Widen Enterprises
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Software, Digital Asset Management |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Founder | Arthur Widen, Emily Widen |
| Headquarters | Madison, Wisconsin , United States |
| Products | Digital asset management software, Product information management solutions, SaaS platform |
| Parent | Acquia (since September 2021) |
Widen Enterprises Inc. is a technology company focused on delivering digital asset management and product information management solutions through both software and services. Established in 1948 in Madison, Wisconsin by Arthur and Emily Widen under the name Widen Engraving Co., the firm initially specialized in producing printing plates for newspapers. The company's sustained success stems from its ability to adapt its offerings in line with technological progress and evolving business strategies. Following its acquisition by Acquia in September 2021, Widen now functions as part of the Acquia Digital Experience platform.
1948 – Formation of Widen Engraving Co.
Arthur and Emily Widen launched Widen Engraving Co. in 1948, combining Arthur’s expertise in the Madison newspaper sector with Emily’s financial investment secured through a $1,500 mortgage. The enterprise began by manufacturing engraved zinc and copper plates intended for newspaper production and promotional materials.
1960 - 1990 – Expansion into Prepress Services as Widen Colorgraphics Ltd.
During the 1960s, the company broadened its scope beyond engraving to include comprehensive prepress services, transforming photographs, illustrations, logos, and text into printed catalogs and advertising materials using film negatives. Reflecting this evolution, the business was renamed Widen Colorgraphics Ltd. In 1985, under the leadership of Mark Widen, son of the founders, the focus shifted towards color scanning and printing technologies.
1990 - 2021 – Transition to Digital Asset Management as Widen Enterprises Inc.
As prepress technologies progressed, Reed Widen, son of Mark Widen, guided the organization into digital printing while establishing an internal research and development division to foster innovation. In 1996, this team created Widen's inaugural image database and subsequently launched its first digital asset management software in 1998. The company adopted the name Widen Enterprises Inc. in 1997.
Matthew Gonnering assumed the role of CEO in 2009 and spearheaded the company's move toward a software as a service (SaaS) framework. This led to the development of a cloud-based digital asset management platform designed to streamline user access to digital assets and product information. Alongside software advancements, Widen expanded its customer experience offerings by providing production support, implementation assistance, training programs, and consultancy services related to digital asset management workflows.
2021 - Present – Integration into Acquia as Acquia DAM
In September 2021, Acquia—a SaaS provider co-founded by Dries Buytaert and Jay Batson known for supporting the open-source web content management system Drupal—acquired Widen Enterprises.
Investment in Emerging Technologies
Starting in the 1960s, Widen strategically moved away from traditional engraving by investing in film negatives and photography technologies, including acquiring the first automated separation camera to leverage color printing capabilities. In 1985, the company committed $3 million towards color scanners and Scitex machinery, creating North America’s largest Scitex installation at that time.