New commercial offset printing start-up; Image Solutions Australia

Bigger isn't always better, says Robert Doban, managing director of new offset printing company, Image Solutions Australia.

The former operations manager at Geon had enough of working for big companies and in December last year decided to take the plunge and set up Image Solutions Australia which opened officially in March 2008.

"Starting a business is something I've always wanted to do," he said. "You can always do a better job yourself."

After leaving Geon, Doban (pictured) spent a brief period working as operations manager for Pegasus Printing last year; but the same question and doubts continued to resurface.

"I kept asking myself 'Why am I working for a big company again?'," Doban said.

Based in Lane Cove, the company employs 26 people, some of whom were former Geon employees themselves. Doban is regularly approached by printers wanting to come onboard, which he believes is reflective of the belief larger companies cannot accommodate everyone's needs.

"Everybody prefers to work in a smaller business," he said. "We are always being approached by people wanting to join the team."

With 6 colour Komori and Heidelberg presses, Image Solutions Australia is set to install a new 10 colour Heidelberg in the coming week. "We've got a good mix and we like both machines," Doban said.

Only a couple of months into business, Doban admits that things often get "nerve-wracking" but he believes the decision was well worth the money and risk.

"In this environment it can be nerve-wracking but we've done very well," he said.

Pictured above: Robert Doban with his team at Image Solutions Australia.