A new die making operation is opening for business in Melbourne, Die Making Central, established by long-time print identity Michael Haycroft, who runs plastic cards business DMCentral.
The new business will operate out of the same Carrum Downs suburb as DMCentral. It was established just a few weeks before major Melbourne formes maker, Martin O’Brien Formes, and its related entities went into voluntary administration, and winding up with millions of dollars’ worth of debts.
Haycroft, who has been running DMCentral for the past 20 years, is the sole shareholder and director of Die Making Central. He also owns Credential Management, a digital ticketing and membership card operation, which has contracts with the likes of Racing Victoria, the VRC, and the Melbourne Show.
Although having no documented connection with the collapsed O’Brien businesses, the new company is likely aiming to sweep up much of the customer base of the Martin O’Brien Formes and related Triform businesses. Haycroft said, “I have already had customers calling me.”
Some of the Die Making Central equipment was bought from the O’Brien entities, for which Haycroft said he paid market valuation, set by a commercial valuer.
Haycroft said, “I will be running an efficient small business. My focus will be on maintaining a high level of service and producing a quality product. I have a steeped and solid reputation in the industry, which I intend to maintain.”
The Martin O’Brien businesses were placed into voluntary administration on 15 May, with debts totalling $4.4m, and realisable assets worth just a fraction of that. Established in the 1950s by Dennis O’Brien, the company was owned by his son Martin O’Brien, although he lives in South Australia, and latterly by his son, Jordan O’Brien, who was the sole director when the company went bust. Another son, Aron, who managed the finances, left last year.
Four years ago the company moved into a new 2800sqm facility in Braeside with optimism for the future, but the business struggled to adapt to a changing market, as former packaging and commercial print clients increasingly brought cutting in-house. Sales last year didn't reach half that figure, and are certain to be significantly less again this year.
Staff numbers at O'Brien reduced by half in the past five years. Most of those staff that were at the company when the end came have already found work at other print and packaging businesses in Melbourne.
The business has, or had, a multitude of die cutting, plotter cutting, laser cutting, and CNC router cutting equipment. As well as providing a cutting service, the business supplied die-cutting forms, custom packaging, promotional displays, point-of-sale stands, and manufacturing supplies.
The end of Martin O'Brien Formes left only one main formes supplier in Victoria, following seven years of turbulence in the sector; Fred Schrembi's Able Cutting Formes. BML also provides a cutting service, but mainly in smaller formats. The emergence of Die Making Central changes that dynamic.