BJ Ball has bought Longbottom Paper, one of the largest digital paper suppliers in the Australian market, as long-time owner Colin Longbottom moves towards retirement. The move will enable BJ Ball to build on its Icon digital brand, which through its iConsignment system of placing stock in print rooms with printers drawing off as required and BJ Ball automatically replenishing, has seen the merchant win a large market share. Now the paper giant likely holds the largest share of the digital papers market in Australia; it says the merger will continue to strengthen its position in digital cut sheet and wide format print.
Colin Longbottom, former owner of Longbottom Paper (l), with Rob Brussolo, Icon Digital Media Manager with BJ Ball
After a decade in the industry Colin Longbottom established the paper merchant that bears his name in 1983. He recognised the digital print industry as a niche he cold service early on, and went on to become a major supplier, much to the chagrin of established players. Longbottom Paper will begin trading as BJ Ball as of December 1 this year, and move from its Padstow home in Sydney to BJ Ball’s Prospect site. After 31 years captaining the digital paper merchant, Longbottom says he is looking for a ‘gradual exit’ from the business. He and some staff will transition to the BJ Ball Icon Digital Papers team. Longbottom says, “After 43 years in the paper industry, 31 years as the proud owner of Longbottom Digital Papers, I have decided that the time is right to transition to the next stage of my life. “With two daughters who have their own careers I feel BJ Ball provides me with the gradual exit from the industry that I require. “Along with some staff members, who I now take the opportunity of thanking publicly for their wonderful contribution that they have made to the company, will move to BJ Ball to continue servicing the needs of digital print businesses.” Longbottom customers will now be able to use BJ Ball’s iConsignment programme and online ordering system, the Portal. BJ Ball says its customers in turn will gain access to a greater range of digital papers including inkjet and wide format media. The company recently added wide format papers to its Icon digital range for the first time, and set its sights on delivering more fibre-based packaging substrates with new kit in a purpose-built Victorian site.
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