Cenveo
Cenveo is a U.S. commercial printing and print-services company whose activities have included envelopes, labels, packaging, publications, books, digital print, mailing services, and related supply-chain software.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Cenveo is a printing and print-services company based in Stamford, Connecticut. Its corporate history traces back to Rockmont Envelope, a Denver-based envelope manufacturer founded in 1921. The business later operated under the Mail-Well name before adopting the Cenveo identity in 2004. Across these changes, the company expanded beyond traditional envelopes into a broad portfolio of commercial printing, labels, packaging, publications, books, digital print, mailing services, creative services, and inventory and warehouse management software. The company grew through a combination of acquisitions, divestitures, and consolidation within the North American printing industry. Its acquisition of Cadmus Communications in 2007 strengthened its presence in scientific, technical, and medical journal printing and helped make Cenveo one of the larger printing companies in North America. Other transactions during the late 2000s and early 2010s broadened its envelope, label, business-form, commercial-printing, specialty-paper, pharmaceutical-label, and book-production activities. The company acquired Commercial Envelope and Printegra in 2007, Madison/Graham ColorGraphics in 2007, Rex Corp. in 2008, Nashua Corporation in 2009, Glyph International in 2010, and Nesbitt Graphics in 2011. It also sold its Forms and Business Documents Group to Ennis in 2012 and purchased the operating assets of National Envelope Corporation in 2013. Cenveo's strategy included both organic portfolio management and attempted consolidation. In 2006 it made an unsuccessful offer for Banta Corporation, which ultimately agreed to be acquired by R.R. Donnelley. The company continued to streamline its portfolio while maintaining exposure to multiple print categories, including commercial and specialty printing, publishing services, packaging, envelopes, and mailing-related products. Financial pressure became a defining later turning point. In January 2018, Cenveo filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing overwhelming debt owed to multiple lenders. The filing affected a previously awarded two-year, $61 million contract to produce letters, envelopes, and questionnaires for the 2020 U.S. census; the contract was terminated after the bankruptcy filing. In the same period, Robert G. Burton Sr. stepped down as chief executive, and Robert G. Burton Jr. became chief executive. Because the available reference material does not establish the company's current ownership, operating status, or corporate structure after the bankruptcy proceedings, those fields remain unspecified here.
History
Cenveo's origins lie in Rockmont Envelope, an envelope manufacturer established in Denver in 1921. The business later became known as Mail-Well, a name derived from the Rockmont Envelope operation. Over time, ownership changes and a series of acquisitions and divestitures transformed the company from an envelope-focused manufacturer into a diversified provider of commercial printing and related services. The company adopted the Cenveo name in 2004. Under the new identity it pursued a strategy of broadening and then streamlining its portfolio. In 2006, Cenveo attempted to acquire Banta Corporation, a Wisconsin-based printing and supply-chain-management company, with an offer reported at $1.21 billion. Banta rejected the offer and was subsequently sold to R.R. Donnelley for $1.3 billion. Cenveo expanded more successfully through several acquisitions in 2007 and the following years. The 2007 purchase of Cadmus Communications added substantial scientific and technical journal-printing capabilities. Also in 2007, Cenveo acquired Commercial Envelope and Printegra, extending its presence in printed envelopes, labels, and business forms. Madison/Graham ColorGraphics was acquired in 2007, followed by Rex Corp. in 2008, supporting the company's commercial-printing activities. The 2009 acquisition of Nashua Corporation added specialty-paper and pharmaceutical-label capabilities. In publisher services, Cenveo acquired Glyph International in 2010 and Nesbitt Graphics in 2011, both of which were involved in full-service book production. Portfolio management also included divestitures. In 2012, Cenveo sold its Forms and Business Documents Group to Ennis. In September 2013, it purchased the operating assets of National Envelope Corporation, a bankrupt competitor, for $25 million. These transactions reflected the consolidation and specialization taking place across the North American commercial-printing industry. The company later encountered severe financial difficulties. In 2017, Cenveo won a two-year, $61 million contract to print letters, envelopes, and questionnaires for the 2020 U.S. census. The arrangement did not continue after Cenveo filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2018. The filing was attributed to overwhelming debt to multiple lenders, and the census contract was terminated. Robert G. Burton Sr., who had served as chairman and CEO since 2005, stepped down in 2018 and was succeeded as chief executive by Robert G. Burton Jr., who had previously been president. The available reference material identifies a number of senior executives and directors, including CFO Scott Goodwin, Envelope Group president Mark S. Hiltwein, legal-affairs executive Ian Scheinmann, and Cenveo Print president Harry Vinson. It does not establish a reliable current corporate website, ownership structure, post-bankruptcy operating status, or definitive present-day executive roster. Accordingly, this dossier treats Cenveo's current status as unknown rather than assuming that historical management listings remain current.
- 2018
Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing
[1]Cenveo files for Chapter 11 protection because of overwhelming debt to multiple lenders.
- 2017
Cenveo wins a 2020 census printing contract
[1]The company receives a two-year, $61 million contract to produce census letters, envelopes, and questionnaires.
