Hemlock
Hemlock Printers is a family-owned commercial printing company founded in 1968 serving North American enterprise brands with offset, digital, and wide format printing, integrated fulfillment and mailing, and sustainability-certified production from facilities in BC, Seattle, California, and Quebec.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersWalnut Creek, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hemlock does
Hemlock Printers is a privately held, family-owned commercial printing company founded in 1968 and headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia, operating across Canada and the United States with sales offices in Seattle and Walnut Creek, California and subsidiaries extending to Los Angeles and Quebec. The company offers an integrated suite of offset printing (Heidelberg XL UV LED presses), digital printing (HP Indigo 7900/7800/100K), and wide format/display printing through its wholly-owned PrismTech and Colortec acquisitions, supplemented by fulfillment and direct mail capabilities via its Hemlock Harling Distribution subsidiary and its Datex Services acquisition.
Hemlock serves enterprise brands and publishers across publishing, hospitality, apparel, retail, outdoor recreation, and music industries, with named clients including Airbnb (employee IPO photo book project), Patagonia (culture book), Burton Snowboard (casebound founder tribute), and Campbell's Soup (limited edition labels). The go-to-market model is enterprise field sales with dedicated account managers, customized online dashboards via the Hemlock Connect web-to-print platform, and direct distribution partnerships including PDI Inc for national Canadian coverage and Canada Post Smartmail for mailing services. Revenue is generated primarily through project-based print production fees, with recurring subscription components for online solutions and platform services.
The company differentiates through sustainability credentials unmatched in the Pacific Northwest: first FSC Chain-of-Custody certification (2004), Canada's first carbon neutral printer (2007), Green-e certification, Climate Smart certification, and over 12 million kg of CO2e offset through the ZERO Carbon Neutral Print Program developed in partnership with Offsetters. Hemlock has expanded through a programmatic acquisition strategy (PrismTech 2020, Datex 2022, Paper Chase Press 2022, Colortec 2024) and recently announced 2026 capacity investments including robotics-accelerated manufacturing, a Kongsberg C64 digital cutter at the re-opened Curragh facility, case-making capabilities, and process-less printing plates. The company remains under founding-family control, with Richard Kouwenhoven serving as President.
Hemlock firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hemlock
- Legal name
- Hemlock Printers Ltd.
- Website
- https://hemlock.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Hemlock Printers is a family-owned commercial printing company founded in 1968 serving North American enterprise brands with offset, digital, and wide format printing, integrated fulfillment and mailing, and sustainability-certified production from facilities in BC, Seattle, California, and Quebec.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Hemlock is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Walnut Creek
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Hemlock business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Print Production Services: One-time print production services across offset, digital, and wide format printing. Revenue generated per job/project based on specifications, quantities, and finishing requirements.
- Fulfillment and Mailing Services: Integrated fulfillment, mailing, kitting, and distribution services through Hemlock Harling Distribution subsidiary
- Online Solutions and E-commerce: Branded e-commerce storefront solutions and customized dashboards for enterprise clients, likely with ongoing platform/subscription components
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Hemlock product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hemlock is a commercial printing company providing sheet-fed offset, digital, and wide format/display printing services using Heidelberg and HP Indigo press technology, complemented by integrated fulfillment, mailing, kitting, and distribution through its subsidiary Hemlock Harling Distribution. It also offers branded web-to-print online solutions with customized dashboards and e-commerce storefronts for enterprise clients, along with specialty services such as fine art reproduction, sustainable FSC-certified printing, and the ZERO Carbon Neutral Print Program.
Product overview
Hemlock Printers is a commercial printing company offering a comprehensive suite of offset, digital, and wide format printing services. The core product portfolio consists of Offset Printing Services, Digital Printing Services (HP Indigo), Wide Format/Display Printing, Fulfillment & Mailing, Online Solutions (web-to-print), Fine Art Prints, Publications, Books, Marketing Materials, Packaging, and Stationery. These are supported by specialized capabilities including the ZERO Carbon Neutral Print Program for carbon offsetting, Holiday Wrap Program, Remote Press Checks via video conferencing, and comprehensive Binding Services. The company operates sub-brands including Hemlock Harling Distribution (mail and fulfillment) and Hemlock Display (wide format), and has acquired Paper Chase Press (Los Angeles) and PrismTech Graphics. All services emphasize sustainable print practices with carbon neutral operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hemlock Connect: Online solutions and web-to-print services including customized dashboards, online catalogs, and branded e-commerce storefront solutions
- Hemlock Display
- Hemlock Harling Distribution
- Paper Chase Press
Products and services
- Offset Printing Services
- Digital Printing Services
- Wide Format/Display Printing
- Fulfillment & Mailing Services
- Online Solutions (Web-to-Print)
- Fine Art Prints
- Publications Printing
- Book Printing
- Marketing Materials Printing
- Packaging Printing
- Stationery Printing
- ZERO Carbon Neutral Print Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 12 million kilograms of CO2e offset through ZERO program
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hemlock
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hemlock technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Hemlock partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Colortec Creative Print SolutionsminorHemlock Display acquired Colortec Creative Print Solutions to expand wide format capabilities
- Paper Chase PresscoreHemlock acquired LA-based Paper Chase Press as part of expanded US growth strategy
- PDI InccorePartnership with Montreal-based PDI Inc for national print solutions. Combined resources span the nation offering customized, scalable solutions that get customers' products to market faster and more efficiently.
