Best Graphics Group

What Best Graphics Group does

Best Graphics Group (legal entity Best Graphics Inc.) is a privately held industrial equipment distributor headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin, founded in 1976 and operating for 49 years. It self-identifies as the largest independent distributor of graphic arts, bindery, finishing, and packaging equipment in the United States, distributing a multi-brand portfolio sourced from more than 20 international OEMs (Ecosystem, Itotec, Busch, IBIS, SCM, Bacciottini, YOCO, Wohlenberg, Osako, Laserck, Anypack, APR Solutions, Lamina, Highcon, Kudo, and others). The product line spans paper cutters, thermal and aqueous film laminators, digital UV coaters, folder gluers, saddle stitchers, perfect binders, pile turners, high-speed blanking systems, die cutters with foil stamping, on-demand corrugated box makers, and rigid box machines, with equipment list prices ranging from approximately $55,000 to $499,000. Beyond equipment, the company sells Parts & Service for its installed base and offers Equipment Financing through third-party partners.

The business operates on a direct sales motion targeting four customer segments: commercial printers (the primary segment), book manufacturers, packaging companies, and label manufacturers. Sales are quote-driven, include trade-in programs for legacy equipment, and bundle delivery, installation, operator training, and warranty. Distribution is domestic (United States only) with a 60,000 square foot facility carrying $12M of inventory and ~177 units sold in the most recent year. Marketing is content-led (educational blog, YouTube equipment demos, email newsletter) and event-led (exhibitions at Amplify Print 2025 and PRINTING United 2025), with named enterprise customers spanning printing, packaging, publishing, and gaming products manufacturing.

The company has no disclosed institutional ownership, no funding history, no M&A activity, and no AI/ML capabilities in-house; it is led by owner-CEO Dan Brahm and operates as a relationship-driven, founder-owned distribution business. Strategic activity in recent years has focused on extending the product portfolio (e.g., SCM folder gluers, Highcon laser die cutting, Europrogetti rigid box making, YOCO die cutters) rather than on geographic expansion or inorganic growth.

Name

Best Graphics Group

Legal name

Best Graphics Inc.

Website

https://bestgraphics.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Best Graphics Group is the largest independent US distributor of graphic arts, bindery, finishing, and packaging equipment, serving commercial printers, book manufacturers, packaging converters, and label producers with multi-brand OEM equipment, parts, service, and financing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Waukesha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of new and used bindery, finishing, and packaging equipment including paper cutters, film laminators, saddle stitchers, folder gluers, die cutters, and pile turners. Includes trade-in programs.
2. Parts & Service: Parts supply and service support for installed equipment base.
3. Installation & Training: Delivery, installation, operator training, and warranty services bundled with equipment sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Best Graphics Group distributes new and used graphic arts, bindery, finishing, and packaging equipment from 20+ international manufacturers to commercial printers, book manufacturers, packaging companies, and label manufacturers in the United States. The offering includes equipment sales bundled with delivery, installation, operator training, warranty, and ongoing parts and service support, plus equipment financing through partner lenders.

