Plummeting print demand threatens Craft

Poor trading conditions are forcing management at IPMG to split up one of its high-profile commercial printing brands, Craft Inprint.

Management will review the operational future of the primarily Sydney-focused Craft in light of continuing tough market conditions. New management will be installed to continue the printing operation while the company considers its options.

Stephen Anstice, CEO of IPMG, says in this tough time the company needs to work out how to do things more efficiently, while at the same time maintain customer service and quality.

“We will be keeping Craft staff informed in regards to our plans and make a recommendation to the Board in due course.

“There will be no equipment shift between Inprint and Offset Alpine, since Inprint is predominately in Brisbane where it will stay. It’s just an internal restructure with management and sales making the move. The two companies fit well together and will be managed together,” says Anstice.

Lindsay Hannan will remain managing Inprint, but he and his Sydney team will relocate over to Offset Alpine’s facilities at Lidcombe to form a close alignment between the two businesses.

According to a company source, it will be business as usual for Craft while the review determines its future within the group. Hannanprint’s managing director, Tony Dedda will be overseeing Craft’s viability and how it could fit into IPMG’s new $90 million facility in Warwick Farm.

The rationalisation will reduce duplication of activities between Craft Inprint and Offset Alpine in the Sydney market. It streamlines IPMG’s commercial printing profile on the eastern seaboard.

The rationalisation follows IPMG’s purchase of a 96-page manroland LITHOMAN heatset web press, which will be the technology centrepiece at Hananprint’s new site. Around 140 staff from the Alexandria site will be cut over the year-long relocation phase due to automated production lines.

Inprint in Queensland has recently beefed up its heatset web capability with a new Goss M600 press at its Geebung site.