Kalmbach became exclusively a publisher when it discontinued its printing operations in 1973, opting to contract production from other printers, that spot (on the 3rd floor) would later be home to the Milwaukee Racine & Troy model railroad, wich would be torn down in 1989[2][3] In 1985, Kalmbach purchased AstroMedia Corporation, adding its four magazines: Astronomy, Deep Sky, the children's science magazine Odyssey and Telescope Making.

[7] Intending to focus on the adult hobby and leisure market, Kalmbach sold the publication rights of the children's science magazine Odyssey to Cobblestone Publishing of Peterborough, New Hampshire in September 1991.

[16] In 2017 the company hired digital media veteran Dan Hickey as its sixth chief executive officer.

[19] Also included in the sale is Astronomy magazine, FineScale Modeler, the Kalmbach Books division, and related e-commerce sites.

[20] On July, 25, 2024, Kalmbach Media announced the sale of their building for $6.5 million to Silgan Containers.