Townsville print businesses have largely avoided damage by the huge floods that have devasted much of the city, thanks to them being located on the high side of the area. However they are facing issues of stock supply, as the roads into the town remain cut off.
The unprecedented levels of floodwaters are also causing a knock on effect, with some orders for print and signage being cancelled as flooded businesses and organisations struggle to get back on their feet, and postpone their marketing activities while they do so.
On the other hand printers such as Kwik Kopy in Fletcher Street are now pumping out government leaflets on floods, evacuations and other notices to the population.
Kwik Kopy was not flooded, but the sheer volume of rain water caused the roof to start leaking into the production centre before the ceiling collapsed. Owner Tammy McCanna told Print21, "Thankfully it happened during the day when we were there. It was all hands on deck, we had to clear the stock, put buckets everywhere, move the equipment out of the way and cover it with tarps. We also had rainwater coming down the light fittings."
Townsville's biggest printers Townprint and Hastings Print and All Clear Signs saw no flood waters impact on their production sites, however Townprint's retail outlet PrintWorks, which is located in the city centre, was flooded, with owner Ron Turner currently on premises trying to clear up the mud.
Shaun Turner, general manager at Townprint told Print21 that, "We have been fortunate, and so thankfully have the staff. This flood was different to others I have experienced, a deluge came through."
Townprint has the only multi-colour offset press in Townsvile, a four-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster SM52. It also runs single and two colour Heidelbergs, Konica Minolta digital printers, and an Agfa Anapurna wide format inkjet printer. Ron and Carolyn Turner started the business in 1974 and have run it ever since, with ten staff now in the company.