This article appeared in the March 2025 issue of Australian Printer, authored by Rainbow Industries’ Dean Boceski

Rainbow Industries had a great year in 2024 despite difficult business and economic circumstances. One of the highlights for the company was providing materials for the Governor of NSW and items relating to the King’s coronation on our Intaglio die stamper.

For us, 2024 was the year of change. If you’re in business and you’re not able to pivot and be flexible, you won’t be there for long.

As a second-generation printer, I have been driving change at Rainbow Industries by navigating the business to embrace the latest in digital print technology, whilst also committing to traditional offset applications by continuing to utilise older print methods like letterpress printing and Intaglio die stamping, making old and ’redundant’ technology relevant again.

Embracing wide format latex print has allowed us to specialise in areas now such as signage, complemented by our CNC router.

The company’s premises house the only remaining Intaglio die stamper machine in Australia, and we aim to keep this high- quality print tradition alive and showcase the art of print with our letterpress machines still producing work daily.

This year, our main priority will be focusing on our clients’ needs and showcasing more of what we offer. As a bespoke print house with 43 years of experience across all facets of print, we are in a strong position to not only look after our clientele, but also other printers and their needs.

Rainbow Industries works with high-end brands and retailers to bring their print campaigns to life. Providing an extremely high level of quality – whether it be in printed materials from offset to digital and in recent years in wide format, or even fabrication – with a heightened level of service is crucial in today’s world and to stand apart from the rest.

Our commitment to sustainability is also a priority this year. We are working closely with our business partners utilising eco- friendly materials. We now opt for recycled or responsibly sourced paper products over traditional plastic options wherever possible.

As these paper-based option materials adjust to acceptable market prices we expect to see a renewed enthusiasm for responsibly sourced print solutions.

Rainbow Industries owns a HP fourth- generation Latex printer, resulting in us becoming the second company in the country to install the HP Latex 700W. We chose it for its market-leading technology, green accreditations, water-based inks, and HP’s commitment to sustainability. Our Intaglio die stamper is also one of our most environmentally friendly machines, as all Intaglio ink is water based. As technology advances, we have plans to invest in more sustainable equipment in the future.

The main trend we can expect to see this year is the increase in automation.

Other than that, I think it will be more of the same of what we have seen in previous years. Unfortunately, I don’t expect to see any significant changes to external factors in these unpredictable economic times.

Areas of growth that businesses should be looking to in 2025 are automation and acquisition. Automation will significantly change how the industry operates. I also expect to see more consolidation in the market.

As more owners of family businesses move towards retirement age, combined with property prices going through the roof and not many succession plans in place from generation to generation, many family businesses will be looking to sell.

These businesses are the pillars that this industry is built upon.

Businesses that keep their overheads low, cash flow positive, and sell at a reasonable price will thrive in 2025 as opportunities arise for businesses or machinery at a reduced rate.

My advice for the industry this year is to partner with like-minded businesses as you can’t do everything, regardless of your ego or business name.

Sell on your print knowledge and service level, not just undercutting on price to get a sale, driving the profits overall of the industry down. Remember, price is only an issue if value is absent. Our industry is still a craft, let’s keep it alive.

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