Currie Group comes to the rescue for Payne Print

Support floods in from Currie Group in Payne Print’s darkest hour.

The family-owned business in Mackay fell victim to flood in February last year after one foot of water rushed through the factory, destroying both jobs and equipment.

According to managing director, Lyn Lawton, it was pitch-black in Mackay and the weather was very unusual from what the Queensland suburb had experienced before.

“We normally have seasonal rain at the time of year, but it was very heavy,” she recounted. “I couldn’t believe it when I got a phone call saying that staff were up to their knees in rain at the factory.”

Lyn’s father, Tom Payne, who opened the company in 1976, tried frantically to rescue as many jobs as he could, but rising waters meant that circumstances were beyond his control and machines were out of action.

Distraught, Payne Print called the Currie Group. As long-time Curries customers, Lawton was relieved when the company told her they would send staff to come and help the Payne Print on its road to recovery.

Pictured: The arrival of a new Shinohara press brighten the day for everyone at Payne Print.

“They were amazing,” Lawton said. “Richard Watson phoned us up the next day and asked how they could help. One day later, two Curries engineers were here: they rolled up their sleeves and worked 12 hours a day to get us back on track.”

In less than a week, Payne Print had presses starting up again, with a new Horizon stitchliner and hard drives installed later. Weeks ago, Payne Print installed a 5-colour Shinohara press and 2-colour Shinohara press.

Nobody wants their business to go through such circumstances, but for Lawton the experience proved that the Currie Group could always be relied upon to help them through.

“It was a tragedy but we’ve been lucky that things have worked out so well for us,” Lawton said. “Curries were a very big part of that.”