2011 - That Was The Year That Was
What a year 21011 was - tough times no doubt. This may be the beginning of the 'New Normal.' Many printing companies hit the wall, some disappeared, some merged with others. On the other hand, some printers expanded, bought new equipment, extended their foot print. It's an era of change and innovation and as always Print21 was there to record the changes. 2011 - these were your Hot Spots!
January:
Plummeting sales sends Shinohara into bankruptcy protection
Major Japanese press manufacturer admits $94 million debt while seeking protection under the Japanese Civil Rehabilitation Law.
BJ Ball rolls up CPI in paper industry shakeup
Andrew Bull leads New Zealand-based PagePack Group bid to become the second largest paper merchant in the region.
February:
Queensland crisis spells make or break for printers
Natural disaster in Queensland could contribute to further downsizing of the printing industry.
Print Media Group keeps Wodonga closure quiet
Wodonga workers dealt another blow in the latest saga at South Pacific Print Group – formerly Paragon Printing, as management announce closure of the business that has been a lifeline to many locals.
March:
Moore closes the door on Wodonga
Wodonga warehouse set to close as Moore Australasia reports $3.4 million loss.
Finsbury Green grabs Vic government print contract
Major win for environmental printer, Finsbury Green, which has entered into a long-term Enterprise Print Management contract with the Victorian Government.
April:
Salmat wins Woolworths distribution contract?
Communications giant, Salmat, set to deliver Woolworths catalogues for another three years, while printing stays with rival, PMP.
NZ private equity takes over CPI next week?.
Shareholders support PagePack’s acquisition of CPI Group with 99.48 per cent of votes in favour of the deal.
May:
Healey new head of Printing Industries
Change of the guard at Printing Industries as association man, Bill Healey, takes on the role of CEO.
Cassell calls its quits from CPI
Private equity takeover of CPI leads to long-standing managing director, Bernard Cassell, leaving the company.
June:
Blue Star wins $10.8m print contract with NZ Govt
Continuing its print service arrangement with the NZ government, Blue Star Group NZ secures a three-year $10.8 million print contract with eight government agencies.
Bruce Peddlesden makes his inkjet move?.
The largest digital printer in Australia recognises the oncoming inkjet wave and is ready to position his company
$53m French buyout of local finishing firm?.
Expanding operations of its new regional headquarters in Singapore, French mailing supplier Neopost has scooped up GBC Australia for AU$53 million.
July:
Sole Aussie ISO finds like-minded standards
Long awaited ISO standards for the local printing industry have finally been approved for adoption by Standards Australia.
Final chapter for book distributor Scribo
PMP scraps its book distribution business with the loss of 50 jobs as online sales eats into local book buying.
August:
IPMG to close Alexandria – move to Warwick Farm
Hannanprint, packs up its Alexandria operations after 25 years at the site to settle in a new $90 million facility in Warwick Farm.
Fairfax recrowned newspaper king
Melbourne broadsheet The Age knocks its Sydney Morning Herald sibling from a two-year winning streak for newspaper of the year at the 2011 Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers' Association (PANPA) awards.
September:
Snap on a new CEO
Ending a ten-year reign as the head of one of Australia’s largest print franchises, Grant Vernon will be stepping down as CEO to make room for his planned successor, Stephen Edwards.
Bull punts the BJ Ball top job
Australasia’s largest paper merchant will soon lose the man behind its push to prominence when Andrew Bull steps down as CEO in October.
October:
200 million digital labels per month – new record
Worldwide users of HP Indigo’s WS6000 press collectively surpassed 200 million impressions in August, raising the bar on monthly production of labels and packaging.
Australian Forest Standard draws Green fire
After seven years of one-way communication, environmental lobby group, MyEnvironment has taken itself out of any new Australian Paper stakeholder engagements and wants PEFC to revoke the company’s AFS certification until a resolution has been made.
November:
Australia Post gets open slather on prices
The government has officially removed ACCC oversight from all of Australia Post’s pricing, with the exception of reserved mail, the so-called ‘grannie mail’.
Plain tobacco packaging passes – to a legal fire fight
Big Tobacco’s bid to block the legislation went up in smoke, igniting a billion-dollar compensation lawsuit threat from British American Tobacco Australia.
December:
Manroland credit injection leaves IPMG and PMP press orders hanging
Teetering German press manufacturer manroland has been pulled back from the brink with €55 million (A$72m) in mass credit, that allows it to fulfil orders placed since it filed for insolvency.