Well-known founder of Walcar Graphics, Wal Sadlo, has called it a day after 53 years in print. Walcar will continue with Sadlo selling the businesses to Ben Sam, who has been working with Sadlo for the last year. Sadlo, who is a printer by trade, spent 23 years on the printing side of the industry, and the last 30 years in graphic arts machinery sales.
“It was time to call it a day. A stroke two years ago hastened the decision to find new owners for the business,” Sadlo says. He says over the last four decades he has seen print change dramatically evolving from a craft profession to a highly automated computerised industry. Sadlo says , “When I finished my five year apprenticeship, technological change was gathering pace and what I had learned had been superseded by more automated machinery and processes. “Small offset with the AM Multiliths, AB Dicks, Iteks and other small offset presses were starting to gain a foothold. The diehard letterpress printers saw no future in the technology and looked down upon those toy machines.” He says the rise of digital has been fast and unpredictable with printers in the early 60s unable to foresee such a future. “Although offset printing still dominates the market; digital printing is rapidly increasing every year. On the horizon are high-speed inkjet presses that will replace the current A3-B1 offset presses in the commercial and packaging sectors,” Sadlo says. “If we had not kept up with the rapid technological changes we would not be here today. “I attended every drupa exhibition since 1977 except for one. I travelled to printing exhibitions in the UK, Chicago in the USA, Osaka and Beijing. Walcar also participated in just about every printing exhibition held in Australia.” He says while being an active part of the industry is crucial for a business’ success it is the customer support that are the strong pillars of the company strength. “Walcar has always sourced and sold quality equipment, with after sales service and service to our customers being our prime aim at all times. We have a host of loyal customers who have supported us over the years and we will continue to support them,” he says. “For me it is time to go and leave the company in the capable hands of highly educated, service orientated young people led by Ben, who will take the company into a successful future. “Despite leaving the company I will still stay in touch with the industry. With over 50 years of close involvement in it, it is hard to get it out of your blood,” Sadlo says.
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