Trendex Inc., a Minnesota based manufacturer and distributor of 3 ring binders, binding machines and supplies, and sample display kits, recently acquired American Loose Leaf of St. Louis Missouri.

The two companies, both family owned and operated, are focused on the same markets and product lines. Trendex is focused on growing its market share and this acquisition helps move Trendex closer to its strategic goals.

American Loose Leaf began business in 1979 and manufactured 3 ring binders; case made or turned edge products, tabs, custom graphics and digital printing. Brothers Jeff and Tom Polacek founded Trendex, Inc. in 1985 when they bought the then 66-year-old United Ruling and Binding Company of St. Paul.

“We manufacture many of the same products American did, plus many that American vended, which gives us a better competitive position”, said Trendex Vice President, Tom Polacek. The acquisition also will benefit American’s customers, because Trendex can offer them so much more variety of products and services, including printing and packaging solutions.

American Loose Leaf had brought together experienced staff, state of the art equipment, and the latest techniques to achieve total customer satisfaction.

In addition to increasing volume through acquisitions, Trendex has diversified into full document packaging, including printing, custom tabs, binders and fulfillment, and placed an emphasis on operational efficiency and technological improvements that lower the cost of doing business. These improvements allow Trendex to offer customers the benefit of getting their whole project done working with a single source. That provides better turn times and deliveries that meet an increasingly shorter deadline on smaller projects.

Trendex plans on combining the two plants at the Trendex site in St. Paul in the coming months. Most of the American Loose Leaf staff, along with manufacturing equipment, will be moved to St. Paul. This acquisition will allow Trendex to support both companies customer base with a more competitive company. Customers will still communicate with the same experienced staff they have always enjoyed working with.