Blue Springs Printing, which was formerly EcoQuest Printing, has transformed itself into "a full-fledged printing business" that is no longer a subsidiary of a larger corporation.

Mike Jackson last March sold EcoQuest International, then the Greeneville-based manufacturer of air and water purifiers, to Aerus Holdings, LLC, of Dallas, Texas.

Aerus moved EcoQuest's operations to a 400,000-square-foot plant in Bristol, Va, operated by Aerus Holdings.

However, Jackson continues as majority shareholder of what is now Blue Springs Printing, which has its plant off U.S. 11E just southeast of the Mt. Pleasant Industral Park.

In a recent interview, Jackson said the transformed printing business is busily moving forward and has much growth potential.

He said Blue Springs Printing now is well positioned to compete for business across the country, with the rapidily-changing U.S. printing business being in "upheaval."

Now, Jackson said, "Digital printing presses can do smaller orders profitably and instantaneously.

"We have thousands of customers all over the country who need digital printing, but they are not high-volume customers."

Jackson said that Blue Springs Printing is able to do printing of comparatively small orders that is of very high quality.

The company does so largely by utilizing the new Konica Minolta, a sophisticated Japanese-made digital printer obtained by Blue Springs Printing less than two months ago.

The company also has four Heidelberg printing presses imported from Germany.

The largest is so heavy that the foundation beneath the plant's floor had to be reinforced before the press could be put in place.

Jackson said the Hedelberg presses can do a wide variety of high-quality color printing.

Previously, he said, EcoQuest Printing "didn't really have a business plan," having seen itself as a subsidiary of EcoQuest International, though even then about half of its work was doing jobs for other companies.

"When we left EcoQuest, we decided to become a full-fledged printing business," he said.

Jackson wears more than one hat.

As agreed at the time of EcoQuest International's sale, he continues as national field leader of that company, overseeing the marketing efforts of "tens of thousands" of distributors.

Making use of his motor home, Jackson said, he is on the road across the country about half of each month to meet with and encourage many of EcoQuest's distributors.

Jackson said he relies heavily on two key executives at the printing business.

One is Duane Haatvedt, president of Blue Springs Printing, who previously worked with Jackson at EcoQuest.

Haatvedt said he and Jackson have known each other for many years, since a time when both were working in St. Paul, Minn.

The other key aide is Randy Harley, formerly with American Calendar and now Blue Springs Printing's general manager.

Blue Springs Printing is now very involved in calendar printing, a part of the business that is growing rapidly.

Jackson said that almost every company has, or would like to have, an attractive calendar that promotes its business.

Jackson said he is hopeful that Blue Springs Printing can greatly expand its production without having to add to the size of its present building by going from one to two or more production shifts.

He said the company's 13 employees include at least nine veteran workers, a number of whom have more than 15 years of experience in printing.