Horton wins ADF newspaper contract

Horton Media has secured a one-year $490,000 extension to its Defence Force newspaper printing contract after impressing over the initial term.

The trans-Tasman coldest specialist, which claims to be the biggest independent contract newspaper printer in Australasia will print, package and label Army News, Navy News and Air Force News.

The newspapers have a combined fortnightly print run of 45,000 copies. Army News is a 36-page publication while the others are 28 pages each.

Chief executive Matthew Horton says high print quality and service are why the company has retained the contract, along with its Queensland location being close to many big defence bases.

“This is a big contract for us that is worth a lot of money for a high profile client. We value it highly and have developed a great relationship with Defence,” he says.

[Related: More news about contract wins]

Horton initially snatched the contract from Fairfax in 2013 after winning a six-way open tender on the back of a $250,000 investment in a new polywrapping and inserting line the previous year.

“When you win a big job from a large and established competitor with a blue-chip client like Defence, you've made it,” Horton said at the time.

“The reality is we're dedicated commercial printers in the coldset field. We're not a publisher that does a bit on the side. All our investments… are designed specifically to suit those jobs and do them in an optimal way.”

Horton prints the job at its Brisbane factory on a four-tower Goss Community press, which can produce 35,000 copies an hour.

The newspapers are distributed by Toll Priority and Australia Post to Defence bases throughout Australia and to personnel deployed overseas.

Horton says most of the company’s clients are in the private sector for community newspapers, special interest groups, and religious institutions.

It also prints magazines, catalogues, directories, and marketing collateral and wins a swag of Swug Awards each year.

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

Leave a comment:

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required

Advertisement

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Advertisement