2023 PACKAGING: MANAGEMENT BUYS PERCIVAL

WA-based Percival Print & Packaging is now in the hands of its management, with a team led by Colin Lamond and Anthony Pittaway buying the company from its owner of the past seven years, Westcare.

Lamond, who is now managing director, said, “Westcare was looking at its strategic options, so we put in an offer to buy the business. We are optimistic for the future, Percival has a great team, best-in-class equipment, and an excellent reputation.”

Lamond has been general manager / director at Percival for the past five years, moving into the role when previous owner David LeRoy stepped away. Lamond said, “The management buyout was a natural step.” Anthony Pittaway becomes sales director. He has had a 24 year career in print, latterly on the supply side with Spicers.

Lamond, Pittaway and a third silent shareholder will now take the business forward, and will ultimately move to a larger premises. Lamond said, “We have a clear strategy, and plan to grow the business.”

The company is a specialist pharmaceutical packaging printer, with a six-colour B1 Koenig & Bauer, a five-colour Heidelberg CD74, a Bobst die cutter and Bobst folder gluer, and a fleet of MBO folders.

Westcare is an Australian Disability Enterprise which ran a small print operation, and bought Percival in 2016. Its print operation was never part of Percival, and it will retain that.

Percival Print & Packaging celebrated half a century in operation last year, it was founded in 1972 by George and Heather Percival, operating with a small printing press from the basement garage at their home in Trigg WA. The small family business soon gained a reputation for producing high quality commercial print, and consequent business growth resulted in a move to larger premises in Osborne Park in 1977.

Percival recognised the demand for custom packaging and began focusing on manufacturing pharmaceutical pamphlets and soft folding cartons. That strategic move became the catalyst for today’s business model and birthed the name Percival Print & Packaging.

As packaging continued to grow and account for an ever-increasing percentage of the business, the factory relocated once again in 1991, before moving once more in 2007 to its current premises in East Perth. Percival Print & Packaging is now a respected packaging manufacturer, delivering packaging solutions Australia wide.