SOS throws open its doors for LIA event
SOS is a sophisticated print and media organisation that offers both offset and digital printing in tandem, as well as the full spectrum of finishing, warehousing and distribution along with design and pre-media services.
Grant Churchill, LIA president, says the response to the event was fantastic and confirms that all 65 places for the factory tour were booked well in advance, indicating a revival in the industry as far as engagement with member organisations goes.
“With the event we wanted to open the eyes of our members to a different way of doing things, to show them an organisation that has thrived though broadening their offerings beyond offset and taking in a range of different service offerings like digital, pre-media and warehousing,” says Churchill (pictured right with Kelly Bourke, sales manager for SOS).
“SOS is a great example of a print business working with both offset and digital together in a harmonious fashion, rather than in competition.”
The tour took visitors throughout every nook and cranny of the SOS factory, including its digital and offset areas as well as the finishing, proofing and design facilities. Showcased were the latest additions to the SOS portfolio of print equipment including a 10-colour Heidelberg press and Xeikon 5000.
Darren Irwin, business development manager at SOS (pictured right), was one of the tour guides for the evening and claimed that since joining the organisation he has been won over by the possibilities of digital print.
“I used to not want to get out of bed unless the job was worth more than five grand, but now we've got a wide range of new customers that are keen to take advantage of the capabilities of the Xeikon,” says Irwin.
At the conclusion of the tour Michael Schulz, director of SOS, delivered a presentation on the company's IT department and why is at the centre of the company's business success. The division specialises in developing e-business front ends and facilitating customer communication.
Visitors were shown how retail customers such as Yum, the corporate giant responsible for such fast food brands as KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, are able to purchase their own personalised print online by compiling their catalogues via a web browser, tailoring information as specific as an expiry date on a special offer.
(R to L: Angus Paterson, journalist for Print21; Joe Kowalewski, national director of marketing & media services for Printing Industries; Allan Wetherell, graphic arts and printing manager for TAFE)
“With the event we wanted to open the eyes of our members to a different way of doing things, to show them an organisation that has thrived though broadening their offerings beyond offset and taking in a range of different service offerings like digital, pre-media and warehousing,” says Churchill (pictured right with Kelly Bourke, sales manager for SOS). 
Darren Irwin, business development manager at SOS (pictured right), was one of the tour guides for the evening and claimed that since joining the organisation he has been won over by the possibilities of digital print.
Visitors were shown how retail customers such as Yum, the corporate giant responsible for such fast food brands as KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, are able to purchase their own personalised print online by compiling their catalogues via a web browser, tailoring information as specific as an expiry date on a special offer.