DeLano Service, commercial printer and board game manufacturer closes

DeLano Service, a commercial printing company that designs and makes board games, playing cards and financial forms, has abruptly closed its doors.

The Allegan commercial printing company locked its doors this morning after telling first shift employees to gather their belongings and leave, according to news media reports.

“We apologize, but our office is closed until further notice,” was the message left on the business phone.

DeLano has 45 employees and estimated annual sales of $3.4 million, according to Dun & Bradstreet reports. The operation is housed in a 52,800- square-foot facility at 1300 Lincoln Road.

The century-old company was bought by Juan Mendez in 2006 from Roger Ganger, according to the company’s Web site.

Mendez is described as a “University of Michigan MBA, who’s family has long roots in Michigan manufacturing.”

Earl DeLano started the company in 1906 to print bank forms, and over time becoming a leading supplier of financial forms, according to the website. In 1987, the DeLano was bought by Roger Ganger, who took the company into card and board game production.

When reached at his home in Florida, Ganger said he was surprised to hear of the company’s closure

“From what I understand they were doing pretty well. I think it is a bank issue,” he said, declining further comment.

According to a report from a former employee, Juan Mendez left his employees “high and dry, closed the doors on payday no less”.

“We have discovered that he had not been making payments to our Priority Health account even though he had been deducting that money from our pay. It appears that he had not been making his tax obligations to the State of Michigan as well.”

DeLano Service provided printing service for many small-print boardgame companies for the past two and a half years. It is not known at this time what effect it will have on these firms.