Green Bay 3D, a company that manufactures three-dimensional tickets and press credentials for sporting events, plans to establish its operations in Green Bay, creating 60 jobs.
The local facility will manufacture micro-optical material — plastic covering that helps provide the 3D effect — develop artwork and provide pre-press services. Printing will be outsourced.
“A lot of technologies go into this. The jobs will be hi-tech jobs,” said William Karszes, chief operating officer.
The company’s first order was to make 3D credentials for Georgia State University’s first football game Thursday, which is against Shorter University. Georgia State’s coach is Bill Curry, a former Green Bay Packers player.
Karszes said the Packers connection is one reason the company chose Green Bay.
“It’s mainly because the initial interest was from the Packers,” he said.
“They are interested, as soon as we have the facility, for tickets and promotional pieces.”
Derek Lord, Green Bay economic development director, said the region’s expertise in packaging and label making, Green Bay’s image and its commitment to sports also were factors.
Karszes said it will take about three months to complete financing. In the meantime, the company is looking for an existing building in which to locate its operations.
Lord said the city is assisting in finding a building, and the company is working with the state on possible economic assistance.
The company’s initial efforts are in sports, but likely will expand quickly, Lord said.
Karszes said Tuesday he had just spoken to a packaging company interested in Green Bay 3D’s products.
“We have a lot of other technologies we are going to bring into this. Think of all the tags and labels that go into merchandising,” he said.
The printing and software includes features that are a deterrent to counterfeiting, which Karszes said is a $600 billion problem worldwide.
Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt said the city introduced Green Bay 3D leaders to the Green Bay InvestmentNetwork, an angel investment group forming here.
“These are people who believe in the city and have a passion for manufacturing. They could put them in contact with investors, or they have it within themselves to invest,” he said.
The city had several other advantages.
“I think they were pretty pleased with some of the operating costs this community could offer. And we talked about (Northeast Wisconsin Technical College),” Schmitt said.
“People love the work force here. It’s not hard to sell when it comes to finding the right workers.”
Karszes said their 3D pieces are the product of multiple technologies.
“The reason this works so well is because we’ve figured out how to control space in a photo. So we can mass produce 3D images that look incredibly realistic,” said Karszes, who holds a doctorate in chemical engineering/plastics and has been involved in several company launches.
BY RICHARD RYMAN • RRYMAN@GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.COM • SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
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