PMP NZ grows sheetfed with International Print Limited

Steve Sheppard’s sheetfed business, IPL, joins PMP NZ as the company transforms its print division.

The Auckland-based business joins PMP’s facility in Vestey Drive, Mount Wellington this Friday. All 19 of the IPL staff will move across with owner, Sheppard, taking on the role of production manager. According to Peter Browne (pictured), executive general manager for PMP NZ, the acquisition strengthens the company’s short-run printing business.

“IPL is a sound, profitable business and will be a good fit for PMP,” he said.

PMP NZ has a long history with IPL which, according to Browne, is the largest supplier of the company’s overflow work. He listed its equipment and customer base as two of the most compelling reasons for the purchase.

“They have some equipment which fills a few gaps for us and brings us up to market,” he said, listing a 10-colour Heidelberg perfector and five-colour A2 Komori press along with its prepress and bindery fleet.

“IPL’s customer base is also quite complementary to ours: we look after markets like real estate and publishing, whereas they are quite diversified which gives us access to new customers across different industry sectors.”

It has been a time of significant change for PMP’s printing operations in New Zealand. Last month, it announced that 60 print staff would walk from the company, along with PMP’s Warkworth site, which closes later in the year.

Browne, however, is confident that the overhaul will strengthen the company. “It was important to get our sheetfed business more strongly positioned in the market,” he said. “Most of the benefits will be realised by October this year.”