Embellishing and finishing specialist Avon Graphics has acquired Cello Central in Sydney to boost its New South Wales production capabilities.
Cello Central, based in Gladesville, specialises in celloglazing, die cutting, creasing, trimming and packing.
Avon Graphics sales manager Tate Hone said the company's services in Sydney needed to diversify to match its Melbourne headquarters' operations.
Cello Central will continue to operate at its present location, but in due course will move to Avon Graphics' Silverwater facility and take on the Avon name.
[Trevor Hone is on the ProPrint Power 50 shortlist. Vote now]
"Avon Graphics in Melbourne does coatings, laminating, embossing and UV varnishing. In Sydney we only do foil stamping and embossing, so now we're moving into laminating in our facility there. This was a good acquisition for us to take a step in that direction," said Hone.
"We will be transitioning the company to our site over time. For the moment, it will be business as usual. Cello Central director Karl Illek is staying on as our laminating manager and is training a couple of our staff members there. Over the coming months we'll be looking to move them over to our site in Silverwater. We will be operating both styles of laminating – thermal and wet glue laminating."
[Related: Avon helps Fuji Xerox create digital with punch]
The acquisition is also a good fit for Cello Central, said director Karl Illek.
"It suited Avon to buy us and it suited us to be bought by Avon. It's good for our customers because they will get expanded services under the one roof, which is something we weren't able to provide. So it's a win for customers, and it's a win for both Avon and Cello Central. The Hones and Avon are a great team, and I'm looking forward to working with them."
Hone said that this was an opportune time for Avon Graphics to move into new activities in Sydney.
"We've been talking about this for quite a while, and it just came up at the right time," he told ProPrint.
"Peter Jones, one of the Cello Central directors, was looking to retire, and Karl Illek will carry on with us.
"This was an excellent opportunity for us to take. We're always open to acquisition, and over the years we've had a few, such as Queensland's Foil Print, which is now our Brisbane branch. We acquired Redback Finishing about three years ago, which was heavily into the coatings market in Melbourne.
"It's all part of the rationalisation of the industry, I think."
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