D&D Printing praised as Victorian high-tech exporter
At a roundtable conference at the company's Palmer Street premises, Holding identified Zoric's unique Multi-Colour Process (MCP), which formed the basis of D&D's success in winning five Benny's, as a prime example of the type of value-adding production that enables Victorian enterprises to compete on the world market.
“Victorian companies are never going to be able to compete on the low costs of labour, nor should we try. We need innovative companies that use high tech solutions, which add value to products, such as Dargo's MCP. The Government's Office of Manufacturing is committed to helping Victorian companies that have the drive to enter the export market. Already we have made grants totalling $280 million,” he said.
Caption: Left to Right, Dana and Drago Zorec, with Minister Tim Holding and D&D production manager, Andrew Millson.
MCP is a complex printing process that enables up to 13-colour process printing including the integration of metallics. It has attracted massive interest from the USA and Chinas presenting Zoric and his wife Dana with the challenge of either licensing the technology or gearing up to satisfy the US market from his Melbourne facility.
“It's not an easy decision and either way there are challenges. We need some Government assistance if we are to be serious about entering the export market,” said Drago. “ China is different, there we can licence MCP, but to supply the US market requires a big investment from us.”
“Victorian companies are never going to be able to compete on the low costs of labour, nor should we try. We need innovative companies that use high tech solutions, which add value to products, such as Dargo's MCP. The Government's Office of Manufacturing is committed to helping Victorian companies that have the drive to enter the export market. Already we have made grants totalling $280 million,” he said.