KGL PubFactory, the online hosting division of KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. (KGL), has announced another longstanding customer contract renewal, this time with international social science publisher, Brill. Having doubled its web business over the past six years, Brill will continue to take advantage of the latest enhancements of the PubFactory platform in an extended relationship. Brill publishes more than 2,000 books and reference works per year, in addition to almost 600 journals—including 42 fully Open Access titles—mainly in the humanities, social sciences, and international law. Brill has expanded in recent years through acquisitions of Dutch biological sciences publisher, Wageningen Academic Publishers, and German humanities publisher, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Verlage.

Net sales in the second quarter of 2017 were $355.0 million compared to $410.1 million in the same period last year, a decline of 13.4%. The Company generated net sales of $736.9 million for the six months ended July 1, 2017, compared to $850.6 million for the same period last year, a decline of 13.4%. The sales decline was primarily driven by: (i) lower sales in the envelope segment, primarily due to lower demand in office product and wholesale envelope product lines primarily due to marketplace trends and lower direct mail demand primarily from our financial institution customers; (ii) lower sales volumes in the commercial print group and the publisher services group, primarily driven by lower customer demand and continued pricing pressures; and (iii) lower sales in the label segment, primarily due to the decision to exit our coating operation which was completed in the second quarter of 2016, and lower sales driven by product mix changes.

Thysse, best known for generating innovative brand solutions and serving its local community, announced an expanded internal leadership structure. The adjustment will bring the company closer to its vision of becoming the premier model of a Brand Experience Provider. The restructuring includes new internal roles for owner and company President, Jason Thysse, who will serve as Chief Executive Officer, and for Dean Bott, former General Manager, now serving as President. The new leadership structure allows Jason to focus on strategy that shifts Thysse into the future, transitioning the company to one that encourages leadership at every level. This move will empower Thysse employees to act with autonomy in supporting the company’s overall vision while fostering accountability and effective decision-making in their daily work. In his new role as President, Dean Bott will draw on his extensive experience with process education within the print industry, assuming responsibility for day-to-day company functions. Already a key leader in the company, Bott will now oversee leadership, finance, marketing, sales and operations – both creative and manufacturing.