Böttcher Group will acquire the plant, goodwill and equipment of Brissett Rollers, with a November 1 date set for the merger to be made official.
Terry Brissett, founder, Brissett Rollers, will stay on with the company throughout the transition period, with a view to moving on, while son Craig will help managing director Mitch Mulligan run the combined operation moving forward.
Mitch Mulligan, managing director, Böttcher Australia, and Terry Brissett, managing director, Brissett Rollers say the acquisition has been driven by market consolidation and contraction.
By combining their resources, they say local customers can continue to enjoy the best from both companies, with a seamless transition and continuity of supply.
Böttcher plans to keep the core of Brissett’s manufacturing team, but is also gaining what Mulligan describes as the centre of knowledge – current owner Terry Brissett and his son, Craig.
Mulligan says, “We genuinely believe this is a ‘win-win’ for the industry, securing the future of a trusted local roller manufacturing business and offering our customers an expanded value proposition – the improved lead times, flexibility and continuity of supply which local manufacture ensures, combined with the competitive edge that Böttcher’s world leading technology, compounds and processes provide."
Böttcher is a 293-year-old family-owned business known for its printing rollers, blankets and pressroom chemistry, while Brissett is the largest manufacturer of printing rollers in Australasia, having served the market for 60 years.
Terry Brissett says, “While our backgrounds differ, we share much in common and have been friendly competitors for years.
“Both Böttcher and Brissett are family owned companies who believe strongly in partnering with our customers and building relationships on the basis of quality products, reliable service, honesty and loyalty.
“We have both successfully navigated enormous change, from hot metal days to the high-speed, digitally-controlled and highly automated offset operations we see today, so we understand that the ability to evolve is vital in such a rapidly changing industry. Our merger with Böttcher is just the latest step in that process for us.”
Mulligan says “It is the Böttcher philosophy to retain the good things from tradition, and create the new from our own strength.
“While securing the future of a local manufacturer is important to us, it is even more pleasing to be able to retain the invaluable expertise, knowledge and relationships which Terry and Craig Brissett enjoy with so many print businesses in Australia and New Zealand.
“Brissett has a proud heritage and an enviable reputation for quality, service and expertise in this part of the world. Terry’s contribution to the industry, in particular, has been outstanding. We are absolutely delighted to be able to bring both he and Craig into the Böttcher Australia fold.”
After a settling in period in the fourth quarter, the two manufacturing teams and processes will be fully integrated into a combined operation on a new site at Smithfield, where the entire business will be converted across to Böttcher’s manufacturing methods and compounds.
Mulligan says, “Over the next few weeks, Glenn Brissett and I will be visiting customers around the country to explain the changes and the extended value we can deliver in more detail.
“We are looking forward to maintaining and growing our relationships with our customers across Australia and New Zealand, and are genuinely excited about the future.”
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