Folder finds new home at Sydney Tafe

One print company’s trash soon became treasure for Sydney TAFE, which welcomed the addition of a folder donated by CCS Media Packaging.

The 1997-model GUK FA49 folding machine might have seen better days when it arrived at the Ultimo-based TAFE but with a few repairs under the guidance of George Burke, print support officer, it is now fully functional and ready for use next week when book binding apprentices head back to the classroom.

According to Burke, the donation came about as a result of being contacted by Silverwater-based CCS. With head teacher, Stephen Anderson, the two inspected the machine and decided that – despite a bit of rust – it still had plenty of life left in it and would make a great addition to the TAFE’s portfolio of equipment.

Pictured: Second-year print finishing apprentice, Josh Armstrong from Kwik Kopy, Gosford and George Burke with the machine.

“In my opinion, I thought it had potential to be up and running as a learning tool for the students,” Burke said. “It means that they now have another machine to utilise and with budgets the way they are we can’t purchase a new folding machine. The more diverse machinery we can give the students the better – variety is a good thing.”

The only costs associated with the machinery were the transporting it to the TAFE and, later, paying for an electrician to do some basic maintenance. “People tell me it’s now in as good a condition as any other machine that age which is on the factory floor,” Burke said.

Some students observed the machine last week and, Burke said, already cannot wait to get their hands on it. “It’s something new and anything that is new appeals to students,” he added.

Burke hopes that other companies might follow CCS’s example. “Rather than them throw stuff away I would take what I could get if it was appropriate for the students,” he said.