Plant Operations

Employing a workforce of 1,200, Plant Operations is responsible for print services in support of the U.S. Congress, Office of the Federal Register, State Department, and other partners within the U.S. Federal Government. We produce and deliver the Congressional Record, House and Senate Calendars, Congressional Reports, Bills and Hearings, the U.S. Passport, as well as the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations.

GPO's Plant Operations comprises several facets:

Digital Print Center

Quick turnaround, usually 3 to 5 days but as fast as 24 hours
Approximate run lengths of 1 to 750 copies
Single-, multi-, or full color
Binding styles include: saddle stitch, perfect bind, tape bind, spiral bind, & comb bind
Additional operations include: folding, collating, drilling, & perforating
Standard papers include: 80-lb, 100-lb text & cover, silk & gloss coated digital paper
Specialty papers are available upon request

Secure Printing (up to top secret)

Invitations for sensitive events
Production of U.S. passports
ID documents
Letterpress & embossing
Classified and sensitive documents using a pool of cleared employees
Security color printing

Traditional Printing

Digital Proofing: composite color proofs & digital content proofs
Direct-to-Plate technology
Short and long run, Quality Level II four-color process
Run lengths include:
Short run: 500 to 7,000 copies
Medium run: approximately 10,000 copies
Long run: 20,000+ copies
Single-color long run
Newsprint, forms, telephone directories, stationery, & publications
Two-color long run
Additional operations include dull, matte, & gloss varnishes and perforations on longer print runs

Custom Printing & Binding Operations

Invitations
Production of specialty binding
Case binding, leather binding, & flexible covers
Letterpress & embossing
Marbling
Presentation Items
Foil stamping & embossing