Four former staff at Brisbane’s Panther Print, which entered liquidation in late July, will be employed by a new business in the region.

Greg Beech, who ran Panther Print prior to its closure says, “It is a guy who has invested a lot of money to have another crack, give it a go, and invest in four people in the process.

“The new business has taken one printer, one guillotine operator, one prepress worker, and one other staff member who is a jack of all trades, who worked as a delivery driver for Panther Print.”

Beech was offered a job at the new business, but turned it down as he did not want to give the impression of a phoenix operation. All employee entitlements were paid off following the closure of Panther Print.

Beech explains, “I have tried the best I can over the last 30 years. It has not worked out, I am going to move on with my life, there must be something else I can do. I am not interested in staying in the print industry at this point in time.

“If I do not feel I can give 100 per cent for what I am being paid for, I won’t do it. I have had job offers, but I have not got the headspace for that.

“I have been getting texts of support from suppliers and clients that have been real positive, even some just asking if I want to go out for a coffee.

“The person who is starting the new business up loves print, and has spent the money and hours to get it all going."

Beech says he had tried to make changes in the business in the past year and a half, as opposed to staying still, but that they did not pay off.

Panther was started by current PIAA president Walter Kuhn in 1989, who sold the business to Les Beech, Greg’s father, in 1992. It was primarily in offset, running Heidelberg presses with in-house finishing.

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