Avon Graphics has doubled its trade-only wide format business and expanded its Sydney operation as it attracts printers diversifying into the growing sector.
The trade only embellishment firm which expanded into wide format two years ago has grown 15 per cent in the past year, enabling it to significantly increase capacity in both areas.
Sales manager Tate Hone says it has installed three flatbed and two roll-to-roll printers to bring its total to eight wide format machines in its Melbourne base, and has an Oce ProCut Zund cutter on the way.
“Printers know our quality and services from our embellishment business, so they out their trust in us when they diversify into wide format,” he says.
“Our clients don’t have to worry about the overheads of big machines they might not use all the time and can focus on their core offset or digital business.
“They are also more comfortable using a trade-only partner they know will not go after their clients. Many are working with us exclusively.”
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Hone says wide format now makes up 20 per cent of its Melbourne operation and 10 per cent of overall turnover, with big growth expected this year.
“Because we now have eight printers we can be competitive on high volume jobs like we couldn’t before, but still keep the quality we are known for and refuse to compromise,” he says.
There is growth in Avon’s core embellishment business too, with the Sydney operation moving into a new site down the road from its old one in Silverwater.
The 2000sqm site is used to house Graphics Plus, which collapsed in April, and is more than double to size of the old factory, allows for an expanded service offering.
Hone says Avon now offers more laminating services, UV screen and flexo coating, and has another foil stamper moved in from Melbourne.
Both Melbourne and Sydney will also get new foil stampers in the next two months to fuel further growth. Avon now has 14 full-size foil stampers across the company.
“We have particularly seen growth in packaging with work coming back from overseas with the falling Australian dollar, and confidence generally returning to the market,” he says.
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