Midwest Imaging & Roller Services

What Midwest Imaging & Roller Services does

Midwest Imaging & Roller Services, founded in June 1945 as Midwest Rubber Plate Company and headquartered in Menasha, Wisconsin, is a privately held custom manufacturer serving the flexographic printing, paper converting, and paper industries. The company designs and produces laser-engraved elastomeric covered cylinders, sleeves, and plates, along with molded rubber flexographic printing plates, elastomeric ITR (In-The-Round) coverings, and a proprietary sleeve system called Managing Print for inline and offline converting lines. Its core technology centers on direct digital computer-to-plate (CtP) and computer-to-sleeve (CtS) laser systems capable of engraving intricate designs for printing, 2D/3D embossing, hot/foil stamping, gluing, metering, and image transfer into food packaging, with capacity up to 8,000 pounds and rollers/sleeves up to 170 inches in length.

The firm operates a B2B direct sales model with quote-based pricing, engaging customers through website estimate requests, phone, and email, and serving a regional North American footprint. Its go-to-market emphasizes long-standing customer relationships and expert consultation, supported by active participation in the Flexographic Technical Association, Converting Influence, and Fox Valley Technical College. Revenue derives from custom-manufactured one-off product sales and technical support services including surface tension testing, solvent compatibility testing, R&D consulting, mandrel modification, and sleeve selection guidance. Leadership is held by three members of the Shreve family — Larry Shreve (President since 2000), Greg Shreve (Production Manager and VP since 1986), and John Shreve (R&D Manager, with the company since 1959) — indicating a family-owned ownership structure with no external institutional investors identified.

The company's public website now redirects to luminite.com, signaling a possible acquisition, sale, or rebranding event, though operational continuity at the Menasha address is implied. Disclosed revenue, headcount, funding rounds, customer logos, and certifications are absent from public sources, limiting external visibility into financial scale. The combination of niche specialty manufacturing, an aging founder-era product set, and a regional single-site footprint frames the business as a focused incumbent rather than a scaling enterprise.

Name

Midwest Imaging & Roller Services

Legal name

Midwest Imaging and Roller Services Inc.

Website

https://midwestimagingrs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Midwest Imaging & Roller Services is a family-owned custom manufacturer founded in 1945 in Menasha, Wisconsin, producing laser-engraved elastomeric cylinders, sleeves, and flexographic printing plates for the printing, converting, and paper industries on a quote-based B2B basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flexographic Printing Components & Services

NAICS

Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Prepress, Plate-Making & Artwork Services (IMALAKAM)

Keywords

• Flexographic printing plates
• Laser engraving cylinders
• Elastomeric roller coverings
• Printing sleeves and rollers
• Converting industry services

Headquarters

HQ city

Menasha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Manufacturing Services: Custom manufacturing of laser engraved elastomeric covered cylinders, sleeves, plates, and specialty products for printing, converting and paper industries. Products are customized per customer specifications and quote-based pricing.
2. Technical Support Services: Technical support services including surface tension testing, solvent compatibility testing, R&D consulting, conversion to sleeve technology, care and handling guidance, mandrel modification, and sleeve selection assistance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Midwest Imaging & Roller Services custom-manufactures laser-engraved elastomeric covered cylinders, sleeves, plates, and specialty rubber products for the flexographic printing, paper converting, and tissue converting industries. The company provides direct digital computer-to-plate (CtP) and computer-to-sleeve (CtS) laser engraving along with molded flexographic printing plates, elastomeric ITR coverings, sleeve systems for inline/offline printers, and accompanying technical support services. Products are custom-engineered to customer specifications and sold on a quote-based pricing model.

Product overview

Midwest Imaging & Roller Services is a manufacturing and services company offering a portfolio of laser engraving, elastomeric coverings, and flexographic printing plates for the printing, converting, and paper industries. The core product line centers on laser engraving technology using direct digital computer-to-plate and computer-to-sleeve systems, complemented by Elastomeric ITR Coverings (custom rubber rolls and sleeves up to 136 inches face and 24 inches diameter) and Flexographic Printing Plates (molded rubber plates in natural, nitrile, and EPDM compounds). The Managing Print sleeve system integrates with inline and offline printers to improve press efficiency and reduce costs, while Specialty Products and Technical Support Services provide R&D consultation and customized solutions including surface tension testing and solvent compatibility testing. Founded in 1945 as Midwest Rubber Plate Company, the company continues the Shreve family's tradition of quality and innovation serving the flexographic printing industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laser Engraving Custom laser-engraved elastomeric covered cylinders, sleeves and plates designed to withstand solvent-based and water-based ink systems. Capacity up to 8,000 lbs, rollers and sleeves up to 170 inches in length, finished diameter range 2.500 to 26.00 inches, screened copy up to 133 LPI. Applications include printing, 2D/3D embossing, hot/foil stamping, gluing, metering, and image/pattern transfer to food packaging. Sold to printers and converters on a custom quote basis.
• Elastomeric ITR (In-The-Round) Coverings Custom elastomeric covered rolls and sleeves for printing and mechanical applications, covering up to 136 inches on the face and 24 inches in diameter. Compounds selected for specific customer quality requirements. Used in flood coating, tint rollers, adhesives, embossing, UV coatings, laminating, and varnish applications.
• Flexographic Printing Plates Molded rubber plates for the flexographic printing industry using natural, nitrile, and EPDM rubber compounds. Product variants include photopolymer plates, steel-backed plates, magnetic-backed plates, aluminum-backed plates, embossing plates, false watermarks, and custom molded products. Sold to flexographic printers and converters.
• Managing Print Sleeve System Sleeve system for inline and offline printing applications in paper and tissue converting that delivers continuous print with no seams or gaps. Benefits include improved press make-ready, guaranteed registration, greater efficiency, reduced operating costs, elimination of sticky back and plate lift, higher press speeds, longer press runs, shorter downtime, and true flat top dots.
• Specialty Products Customized R&D projects and small jobs including blocks of silicone or rubber and R&D concept testing for innovative and entrepreneurial projects in the printing, converting, and paper industries.
• Technical Support Services Technical support offerings including surface tension testing, solvent compatibility testing, R&D consulting, conversion to sleeve technology, care and handling guidance, modification of mandrels, sleeve selection assistance, plus downloadable File Specifications and Care and Handling Guidelines. Provided to printing, converting, and paper industry customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Increased productivity and reduced operating costs through unique sleeve system for inline and offline printing
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Flexographic Technical AssociationcoreOthersIndustry association partnership demonstrating commitment to the flexographic printing industry through education, team approaches to problem solving, and exploration of new horizons. The company's R&D Manager, John Shreve, was elected to the association's Hall of Fame in 1996.
• Converting InfluencecoreOthersIndustry organization partnership reflecting commitment to education and collaborative approaches to solving industry challenges. Demonstrates resolve to explore and expand new horizons in the converting industry.
• Fox Valley Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partnership demonstrating commitment to industry education and workforce development through collaboration with technical college programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/midwest-images

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Midwest Imaging & Roller Services