The Canberra print community is in shock this morning as the second biggest operator in the ACT, Paragon Printers, suddenly closed its doors and is in administration.

Administrators closed the building at 10am yesterday, with rumours in the ACT print world that the customer list has already been bought.

Owner Mel Dalgleish is currently unavailable for comment.

Creditors are in for a nervy few weeks, especially as well-placed sources tell ProPrint the paper merchants may be up for a major hit, with the big three allegedly in for $1m+ between them.

The 65 staff face a testing Christmas, a few of them have been able to secure casual work at local printers but for the majority it will be a bleak season.

Local printers told ProPrint they ‘are shaking’ especially as some of them are owed money by Paragon which outsourced work. One ACT print owner says, “It was completely unexpected, we were doing work for them just last week. They had been suffering from the decline in government offset work, and weren't really geared up for digital, but even so this is a top notch well run business.”

Paragon Printers Australasia is one of the largest independently owned commercial printers in the country and has substantial print and finishing capabilities, including a ten colour B1 Heidelberg and a six-colour Heidelberg.

The company has faced declining print orders from government in recent times, and has opened a Sydney office to generate commercial work.

The company extended its services beyond printing to provide its clients with a complete knowledge solution including; coordinated project management, complete personalised fulfilment, management information system, promotional products and logistical support globally

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