The print group will transfer staff and machinery over the coming month, with the move expected to complete by 1 September. It will decommission a number of older machines, mainly bindery kit.

More than 20 staff will move across from Dee Why, comprising all of bindery and despatch staff and 15 pressroom workers.

It means the Banksmeadow will be home to “one of the largest bindery functions in the Sydney region with more than 80 employees”.

Sales and customer service support will remain in Dee Why until the lease expires, after which they are likely to be integrated with the company’s North Sydney sales office in Crow’s Nest.

“A minimal number of print production roles” are facing the axe. Kellie Northwood, Geon’s sustainability and communications manager, told ProPrint that the job cuts would affect fewer than 10 of the group’s 280 pressroom workers in Sydney.

Geon chief executive Graham Morgan said in a statement: “I am pleased that our NSW team has been able to bring our two production facilities in NSW together with no loss of capacity for our customers.”

Northwood said that the end result would be more capacity in Sydney, driven by an “increase in machine utilisation” as well as increasing shifts. In May, the Banksmeadow site extended its 24-hour shift pattern from five days back to six.

“We have been successful in the past quarter but we won’t talk about wins; we won’t talk about clients,” she said.

She added the plan would reduce costs and boost efficiency. “There are less overhead costs of production, while having everything under one roof helps with workflow. Lean manufacturing is easier to achieve in one super shed.”

The Dee Why site was formerly home to Dynamic Press, which Geon acquired in 2007.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter