business Machines division * In 1971 purchased ACME Box Company. Expanded main plant by 12,000 sq ft. * In 1973 expanded school

force * In 1976 D.W. Friesen & Sons changes t
Friesens
* In 1978 printed first four-colour book * In 1987 purchased four colour presses * In 1990 started Graphic Arts course at Red River Community College *In 1999 Friesens Fast Print and Packaging Division relocated. Started selling school graduation supplies. *In 2000, Friesens printed the Canadian run of ''

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'' is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the fourth novel in the ''Harry Potter'' series. It follows Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, a wizard in his fourth year at Hogwar ...

'', producing 400,000 copies of the book. *In 2002 printed ''

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the first novel in the ''Harry Potter'' series and was Rowling's debut novel. It follows Harry Potter, a young wizard who disco ...

'' by

J. K. Rowling Joanne Rowling ( ; born 31 July 1965), known by her pen name , is a British author and philanthropist. She is the author of ''Harry Potter'', a seven-volume fantasy novel series published from 1997 to 2007. The series has List of best-sell ...

*In 2004 Friesens landmark printing of

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'' is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the fifth and longest novel in the ''Harry Potter'' series. It follows Harry Potter's struggles through his fifth year at Hogwart ...

on 100% post consumer waste led author J.K. Rowling to insist all future

Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven Fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young Magician (fantasy), wizard, Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, and his friends ...

books worldwide be printed " tree-free" *In 2008 built

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

's most advanced and

eco-friendly Environment friendly processes, or environmental-friendly processes (also referred to as eco-friendly, nature-friendly, and green), are sustainability and marketing terms referring to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies that c ...

130,000 sq. ft. book manufacturing plant. *In 2009 Friesens purchased think4D® a revolutionary and patented three-dimensional book cover and packaging technology; Friesens launches FriesenPress for self-publishing authors; *In 2010 Friesens designed and printed

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...

: Back Story and Season 9 Highlights; Designed and printed school yearbooks appearing on the television series, ''

Glee Glee may refer to: * Glee (music), a type of English choral music * ''Glee'' (TV series), an American musical comedy-drama TV series, and related media created by Ryan Murphy * ''Glee'' (Bran Van 3000 album) * ''Glee'' (Logan Lynn album) * Gle ...

'' *In 2015 Friesens install an 8-colour, format 8, R900 HiPrint XXL perfecting press from Manroland that provides for an imposition of up to 64 pages, printed both sides, in one pass. Successfully completed a shift in the employee-ownership model. *In 2016 printed '' Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'' *In 2017 celebrated 110 years in business with a corporate and community celebration

Current operations

Friesens is Canada's largest printer of hardcover books. Furthermore, it has been rated as one of Canada's best 50 managed companies by Deloitte and Touche on several occasions. In 2018, Friesens was number 60 of the top 400 printing companies in the United States and Canada.

FriesenPress

On July 13, 2009, Friesens Corporation launched a self-publishing subsidiary called FriesenPress. FriesenPress offers editing, design, distribution, and promotional support services to assist authors with self-publishing their books. Its team of over 55 employees and 100 freelancers have partnered with thousands of authors on self-publishing over 10,000 book titles. It is the largest company of its kind in Canada. In March 2021, the company shifted its headquarters to Altona, Manitoba and became a fully remote organization.

Awards

*In 2004, The National Association for Printing Leadership awarded Friesens its highest management award. *In 2004, Caldwell Partners and ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Newspapers in Canada, Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in Western Canada, western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of more than 6 million in 2024, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on week ...

'' named

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Curwin Friesen as one of Canada's "Top 40 Under 40".

References

External links

Friesens Corporation
{{Self-publishing Book publishing companies of Canada Employee-owned companies of Canada Publishing companies based in Manitoba Altona, Manitoba