About Us

FOUNDER'S STORY

1976

colorwave graphics old bw photo

Since I can remember I’ve been surrounded by the graphic arts. That’s me (center) circa 1976 in my Grandpa’s home based print shop located in southwest Rockford, IL. I can still smell the rubber based inks that fed the AB Dick 350 duplicator behind me. Over a satisfying rhythm of ten thousand impressions an hour I hear the enlarger vacuum from behind the darkroom door as my Dad develops negatives. Down the hall my Uncle is running the paper cutter. Grandpa is in shear delight as operations are in perfect harmony; his fingers stained green from hand developing press plates for the next order. I’m sure they needed reinforcements that day to help collect brochures from the folder or collate booklets. Whatever my important role I was out of Mom’s hair for a few hours and a seed was planted!

2002

Fast forward to 2002. After nearly a decade advancing my career via two local printing firms from traditional pre-press and layout procedures to computer aided graphic design and wide-format digital imaging technologies; I still had a burning desire to go on my own. With the support of my Wife and family Colorwave Graphics was born.

We setup in the basement of our 850 square foot house, bought up the essentials from my Grandpa’s shop we had kept operating throughout the years and purchased two very expensive digital inkjet printers, laminator and computers to drive all this new and exciting technology!

Within a year the work was pouring in! We added staff, converted the dining room into a sales office and turned our one car garage into a loading dock. I remember a particular job for a chain of box stores where we hand loaded several hundred pounds of 4×8 foot full color prints onto a semi-trailer parked in our driveway at seven in the morning…Crazy! We wrapped vehicles in our driveway, delivered custom signs to events and were training customers how to setup portable displays in our family room.

2004

By 2004 and after just having our first child, we were busting at the seams. Not exactly an ideal environment for a newborn or tired mother! I had to bribe the trash man with a case of cold beer each week because we filled almost half of his truck with our pick up alone!

TODAY

So we relocated to a 5,500 square foot facility and what is still our current location in Loves Park, IL. After fourteen years in this space we continue to evolve our surroundings and equipment, have added a show room, indoor vehicle wrap bay, expanded finishing department and environmentally controlled digital imaging room. There’s even plans to add a half indoor basketball court with custom printed floor graphic of course!

I plan to maintain continuous improvement, adapting innovative tools and investing in the education of our team of talented professionals to insure we remain the trusted source for creative visual solutions our customers have come to know.

Michael_JAL_7103a

Thank you for considering Colorwave as your graphics, signage and display partner. Please don’t hesitate to email, message or call us with any questions or concerns. All of us want you to know we’re here to help no matter the size or complexity of your project and ready to make you look good!

Michael Lombardo
Owner, Director of Creative Solutions

Linkedin
Michael_JAL_7103a

Thank you for considering Colorwave as your graphics, signage and display partner. Please don’t hesitate to email, message or call us with any questions or concerns. All of us want you to know we’re here to help no matter the size or complexity of your project and ready to make you look good!

Michael Lombardo
Owner, Director of Creative Solutions

Linkedin
Michael_JAL_7103a

Thank you for considering Colorwave as your graphics, signage and display partner. Please don’t hesitate to email, message or call us with any questions or concerns. All of us want you to know we’re here to help no matter the size or complexity of your project and ready to make you look good!

Michael Lombardo
Owner, Director of Creative Solutions

Linkedin
Michael_JAL_7103a

Thank you for considering Colorwave as your graphics, signage and display partner. Please don’t hesitate to email, message or call us with any questions or concerns. All of us want you to know we’re here to help no matter the size or complexity of your project and ready to make you look good!

Michael Lombardo
Owner, Director of Creative Solutions

Linkedin

Our Mission

To provide creative visual solutions based on a collaborative understanding of our customer’s needs and to proceed with a trusted commitment to service and quality that is second to none.

Our Vision

The core of our success is and will continue to be outstanding customer service. Encompassed with our ability to visualize complex projects and implement creative solutions; while maintaining perfect quality and delivery is why we believe we’re chosen over our competitors. We will remain attuned to our industry and fortify with suitable technology, reliable sources, and competent personnel to preserve our establishment and cultivate growth.

Our Credo

We believe we exist because we are good at what we do and that fact has been proven through the test of time. We embrace innovation with a passion for creating products that our employees and customers can be proud to say they are a part of. When compared to others, we will stand out as being the knowledgeable trusted source for creative visual solutions.

Our Mission

To provide creative visual solutions based on a collaborative understanding of our customer’s needs and to proceed with a trusted commitment to service and quality that is second to none.

Our Vision

The core of our success is and will continue to be outstanding customer service. Encompassed with our ability to visualize complex projects and implement creative solutions; while maintaining perfect quality and delivery is why we believe we’re chosen over our competitors. We will remain attuned to our industry and fortify with suitable technology, reliable sources, and competent personnel to preserve our establishment and cultivate growth.

Our Credo

We believe we exist because we are good at what we do and that fact has been proven through the test of time. We embrace innovation with a passion for creating products that our employees and customers can be proud to say they are a part of. When compared to others, we will stand out as being the knowledgeable trusted source for creative visual solutions.

Our Mission

To provide creative visual solutions based on a collaborative understanding of our customer’s needs and to proceed with a trusted commitment to service and quality that is second to none.

Our Vision

The core of our success is and will continue to be outstanding customer service. Encompassed with our ability to visualize complex projects and implement creative solutions; while maintaining perfect quality and delivery is why we believe we’re chosen over our competitors. We will remain attuned to our industry and fortify with suitable technology, reliable sources, and competent personnel to preserve our establishment and cultivate growth.

Our Credo

We believe we exist because we are good at what we do and that fact has been proven through the test of time. We embrace innovation with a passion for creating products that our employees and customers can be proud to say they are a part of. When compared to others, we will stand out as being the knowledgeable trusted source for creative visual solutions.

Our Mission

To provide creative visual solutions based on a collaborative understanding of our customer’s needs and to proceed with a trusted commitment to service and quality that is second to none.

Our Vision

The core of our success is and will continue to be outstanding customer service. Encompassed with our ability to visualize complex projects and implement creative solutions; while maintaining perfect quality and delivery is why we believe we’re chosen over our competitors. We will remain attuned to our industry and fortify with suitable technology, reliable sources, and competent personnel to preserve our establishment and cultivate growth.

Our Credo

We believe we exist because we are good at what we do and that fact has been proven through the test of time. We embrace innovation with a passion for creating products that our employees and customers can be proud to say they are a part of. When compared to others, we will stand out as being the knowledgeable trusted source for creative visual solutions.

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