About

In 1932 that belief was prevalent when Lawrence, "Tommy" Tompkins started the company. In the midst of the Great Depression and employed as the national sales manager for Kluge Letterpresses, he saw the need for a service based company to support those customers. He left Kluge and opened the doors for Tompkins Printing Equipment Company on Dearborn Street in the heart of Printers Row in Chicago.

Tompkins is very proud to be in its 87th year as the most established Printing equipment dealer in Illinois. A family owned business, presently managed by the 3rd generation and a full service dealer with a parts and service department second to none. We are all dedicated to superior customer service.

Tompkins first opened our doors in 1932 at 608 S. Dearborn in the heart of ‘Printers Row’ in downtown Chicago. Their primary business was rebuilding letter presses and related equipment. Within a short period of time they grew to move into larger facilities at 705 S. Dearborn. The changing printing technologies and business expansion in 1945 again had them move to even larger facilities at 712 S. Clark Street. In 1976, under his sons Larry and Bob Tompkins moved to their present 26,000 SF location in Schiller Park.

Their enterprising spirit lead to several partnerships with major finishing manufacturers. Today Tompkins handles the world’s finest digital imaging, bindery and digital finishing, providing both sales and service support for all types of equipment. Products such as: digital printers, offset presses, small and large format printers, CTP, UV coaters, spot coaters, cutters, collators, shrink wrap systems, folders, gluing systems, drills, stitchers, laminators, automated material handling systems, computer automation control systems - virtually everything for small, medium and large printer. Tompkins showroom displays a million dollar inventory of both new and used equipment in our Schiller Park facility.

We represent Arpac, Astro, Baumfolder, Brackett, Challenge, C.P. Bourg, Clamco, CWT Worktools, Deluxe Stitcher, Duplo, Glunz & Jensen, GMS, Kompac, Morgana, Microcut, Saber & Prism, Sackel, Rosback, Streamfeeder, Tec Lighting, Vivid, and Xante, just to name a few.

Today the 3rd generation leadership of Steve and Bill, have maintained those manufacturer relationships and continue to expand with new partnerships and newer technologies. Tompkins appreciates it's many customers and manufacturers who have helped it's growth throughout the long company history.

Tompkins is proudly active in the following graphic art associations:
Great Lakes Graphics Association

Printing Industries of America

Graphic Communications Guild

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