Two gen erati o n s o f DeJon gs wi th n exGen ’s fl agsh i p Komor i pr i n ti n g press .
nexGen Grafix Inc.
The Evolution of Print Technology By Nerissa McNaughton
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The next generation takes over Edmonton’s long-standing premier printing company
ome things get better with age. Cheese, wine, knowledge, experience and, in the case of nexGen Grafix, the fine art of digital and offset printing. The company formerly known as DeJong Printing Ltd. is in constant evolution. Stuart DeJong is the son of a printer, who emigrated from the Netherlands to Canada in 1977. His son, Henk DeJong, enrolled in Computer Science at the University of Alberta. “I thought he’d be a second Bill Gates or something,” Stuart laughs with pride. Bill Gates’ job is secure for now, because Henk veered off his original career path in 1987 when he decided he preferred to work in the family business. Henk’s enthusiasm, computer knowledge and fresh ideas ushered in a new era for the company. To make a bigger point of this evolution and given Stuart’s retirement, in 2012 Henk changed the company name to nexGen Grafix Inc. Henk builds the next generation of print technology on a
solid foundation. The company was launched in Edmonton in 1979 with Stuart as entrepreneur, owner and sole worker. Today the company has over 15 employees, all of which the DeJongs describe with the words “fantastic,” “loyal,” “well-trained” and “we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.” When Stuart’s plans with a business partner in Ontario fell through, he simply changed direction, moved to Edmonton and set up shop. His entrepreneurial spirit never waned, leading to a branch opening in the Okanagan during the early 1990s. While the venture there did not turn out exactly as planned, the British Columbia branch’s smaller operation drove plenty of business to his large format presses in Edmonton. Always one to recognize a great idea, Stuart decided to reduce overhead by maintaining only a sales presence in B.C. – a presence that still funnels work to Edmonton today.
nex G en G r a fi x I n c . | 35 Ye a r s