- Hemlock Harling DistributioncoreSubsidiary operating since 2017 (partnership with Harling Direct) providing data-driven direct mail, fulfillment, and distribution services from Richmond, BC facility (40,000 sq ft).
- Datex ServicescoreAcquisition of Datex Services Ltd, a Richmond-based mail and data services company with 50+ years of experience. Key personnel joined Hemlock Harling team. 10,000 sq ft facility supports mailing services.
- PDI Group (PrismTech Graphics)corePartnered with PDI Group to acquire PrismTech Graphics, an established wide format printing company in Burnaby, BC. Hemlock's Display division moved into the PrismTech facility.
- Mohawk Fine PaperscorePartnership to expand ZERO Carbon Neutral Print Program. Mohawk Options 100% PC paper is automatically carbon neutral when specified, with emissions offset through Mohawk's Darkwoods Forest Carbon Project.
- Simon Fraser University (Dick Kouwenhoven Book Art Studio)minorKouwenhoven Family gift to SFU establishing Dick Kouwenhoven Book Arts Studio at WAC Bennett Library, plus printer-in-residence program. Studio fosters education on books, book-making, and print culture.
- OffsetterscorePartnership with Vancouver-based Offsetters to develop and launch the ZERO Carbon Neutral Print Program in 2009. Offsetters provides climate change solutions and guides customers seeking to reduce their climate impact.
- Canopycore15+ year partnership with award-winning non-profit Canopy dedicated to conserving ancient and endangered forests. Canopy guides Hemlock's sustainable procurement practices, and Hemlock supports ForestMapper initiative and conservation planning.
- Canada Post SmartmailcoreSmartmail Marketing Expert Partner designated by Canada Post for in-depth mailing knowledge and campaign performance measurement services.
- FSC CanadacoreFirst printer in Pacific Northwest to receive FSC Chain-of-Custody Certification (2004, FSC C014956). Partnership for sustainable paper procurement.
- Green-e/Center for Resource SolutionscoreOne of few printers in North America to obtain Green-e certification from CRS. Customers can access Green-e approved papers with branding benefits.
- HPcoreHP Indigo press technology partner. Also partnered on COVID-19 infographic signage program.
- Rolland PaperminorPaper supplier providing 100% post-consumer waste papers for Wild World Wrap program
- Vancouver Art GalleryminorEvent venue partner for The Art of Printing event showcasing print innovation and sustainability
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hemlock competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cenveo: Large US commercial printing platform with broad offset, digital, and label capabilities; incumbent operating across all of Hemlock's served verticals.
- TC Transcontinental: Montreal-based major printing conglomerate serving North American packaging, retail, and marketing verticals; broader portfolio but overlaps with Hemlock in commercial printing and packaging.
- Toppan Printing (Toppan Holdings): Global printing and digital services conglomerate; while primarily a broader incumbent, its commercial printing division overlaps with Hemlock in high-end publications and packaging.
- Taylor Corporation: Large US private commercial printing and marketing services provider serving enterprise clients; overlaps with Hemlock in marketing materials and integrated print solutions.
Direct peers
- Sheridan Press: Pennsylvania-based book and journal printer specializing in short to medium runs; overlapping customer base with Hemlock's publications and books segment.
- Spicer-Brooks Printing: US commercial printer focused on sustainable, FSC-certified, and carbon-neutral print production for premium brands; closely comparable positioning to Hemlock's sustainability-led value proposition.
- Marquis Book Printing: Quebec-based book printing specialist serving publishers across North America; directly comparable to Hemlock's book printing capabilities with similar offset and perfect-binding equipment.
- Lowe-Martin Group: Ottawa-headquartered commercial printer with sustainability focus, offering offset, digital, and fulfillment services; closely comparable business model and customer base to Hemlock.
- Friesens Corporation: Canadian family-owned book and commercial printer headquartered in Manitoba; comparable mid-market scale, quality focus, and broad service mix of offset, digital, and binding.
- Walsworth Publishing: US family-owned commercial and book printing company operating offset and digital presses across multiple facilities; directly comparable in scope, technology stack, and customer verticals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hemlock social profiles
Digital presenceHemlock compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Hemlock financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hemlock leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Hemlock subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Hemlock funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hemlock M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hemlock
What does Hemlock do?
Hemlock is a commercial printing company providing sheet-fed offset, digital, and wide format/display printing services using Heidelberg and HP Indigo press technology, complemented by integrated fulfillment, mailing, kitting, and distribution through its subsidiary Hemlock Harling Distribution. It also offers branded web-to-print online solutions with customized dashboards and e-commerce storefronts for enterprise clients, along with specialty services such as fine art reproduction, sustainable FSC-certified printing, and the ZERO Carbon Neutral Print Program.
Is Hemlock a public or private company?
Hemlock is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Hemlock founded?
Hemlock was founded in 1968. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Hemlock based?
Hemlock is headquartered in Walnut Creek, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hemlock make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Print Production Services are the primary driver. The others are fulfillment and Mailing Services and online Solutions and E-commerce.
Who are Hemlock's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cenveo, TC Transcontinental, Toppan Printing (Toppan Holdings) and Taylor Corporation. Direct peers are Sheridan Press, Spicer-Brooks Printing, Marquis Book Printing, Lowe-Martin Group, Friesens Corporation and Walsworth Publishing.
Does Hemlock have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hemlock.