Product overview

Best Graphics Group is the largest independent distributor of Graphic Arts, Bindery, Finishing, and Packaging Equipment in the United States, with 49 years in business and a 60,000 square foot facility. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of equipment including pile turners (Busch), digital saddle stitchers and glue binders (IBIS Smart-Binder), thermal and aqueous film laminators (Ecosystem Quick, Compact, Dry, Aqua, Best, and JetCoater series), folder gluers (SCM SQ Series), saddle stitchers (Osako Tener Alpha), guillotine paper cutters (Itotec SC Series), perfect binders (Wohlenberg Vento), offline blanking systems (Laserck Master Blanker), box making machines (Anypack), die cutters with foil stamping (YOCO), and rigid box makers (Europrogetti). The company also provides parts and service support and equipment financing options. The product portfolio spans coating (digital UV coaters, flood coating, spot/flood coating), lamination (film laminators, litho laminators), die cutting, folding and gluing, paper cutting, saddle stitching, perfect binding, pile turning, box making, creasing/scoring/perforating, and other finishing equipment categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Busch SWH 125 RLA Pile Turner Full-size pile turner with aeration, alignment, and jogging capabilities for handling paper stacks in printing operations; sold to commercial printers and packaging converters.
• IBIS Smart-Binder Series Plus HS Digital print variable data saddle stitcher and glue binder for producing personalized booklets; targeted at commercial printers and book manufacturers.
• Ecosystem Quick 106 Thermal Film Laminator 42" x 56" thermal film laminator with hot knife and downstacker for short-run commercial lamination work; sold to commercial printers and packaging converters.
• SCM SQ Series Folder Gluer Fully automated folder gluer with straight-line, lock-bottom, double-wall, 4-corner, and 6-corner capabilities achieving speeds up to 700 meters per minute; sold to packaging converters.
• Osako Tener Alpha Saddle Stitcher Automated saddle stitcher with cover feeder, optional stacker, and 4th/5th knife capabilities; sold to commercial printers and book manufacturers.
• Itotec SC Series Guillotine Paper Cutter Guillotine paper cutter with double arm pull, up to 6.5" clamp opening, knife speed of 50 cycles per minute, and central lubrication; sold to commercial printers and label manufacturers.
• Wohlenberg Vento Perfect Binder 18-clamp perfect binder for professional binding operations; sold to book manufacturers and magazine printers.
• Laserck Master Blanker BLK 31" x 43" high-speed offline blanking system for separating die-cut cartons from waste; sold to packaging and label manufacturers.
• Anypack AB F/FS Series Box Maker Automatic corrugated box making machine for on-demand box production; sold to packaging converters and corrugated manufacturers.
• YOCO JY-106T Die Cutter with Foil Stamping 30" x 42" die cutter with foil stamping capability; sold to commercial printers and packaging converters.
• Europrogetti EP130 Rigid Box Maker Rigid setup box machine for manufacturing rigid/setup boxes; sold to packaging converters and specialty box manufacturers.
• Ecosystem JetCoater 35 Digital UV Coater 14" x 30" digital UV coater for embellishing with semi-automatic feeder, touch screen control panel, and vision system; sold to commercial printers and finishing operations.
• Ecosystem Aqua Komet 106 Film Laminator 42" x 57" aqueous and thermal film laminator with up to 110 meters per minute operational speed for luxurious packaging and superior-grade lamination; sold to packaging converters.
• Bacciottini OXO MULTISKILL Creasing & Folding Machine Compact creasing and folding machine with automatic feeder combining concepts from PIT STOP creasing machines and BUTTERFLY folding units; sold to commercial printers and packaging converters.
• Parts & Service Parts supply and service support for all distributed equipment brands; sold to owners of installed base machinery across printing and packaging operations.
• Equipment Financing Equipment financing services arranged through trusted financing partners to support buyer capital purchases; available to commercial printer and packaging manufacturer customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 177 units sold in the past year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• EcosystemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian manufacturer of thermal and water-based film laminators and digital UV coaters. Ecosystem, founded in 1996 and based in Rovereto, Italy, has nearly 200 installations worldwide with over 50 in North America. Best Graphics distributes their Quick, Compact, Dry, Aqua, Best, and JetCoater series.
• ItoteccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapanese manufacturer of paper cutters and ancillary cutting equipment. Headquartered in Nagoya, Itotec has been producing paper cutters for over 100 years and has an install base of more than 12,000 paper cutters worldwide. A 6th generation family business.
• BuschcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman manufacturer (Hamburg) specializing in pile turners, banders, waste conveyors, and high die cutters for over four decades. Over 15,000 Busch machines installed globally. Best Graphics has sold more than 250 machines.
• IBIScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based world-leading supplier of high-speed digital book finishing systems, founded in 1999. The IBIS Smart-binder produces personalized, variable page-count wire-stitched or cold-glued booklets.
• SCMcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChina's largest manufacturer dedicated solely to production of folder gluers, founded in Taiwan. Nearly 1,000 SCM folder gluers in production globally. Best Graphics completed first sale in late 2023.
• BacciottinicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian manufacturer of creasing, folding, perforating, and punching machines founded in 1983. 5,000 units installed worldwide with many still in production after 20 years. Offers PIT STOP, BUTTERFLY, and OXO MULTISKILL lines.
• YOCOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturer of die cutters, stampers, blankers, and window patchers based in Shanghai, China. Best Graphics recently visited factory in Shanghai.
• WohlenbergcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturer of perfect binders and three-knife trimmers. Installed at magazine printer for perfect binding system.
• OsakocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSaddle stitcher manufacturer. Multiple installations including Tener Alpha series and other saddle stitching equipment.
• LaserckcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapanese manufacturer (Osaka) and premier supplier of offline blanking in Japan and Southeast Asia for over 35 years. Over 100 Offline Blanking systems installed worldwide with highly patented design.
• AnypackcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturer of on-demand box making machines. Best Graphics distributes their AB F/FS Series automatic corrugated box making machines.
• APR SolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvider of tape applicators and folder gluers. Also manufactures Saroglia die cutters and foil stampers.
• LaminasecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturer of litho laminators including the 1620 BL fully-automatic model for sheet-to-sheet laminating/mounting.
• HighconsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvider of laser die cutting solutions.
• KudocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturer of paper lifts, joggers, and unloaders including AL-10 paper lift and MJ-14/1000 paper jogger models. Part of Itotec's ancillary equipment lineup.
• DerprosaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMentioned as exhibiting partner at Amplify Print 2025 trade show. Spanish manufacturer of print finishing solutions.
• Control-ingsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvider of litho laminators including the SL 1210 automatic full sheet model.
• CMWminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvider of rotary sheeters.
• LongerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvider of large format cutters, lifts, joggers, and unloaders.
• PalamidesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvider of banding deliveries.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Peers

• CP Bourg:

Direct peers

• Standard Finishing Systems: US-based independent distributor of bindery, finishing, and print production equipment serving commercial printers and in-plant operations. Closest direct competitor to Best Graphics with a comparable multi-vendor distribution model and full-service offering.
• MBO America: US subsidiary of German MBO Group, a leading manufacturer of folding machines, binders, and post-press equipment. Overlaps with Best Graphics' folder-gluer and binding categories and serves the same commercial printer and packaging customer base.
• AWT World Trading: Chicago-based distributor of graphic arts equipment and supplies to the commercial printing industry, including finishing and pre-press equipment. Overlaps with Best Graphics in serving US printers via a multi-brand distribution approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bestgraphicsinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/best-graphics-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Best Graphics Group