Christchurch printers put pieces back together

Clean up begins for printers in Christchurch as the industry attempts to get back on its feet following last week’s devastating earthquake.

The 6.3 earthquake struck last Tuesday in Christchuch, claiming 154 lives (the toll is expected to rise as the full extent of the damage is determined). The printing industry, however, appears to have luckily escaped the full brunt of the tragedy.

According to Ruth Cobb (pictured), membership services manager at PrintNZ, who has just returned from Christchurch, there is a palpable sense of determination throughout the industry.

“The overwhelming impression was of resilience,” she told Print21. “I visited 12 members in Sydenham, just outside the no-go zone and everyone was pitching in, testing machinery to get it up and running again. Everyone I saw had some machinery or some capacity operating, or the ability to have work produced in other places.”

Cobb said that as far as she was aware, none of the printers she had spoken to had lost any of their staff. “But some people know people [who died] and for them it’s a horrible time at the moment, but in spite of that they’re all working really hard,” she added.

She also believes that it is “too soon to tell” just what impact this disaster will have upon the New Zealand printing industry, which has been contracting for some time. “Christchurch printers don’t just have Christchurch people as their customers,” she said. “They have a far broader base and will still have customers to serve.”

Geon, which was forced to relocate to a new premises in Sydenham after the Boxing Day aftershock ruined its city-based sales office, was spared from any further damage. According to Meagan Cross, branch manager of Geon’s Christchurch sales and digital business, the original office in Lichfield Street has now crumbled completely. “It’s good we got out when we did,” she said.

However, its labels division in Heathcote was hit, though according to manager, Guy Phillip, the business opened again last Friday. “There was a bit of damage to the factory, but we’re fixing it now,” he said.

“The local area is pretty bad. Some companies around us won’t be operational for six months or more.”