Kiwanians learn about Baumfolder

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SIDNEY — Lance Symonds, manufacturing sales specialist at Baumfolder Corp., addressed the Kiwanis Club of Sidney during its Sept. 23 meeting.

Symonds is a graduate of Jackson Center High School and currently lives in Botkins with his wife and two sons. He is also a Botkins Village Council member.

Baumfolder Corp. began as the Liberty Folder Company in 1917, Symonds said. Russell Baum, a Philadelphia businessman, became a Liberty dealer in 1935. Baum sold so many Liberty machines in the eastern United States that they became known as “Baum” folders. In 1950, Baum became the company’s sole owner. The German company, Heidelberg, purchased Baumfolder in 1999. Baumfolder has about 60 employees.

Symonds said that today, there are three divisions under the Baumfolder Corp. name; Baum Products, Baumfolder Parts and Baumfolder Manufacturing. They are a leading producer of equipment for post-press bindery finishing, mailing and material handling.

Due to the economic downturn in 2008, Baumfolder has become more diversified. It now produces more custom equipment, as this was a major void in the market. It also refurbishes its older machines using a dry ice cleaner.

The company is also in the order-fulfillment and packaging industry. It makes loaders, feeders, inserters and conveyers. Another growth area is in corrugated packaging.

Prior to the speakers’ remarks, Bob Anthony gave the invocation and the group was led in song by Ralph Bornhorst and accompanied by DiAnne Karas on the piano. Phil Freytag led the Fun & Games activities, which were four trivia questions about the month of September.

Staff report

This article was submitted by the Kiwanis Club of Sidney.

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