As 2025 draws to a close, we take a look back and see a year full of both positive, transformative change, as well as disruption and volatility.
From high-profile collapses and mounting financial pressures, to bold investments and strategic reinventions, the sector experienced both turbulence and evolution in equal measure.
While several long-standing businesses struggled to stay afloat, others seized the moment to expand, consolidate, or modernise. And amid it all, industry leaders continued to push forward with digital integration, sustainability and customer-focused innovation – highlighting an industry under strain, but still evolving with resilience and intent.
Below are the Top 10 most-clicked stories on the Print21 website this year:
1. Mounting losses force out Pegasus bosses
Ongoing multi-million dollar losses at one of the country's biggest commercial print business, Pegasus Media & Logistics, have seen majority owner Sir Michael Bromley show both his CEO and CFO the exit door.
Pegasus has had a difficult last two financial years, being deeply in the red, and, clearly, sacking the CEO and CFO just before the current financial year end shows this year will be little different.
Pegasus lost a whopping $3.8m in the 22/23 financial year, and then lost even more last year, ending the year with pre-tax losses of $6.3m. The company had an equity deficiency of $9m as at June last year, it was $6.33m the previous year, and $1.4m the year before that. Revenue was static in both years at $60m, but this is a $20m drop from the $80m in the 21/22 year.
2. MVP collapses again, owes $1.36m
Controversial Melbourne print operation MVP Print has hit the skids again, the company closing down, and this time possibly for good, with its kit going for auction.
The general commercial printer has gone down with debts of $1.36m. It owes $81,000 to its nine staff, $556,000 to the ATO, another $120,000 to unsecured creditors, and $595.000 to its funders. It has assets of $18,000, plus whatever the auction brings in.
One local printer told Print21 he wasn’t getting paid, so took a drive over to the MVP Print site in Seaforth, only to be met by an auctioneer marking up the equipment for sale, and no sign of any staff.
3. Printers navigate change for success
Customer responsiveness, digital integration and tangible sustainability efforts were central themes in the Print Leadership Panel at PacPrint 2025, facilitated by Kelly Northwood, CEO of the Visual Media Association.
The panel featured Simon Bailey of IVE Group, Lachlan Finch of Rawson Print Co., and Emmanuel Buhagiar of Imagination Graphics, who each shared how their businesses are adapting to evolving customer needs and operational challenges.
Web-to-print platforms were a common thread across all three businesses. Buhagiar highlighted how the implementation of a personalised online storefront has streamlined ordering for clients in the healthcare sector. “All their different divisions, instead of ordering through one area, can individually order their own product, it’s just a seamless way to order print and get it delivered,” he said.
4. Martin O’Brien Formes faces axe
Forme supplier and cutter Martin O’Brien Formes has been placed into administration, and will be liquidated, as the company owes significant sums in unpaid tax and unpaid superannuation contributions.
Print21 understands the ATO is owed a multi-million dollar amount by Martin O'Brien Formes, although the first creditors' report has not been created yet.
In terms of unpaid super to staff, Martin O'Brien Formes already had an agreement with the ATO to schedule payments on its superannuation debt, but it is believed to have fallen behind on these. Some employees say their super is more than six months behind, others say more than that.
5. Starleaton customers vent anger
Print businesses who paid deposits and full payments for equipment and parts from Starleaton that never arrived in the run-up to its move into VA are angry and frustrated at the turn of events, especially as last week's liquidation means any hope of recovering any of their cash has vanished.
The print businesses in question are particularly aggrieved as they allege Starleaton took their money for purchase of parts and equipment, which didn't arrive when promised in the weeks and months before the VA.
In its report to creditors, the administrator Cathro & Partners said it had identified that the Starleaton companies were likely insolvent six months prior to going into VA, by mid-2023, and possibly as far back as two years before that.
6. IVE to build new 42,000sqm Sydney supersite
IVE is building a new 42,000sqm print supersite at Kemps Creek in Sydney’s west, with the site expected to be fully operational by March next year.
The new supersite will house its commercial print and packaging, which are currently located in its long term home in Silverwater, and its brand activations (display print) operation which operates from Granville. The new Kemps Creek site will also house the company’s CX and Data business, now running from Homebush; and the paper storage for its web offset operation, which is currently stored in Warwick Farm.
IVE will save $3.1m a year in rental costs with the move, as well as gaining operating efficiencies, including consolidation of leases, and it says it will benefit from common operational functions, such as dispatch and receiving, as well as reduced handover costs. It will also have a centralised, strategic labour pool to optimise labour mix, enabling flexibility across business units, which it says will reduce external labour hire and minimise overtime.
7. Landa acquired by FIMI for $80m
The months of uncertainty for Landa Digital Printing have come to an end, with the debt-ridden company being acquired by private equity firm FIMI for US$80 million, according to Israeli news outlet CTech.
As part of the debt restructuring plan, which was approved by the Israeli Central District Court, FIMI will take full ownership of the company, which was founded by entrepreneur Benny Landa, and invest US$80 million into its operations.
Judge Hana Kitsis, who presided over the case, stated that “the arrangement would preserve the company’s operations and protect the employment of most of its workforce”.
8. Bannershop exit leaves trade angry
Bannershop’s exit from the Australian market has left many in the trade angry, with its trade creditors encountering little to no response from the company or its Hong Kong head office as they chase their money.
The sign and display printer pulled up stumps last month, leaving Australia after an 18-year stint here, but the company appears to have made little to no effort so far to contact its numerous trade creditors. Calls to the former Lidcombe head office line go straight to an answering machine, while the offices and the production centre are deserted.
Creditors calling Print21 have expressed their anger at the lack of communication from Bannershop, which ran under general manager Anthony Choi during its time in Australia, and now hold out little hope of seeing their money.
9. Eastaugh sells Marvel to Opus Group
Australia’s major trade binding operation, Marvel Bookbinding, is in new hands, with owner and founder Wayne Eastaugh selling the business to Opus Group, the country's biggest book printer.
However, it will be business as usual for Marvel and its customers, as well as for printers around the country. Marvel will continue to operate as Australia's major trade binding operation. Eastaugh said, "Opus will run Marvel in exactly the same way that it currently operates, as a trade binding service, with the same services, the same staff, in the same location and the same equipment, our customers will not notice any change. The Marvel clients will continue to be fully supported, now and into the future."
For Opus Group, the acquisition gives it ownership of a case binding line in Victoria, to go with those it runs in Adelaide and Sydney, as well as a whole host of additional binding and finishing solutions, and staff expertise. Opus and Marvel have had a long-term relationship.
10. Melbourne-based Ezprint closes its doors
Melbourne commercial printer, Ezprint, has hit the skids, entering voluntary liquidation following a general meeting of company members last Friday (15 August), halting all work and terminating employment for all staff.
A letter to staff members from company director, Daniel Mayson, stated: “Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have reached a point where the business can no longer continue”.
“Due to a combination of external and internal pressures, we are left with no viable option but to close our doors. This difficult decision was not made lightly. I have explored every possible avenue to keep things going, but ultimately, the circumstances have proven too great to overcome.”