In a major move, Australian printer, Neo (formerly known as New Litho) has acquired Eastern Press, a 38-year-old much respected Melbourne print business.
All staff and operations from Eastern Press are now servicing clients from Neo’s two-acre site at Mulgrave, Victoria.
Neo chief executive officer, Seth Watts, says Neo was attracted to the deep expertise and storied history of Eastern Press which was founded in 1983 by the late Frank Hilliard.
He added the expertise and quality focus of the Eastern Press team provides the ideal foundation for Neo to build a commercial offering as changes in customer demand over the past two years have created an opportunity for the newly joined brands to combine competitive capabilities and grow operations with leading-edge technology and expertise.
“The Eastern team brings industry and customer knowledge that complements and grows the significant capabilities of the Neo team. Equipping the Eastern team with the state-of-the-art kit at Neo will empower both companies to deliver amazing customer experiences and phenomenal products to our mutual customers,” Watts said.
Neo is a third-generation family business that has been printing in Melbourne since 1938. The company continues to invest heavily in maintaining sophisticated production facilities focused on high-quality, fast-turnaround work. With a strong focus on servicing the real estate industry, Neo has multiple production sites servicing the east coast of Australia.
Neo Chairman, Paul Daley, reflected on his interactions with Hilliard over the years and said the Eastern Press ethos will be maintained as part of a commitment to Hilliard’s wife, Irene.
“Over my business journey, I’ve interacted with Frank at trade events and we also visited each other’s plants and from time to time compared notes on equipment investments,” Daley said.
“I am thrilled with our acquisition of Eastern Press and I’ve also made a commitment to Frank’s widow, Irene, to maintain the Eastern ethos with their client base and also curate the memorabilia items from Frank’s printing factory.”
Eastern Press was established 38 years ago and combines traditional marketing principles with deep print expertise. A strong focus on customer service and consistent, high-quality print has led to deep client relationships, attracting Neo’s attention who mirror these values within their own brand.
Eastern Press Managing Director, Cormac Deffely, will follow the brand to its new home at Neo.
“We are very excited about this new chapter for Eastern Press. This acquisition represents a great opportunity for the brand, and will allow us to better service our existing customers as well as expand our capabilities and product offering,” Deffely said.
Access to Neo’s UV offset capabilities, B2 digital printing press, and in house embellishments will be a valuable addition to Eastern Press’ services, allowing it to continue delivering high-quality print work and amazing customer service, with a larger range of products.
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