Chicago Printing Company

What makes MidAmerican a different kind of Chicago printing company?

Most commercial printers in Chicago fall into one of two camps: small-format quick printers focused on business cards and brochures, or specialty shops focused on a single category like large format or signage. MidAmerican was built differently. Since 1985, the company has grown into a fully integrated production environment under one roof — prepress, conventional offset, digital presses, variable data, large format, bindery, mailing, and fulfillment — all in the same 45,000-square-foot West Loop facility.

That integration is the practical answer to why convention planners, financial firms, magazine publishers, and Underwriters Laboratories (where MidAmerican is an authorized printer) bring complex multi-component jobs here rather than splitting them across vendors. One quote, one production schedule, one accountable team.

Printing services

Offset and litho printing

Offset lithography remains the most economical and color-accurate process for medium and high-volume print runs. MidAmerican operates conventional offset presses with G7 color management certification, Staccato® screening for fine-detail reproduction, and in-house plate systems. Typical applications include magazines, catalogs, annual reports, books, and high-volume direct mail components.

Digital printing

Digital printing is the right choice for short runs, personalized or variable-data jobs, and projects with tight turnarounds. Our digital production line handles four-color short-run work with standard 24-hour turnaround and no rush charges. Variable data printing — where each piece carries unique text, images, or offers — runs on the same equipment.

Direct mail

As one of Chicago's larger direct mail producers, MidAmerican handles campaigns end-to-end: list management, NCOA address correction, variable data personalization, printing, presort, addressing, insertion, and USPS delivery. Both regional Chicago campaigns and nationwide distributions are produced in-house.

Mailing and fulfillment

Beyond direct mail, we operate a full mailing and fulfillment department: database formatting, postal presorting, ink-jet addressing, folding, insertion, kit assembly, warehousing, and pick-and-pack distribution. This is what makes single-vendor execution practical on complex campaigns.

Bindery and finishing

In-house bindery operations include saddle stitching, perfect binding, spiral and Wire-O, foil stamping, embossing, die-cutting, and custom hard-cover book binding. Catalog, magazine, and book projects are produced from press to finished, shipped product without leaving the building.

Large format

Large-format capabilities support trade show graphics, point-of-sale displays, posters, banners, and presentation materials. This is most often used alongside the convention and trade-show work described below rather than as a standalone service.

Convention and trade-show printing

Chicago hosts more major conventions than any other U.S. city, and MidAmerican is recognized among Chicago meeting planners and exhibitors as the go-to convention printer. We routinely produce materials for events at McCormick Place, Navy Pier, Rosemont Convention Center, Chicago Hilton & Towers, and Hyatt Regency Chicago, and we deliver directly to hotels and convention venues across the city.

The work spans booth graphics, registration materials, attendee badges and lanyard inserts, session programs, exhibitor catalogs, signage, banners, and last-minute reprints. Out-of-town exhibitors who can't ship materials in advance — or who arrive and discover a print error — rely on the same-day capacity of our Grand Avenue facility.

Industries we serve
 

• Financial services — compliance-driven mailings, annual reports, secure document workflows

• Healthcare and pharmaceutical — patient communications, regulated print, FSC-certified stock options

• Convention and trade-show exhibitors — booth graphics, programs, signage, on-site reprints

• Publishers — magazines, catalogs, soft-cover and hard-cover books

• Higher education — recruitment materials, alumni publications, event collateral

• Nonprofits and associations — direct mail fundraising, member communications, annual reports

• Corporate marketing teams — branded collateral, sales kits, executive mailings, fulfillment
   

Certifications and environmental practice
 

• G7 Master Color Management — color consistency certified across press runs

• FSC Chain-of-Custody Certified — Forest Stewardship Council certified paper sourcing

• Underwriters Laboratories Authorized Printer — UL-certified production for regulated materials

• Allied Printing Trades — union affiliation
   

Environmental commitments include duplexed internal documentation, FSC-certified paper purchasing, and ongoing waste reduction in our production processes.

Service area

MidAmerican serves the entire Chicago metropolitan area from our West Loop location, including downtown Chicago, the Loop, River North, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, the South Loop, and surrounding neighborhoods. We deliver directly to all major Chicago convention venues and downtown hotels. Beyond Chicago, we serve clients throughout Illinois — including Naperville, Schaumburg, Evanston, and Oak Park — and have established client relationships in Madison, Milwaukee, and Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Frequently asked questions

What does a Chicago printing company do?

A Chicago printing company produces printed materials for businesses and organizations based in or operating in the Chicago metropolitan area. Services typically include offset and digital printing, direct mail, large-format graphics, bindery and finishing, and mailing and fulfillment. Full-service Chicago printing companies like MidAmerican handle the entire workflow — from prepress and proofing through delivery — in a single facility.

How long has MidAmerican Printing been in business?

MidAmerican Printing Systems was founded in 1985 by Jerry Freund as a business forms broker, evolving into a full-service commercial printing company. The company has operated continuously from its West Loop Chicago location for more than four decades.

What is G7 certification, and why does it matter for a printing company?

G7 is the global standard for color management developed by Idealliance. A G7-certified printing company has been independently audited to produce consistent, predictable color across press runs, devices, and reprints. For clients running multi-batch campaigns or matching corporate brand standards, G7 certification means a job printed today will match the same job printed six months from now.

Does MidAmerican handle direct mail?

Yes. Direct mail is a core service. MidAmerican produces full direct mail campaigns end-to-end, including list management, NCOA address correction, variable data printing, printing, presort, addressing, insertion, and USPS delivery — all from our West Loop facility.

Can you print for a Chicago trade show on short notice?

Yes. Convention and trade-show printing is one of our specializations. We routinely produce same-day and next-day jobs for exhibitors at McCormick Place, Navy Pier, Rosemont, and downtown Chicago hotels, and we deliver directly to venues. Out-of-town exhibitors with last-minute needs are a regular part of our daily workflow.

What is the difference between offset and digital printing?

Offset printing (also called lithography) transfers ink from plates to a rubber blanket and then to paper. It is the most economical and color-accurate method for medium and high-volume runs, typically 500+ pieces. Digital printing transfers images directly from a digital file to paper without plates, making it the right choice for short runs, variable-data jobs, and tight turnarounds. MidAmerican operates both, and the right choice depends on quantity, turnaround, and personalization needs.

Are you an environmentally responsible printer?

Yes. MidAmerican is FSC Chain-of-Custody certified, meaning the paper we purchase comes from suppliers practicing responsible forest management. We also duplex internal documentation, recycle production waste, and continue to invest in lower-impact production practices.

Where is MidAmerican Printing located?

MidAmerican Printing Systems is located at 3838 N. River Road, Schiller Park, IL 60176
. Our 45,000-square-foot facility houses all production operations under one roof.

Request a quote

To request a quote on a Chicago printing project — from a single short-run digital job to a full convention-volume campaign — call us at (312)663-4720, email at JFreund@midamericanprint.com or use the quote request form. We typically respond within one business day.