- 2013
National Envelope operating assets are acquired
[1]Cenveo purchases the operating assets of bankrupt competitor National Envelope Corporation.
- 2012
Forms and Business Documents Group is sold
[1]Cenveo divests its Forms and Business Documents Group to Ennis.
- 2009
Nashua Corporation is acquired
[1]The transaction expands Cenveo's specialty-paper and pharmaceutical-label capabilities.
- 2007
Cadmus Communications is acquired
[1]The acquisition strengthens Cenveo's scientific and technical journal-printing operations.
- 2006
Cenveo bids for Banta Corporation
[1]Cenveo makes an unsuccessful $1.21 billion offer for Banta Corporation.
- 2004
The company adopts the Cenveo name
[1]The former Mail-Well business changes its corporate identity to Cenveo.
- 1921
Rockmont Envelope is founded
[1]The business that later developed into Cenveo begins as Rockmont Envelope in Denver, Colorado.
Products and positioning
A diversified North American commercial-printing and print-services provider serving publishers, businesses, government customers, and organizations requiring envelopes, labels, packaging, publications, books, mailing, and fulfillment capabilities.
Envelopes and mailing products
Commercial envelopes
Commercial envelope manufacturing is one of Cenveo's foundational activities. The company's envelope operations served business, mailing, publishing, and institutional requirements and were expanded through acquisitions including Commercial Envelope and the operating assets of National Envelope Corporation.
Labels and packaging
Printed labels and packaging
Cenveo's label and packaging activities included printed labels, specialty applications, pharmaceutical labels, and related packaging products. Acquisitions such as Nashua Corporation and Printegra contributed to this part of the portfolio.
Commercial printing
Publication and journal printing
The company printed magazines, books, and scientific and technical publications. Cadmus Communications materially strengthened Cenveo's position in scientific and technical journal production after its acquisition in 2007.
Publishing services · 2010
Book production and publisher services
Through acquisitions including Glyph International and Nesbitt Graphics, Cenveo offered full-service book production and other services for publishers, covering print-oriented production needs rather than operating primarily as a consumer-facing book brand.
Print and fulfillment services
Digital print and mailing services
Cenveo's broader service portfolio included digital printing, creative services, mailing support, and fulfillment-related capabilities. These services complemented the company's manufacturing operations by addressing production, distribution, and customer communications workflows.
Business software
Inventory and warehouse management software
The company also offered software associated with inventory and warehouse management, connecting its print-related services with supply-chain and fulfillment operations.
Brand decisions
2018
Chapter 11 restructuringOtherBackground
Cenveo cited overwhelming debt to multiple lenders as the reason for seeking bankruptcy protection.
Action taken
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2018.
Aftermath
The filing led to the termination of Cenveo's 2020 U.S. census printing contract and coincided with a change in chief executive leadership.
2013
Purchase of National Envelope operating assetsM&ABackground
National Envelope Corporation had entered bankruptcy, creating an opportunity for industry assets to be acquired by a competitor.
Action taken
Cenveo purchased National Envelope's operating assets for $25 million.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Cenveo's envelope operations during a period of consolidation in the printing sector.
Purchase price. $25 million (September 2013)
2012
Divestiture of the Forms and Business Documents GroupStrategyBackground
Cenveo reviewed and streamlined its operating portfolio after years of acquisition activity.
Action taken
The company sold its Forms and Business Documents Group to Ennis.
Aftermath
The divestiture reduced Cenveo's exposure to that product category while Ennis added the business to its own portfolio.
2007
Acquisition-led expansionM&ABackground
Cenveo pursued scale and category diversification in envelopes, labels, forms, commercial printing, and scientific and technical publishing.
Action taken
The company acquired Cadmus Communications, Commercial Envelope, and Printegra, and also acquired Madison/Graham ColorGraphics during the year.
Aftermath
The transactions broadened Cenveo's product range and strengthened its position in North American printing.
2006
Attempted acquisition of Banta CorporationM&ABackground
Cenveo sought to expand its printing and supply-chain-management footprint through the acquisition of Banta Corporation.
Action taken
Cenveo made an offer reported at $1.21 billion, but Banta rejected it and later agreed to be acquired by R.R. Donnelley.
Aftermath
The proposed transaction did not proceed, leaving Cenveo to continue expanding through other acquisitions.
Offer value. $1.21 billion (2006)
- R.R. Donnelley — R.R. Donnelley later acquired Banta for a reported $1.3 billion.
Recent events
- 2018
Cenveo files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection[1]
Bankruptcy
Cenveo sought Chapter 11 protection after reporting overwhelming debt to multiple lenders.
- 2018
Robert G. Burton Jr. succeeds Robert G. Burton Sr. as CEO[1]
Leadership change · Bankruptcy
Robert G. Burton Sr. stepped down as chief executive and his son, Robert G. Burton Jr., became CEO during the company's bankruptcy period.
- 2017
Cenveo receives contract for 2020 U.S. census print materials[1]
Other
The company was awarded a two-year contract valued at $61 million to produce census letters, envelopes, and questionnaires. The contract was later terminated following Cenveo's bankruptcy filing.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/cenveo · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled