History of Rockwell Printing

Rockwell Printing has deep roots in its community. Born and raised in Carpinteria, founder Steve Rockwell graduated in 1961 from Carpinteria High School, where he took printing classes for four years. Steve started Star Pine Printing, which was located in the family garage, and specialized in bindery services with a lone letterpress.

When a local printer went out of business, Steve seized the opportunity to buy the equipment and customer accounts. In 1986, Steve’s father, Clyde Rockwell, built a print shop behind the family dry cleaning business, Rockwell Cleaners. After a few years, the print shop took the family name and the presses at Rockwell Printing have been running in the same spot ever since.

Along with the purchased equipment and customer accounts in 1986 came current owner Bill Dayka, who lost his job when the local printer closed. Like Steve, Bill had taken four years of printing classes in high school. (Bill graduated from Santa Barbara High School.) While he was shop manager at Rockwell Printing, Bill helped grow the business and customer accounts. When Steve retired in 2009, Bill purchased Rockwell Printing and remains owner to this day.

Perhaps more than any other field, the Digital Era has completely changed the print industry. Through it all, Rockwell Printing has remained synonymous with fine craftsmanship and excellent customer service by continuously keeping up with technology as well as how to best to satisfy clients. And, along with retaining the company name, Bill has promised to keep the same commitment to superiority on which Rockwell Printing was built.