New print finishers industry association registered in Melbourne

An inauguration dinner will take place at the Geebung Polo Club in Melbourne for those directly concerned with the sector. Wayne Eastaugh of Marvel Bookbinding is the first president of the association with Matthew Powell of CP Gluing as Vice-President.

According to Trevor Hone, Avon Graphics, secretary, the idea of ApfA was first conceived about last Christmas and it has taken until now for the legals and registration to be completed. He said that in recent years the sector has grown considerably, with many diverse finishing businesses set up purely to service the print business throughout Australia.

“ApfA will set out to create awareness in the designer, print and buyer community about finishing processes, as well as setting and maintaining sector standards. We would like to see the association sponsoring some form of excellence awards for print finishing with perhaps an innovation award. There may be opportunities to associate this with the NPA,” he said.

In a press release the association said its intention is to attract members from companies that manufacture and supply finishing services to the printing trade. An example of target members would be; book binding, foiling, embossing, laminating and coating, forme cutting, gluing, mounting, stringing, and even tooling manufacturers, to name a few. As long as the company’s main source of business is directed to the finishing of print, they will be encouraged to be part of the association.

“Another great benefit for the printing industry will be the finishing workshops we intend to run for the print estimators and production people,” said Mathew Powell “These workshops will be designed to answer questions and explain the best way to plan your finishing. From both a cost benefit and also to increase productivity and reduce spoilage.”

A web site has been constructed at www.apfa.asn.au. The site is still in its early stages but will eventually have general association information as well as web links to the printing trade finishers own sites. The site is linked to the PIA web site and vice-a-versa.

Companies that have already signed up include Marvel Bookbinding, TLC, Allkotes, Precision Forme Cutting, C P Gluing, H. F. Webb, Hygrade, and Avon Graphics. The initial association is Victorian based but the members look forward to support from print finishers in the other states in order to make ApfA a national organization.

“It seems evident that the momentum has started and that this will be an association, which will benefit the printing industry as a whole,” said Powell.

For more information about ApfA and the inaugural dinner, contact Trevor Hone on thone@avongraphics.com.au
Phone: (03) 9551 7444