Richard and Steven Wilkinson have purchased the Victorian branch of Allkotes, and will rebrand the company with their former business name, ProtectaPrint.

They say that they plan on investing in the business, hiring more staff, and growing it. All current staff will retain their jobs.

Richard Wilkinson says, “We were out of the industry for 18 months, and missed it. We see the potential of this Allkotes business in Vic, and it is our intention to grow it into the business it once was.

“We are investing in new laminating and coating equipment. We will be also investing heavily in the screen side of the business, screen making, screen coating, and re-claiming in-house. The screen coating will be installed within the next three months.”

The Wilkinson brothers, former owners of Adelaide-based ProtectaPrint, sold their business 18 months ago to Opus Group book printer McPherson’s, and have been out of the industry since. They say that they feel that the industry is in a better position now, and are confident they will achieve growth with the new business.

Richard Wilkinson says, “Our knowledge of the industry, and contacts make us feel that we can take the business further.

“Allkotes has extensive equipment in all areas, foiling, embossing, spot UV, UV coating. There is a lot of finishing equipment, and we plan on adding to it.”

The brothers, formerly based in SA, will be moving to Victoria to take the reins.

Allkotes has branches in both Victoria and NSW. It began business in the 1950s in Melbourne, opening in Sydney two decades later.

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