Minuteman Press is getting bigger, just in time to work on landing some big jobs.

Dee Bisel’s company is the new owner of Kansas Key Press. Financial terms of the purchase, which closed this week, were not disclosed.

The purchase gives Bisel ownership of Kansas Key Press’ equipment, computer software and list of 500 clients.

It also means Bisel will drop the copying portion of her business in favor of bulk mailing printed newsletters, pamphlets and other materials directly to customers.

The bulk mailing system brings a new dimension to her digital and traditional printing services, which have had their capacities doubled for handling business cards, newsletters, pamphlets and other materials used by businesses, organizations and individuals.

“We’ve been peaked out for the past few years,” said Bisel, whose 900 Minuteman customers include Pearson Government Solutions, the largest private-sector employer in town. “This is going to open us up for quick growth.”

She also hopes to stand a better chance of landing some of the estimated $500,000 in printing work left open by the closure of Kansas University’s Printing Services. Bisel and John Naramore, president and co-owner of Kansas Key Press, both had submitted bids for printing business cards, stationery and other materials for KU.

With Minuteman’s acquisition of Kansas Key Press, the two companies’ bids will be combined into one – adding to hopes that the combined shop could make an even stronger case for the work.

“There will never be another opportunity like this again for printing in Lawrence,” Naramore said Tuesday, as he met with Bisel to discuss transition issues at her shop.

John Naramore, left, co-owner of Kansas Key Press, and Dee Bisel, owner of Minuteman Press, discuss Minuteman's acquisition of Kansas Key Press. They were pictured Tuesday at Minuteman Press, 501 Gateway Drive.

Bisel knows he’s right.

“It’s an opportune time for us,” she said.

But first things first. Minuteman is scheduled to be closed today, as employees and movers bring in two presses, other equipment and boxes of files from Kansas Key Press, 900 N.J.

Both operations are being consolidated into Minuteman’s 3,600-square-foot shop at 501 Gateway Drive. To make room for the new arrivals, Minuteman sold some of its old counters, shelves and no-longer-needed paper and paper products during a “garage sale” over the weekend.

The newly expanded Minuteman now has eight employees. Joining the team are two employees from Kansas Key Press: co-owner Arch Naramore, who is John Naramore’s brother and an authority on the mailing system; and Noah Johnson, lead pressman.

John Naramore, who has owned or co-owned Kansas Key Press since its founding in 1970, said he planned to focus on other business opportunities, possibly in marketing, business development or communications.

Bisel founded Minuteman Press in the spring of 1993.