Mackay firm BB Print hopes its move to bigger premises in the city’s outskirts will position it to ramp up production and chase bigger jobs.

Partner Kathy Farren-Price says the 23-year-old firm had outgrown its old 500sqm facility and needed more space to better service its customers and further expand the business.

“We are going to be more aggressive in pursuing tenders now that we have the capacity to take on more work and run bigger jobs,” she says.

“The old site was too small and we need better productivity if we are to grow.”

The new 800sqm facility in Paget’s Platinum Court has been fitted out to take advantage of more floorspace and improve workflow efficiency.

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Farren-Price says specialist technicians were flown in from interstate to dismantle and transport equipment, and the company’s seven-tonne five-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster 52 received its own floating concrete slab for the move.

BB Print’s biggest clients are naturally in Mackay’s two main industries, mining and sugar, and Farren-Price says while the local mining industry has been a bit slack recently, as much of the company’s work involves producing carbonless books and safety tags on waterproof paper it is less vulnerable to market fluctuations.

“Safety products are something mining companies need every day regardless, it’s a need not a want for them so there is still plenty of demand for us,” she says.

“Mining has been pretty important for the growth of our business. As much as we try to diversify, realistically Mackay is a mining town so when mining slows down, everything slows down.

“I think the industry will continue to be here for our lifetime; it has been through booms and busts before, there is a long term cycle. This is our 23rd year, so we must be doing something right.”

The being said, Farren-Price says BB Print is trying to diversify into other areas of print to avoid being at the mercy of mining’s cycle of bust and boom, and makes sure that its clients represent more than one sector.

“We have a wide range of clients. Apart from the mining and sugar sectors, the two big industries in Mackay, our customers are small businesses, from doctors to solicitors, lawyers, restaurants – you name it. We have a diverse range,” she says.

BB Print also offers digital services, and upgraded to a new Fuji Xerox J75 in January.

Farren-Price says: “That has given us another part of the market which we couldn’t do before because we weren’t cost effective. We didn’t realise how much we were missing until we upgraded.”

She says the company’s sustainable printing programme, recognised with a Queensland wide Environmental Management Award for Printing, has also given it an advantage with the local market.

Gary Bye, also a partner in the business, says: “We are becoming well known for our innovation such as being recognised as an environmentally sound printer.”

“We are the only accredited Sustainable Green Print business north of the Sunshine Coast. It’s important to keep growing and adding to your business,” he says.

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