The Opus Print Group is somewhat different from other conglomerates of print businesses, where the contributing companies have retained their management structure and key personnel and are not amalgamated into common sites. The result, said Brigstocke (pictured), is that each company continues to perform successfully with the strategy that made them attractive takeover targets in the first place.
Opus Print Group is split between three divisions – the short to medium-run book printing, “out of home” printing, and government and commercial printing. According to the company, over one billion impressions are produced on over 8,000 tonnes of paper and vinyl every year. This amounts to over six million books and 200,000 posters and billboards. Companies under the Opus umbrella include Ligare, Cactus Imaging, Omnigraphics, Canprint, Union Offset Printing and Canberra Mailing & Envelopes.
“The true value of our Group lies in the individual businesses inside the Group,” said Brigstocke. “Opus is about supporting those businesses. There is no head office – head office consists of just four people.”
The GFC – an acronym that has been coined and has gained currency very quickly, said Brigstocke – has had a major direct and indirect impact on the printing industry, but Brigstocke is not consumed by negativity about it.
“I hope we’re close to passing through the worst of the downturn,” he said. “That’s not to say we’re clear – it will take another six to nine months to see the other side.”
The companies which will make it through have a clear vision of their sustainable competitive advantage, which in the case of Opus companies includes trust – “a major factor in our development” – strong investors, retaining knowledge in the company, and a passion for print. A lack of passion for print in a business immediately rules out any potential company takeover by Opus, said Brigstocke.
However, Opus is not presently actively looking for new businesses to acquire, “but that may be because we haven’t met them yet,” he said.
During the Forum, NSW president Peter Carrigan launched this year’s Print Excellence Awards and called for entries, with a deadline set for October. The Awards dinner will be held at Doltone House in Pyrmont on November 13.
The major sponsor for the Awards is WorkCover NSW. Representing WorkCover was Brendan Sequeira, who commented that “safe business is good business”. John Harley from the Department of Environment and Climate Change reported on the positive effects that recycled paper can have on sustainability and environmental performance in the industry, and called on print businesses to amplify their efforts in helping to improve the environmental status of the industry.
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