A new trade binder is now operating in Melbourne, Eastlink Bookbinding, run by John Mandile, who bought out Hornet Press in August.

The Eastlink Bookbinding name was held and unused by Hornet Press prior to Mandile purchasing the company. He says he had an abundance of equipment for book finishing, and after purchasing a PUR binder decided to open a second business. The company officially opened its doors on Thursday.

John Mandile, owner, Eastlink Bookbinding, says, “I’m a bookbinder by trade, I figured this was a good opportunity. We have all finishing aspects, perfect binding, saddle stitching, wiro binding, laminating, die cutting, a lot of new equipment.

“I have been a production manager, general manager, realistically I had a good client base, and I did not like clients feeling let down by others. If you work for yourself the only person that can let them down is yourself.

“I was sick of working for other people. I have been in the industry for a lot of years, major printing companies, and got sick of working for salespeople, people controlling my destiny.

While Eastlink officially opened its doors on Thursday, Mandile says it has been doing trade book finishing for Melbourne printers for a while.

“We are running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have about 32 staff between the two companies. It is all trade work. I have one building which is print, and one building which is finishing. I do a lot of trade finishing for printers in Melbourne.”

Hornet Press was previously owned by Graham Bell, who Mandile says was looking to gradually retire out of the business.

Bell owned Hornet Press for 35 years, having founded the company in 1982 with wife Sandra Bell.

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