Australian sign, labels and plastics manufacturer Signet has invested $7m back into its local manufacturing in Brisbane in a bid to curtail imports from Asia.

The $7m outlay by Signet includes a plastic extrusion machine and factory expansion which will produce packaging previously shipped in from offshore.

Signet chief executive Jack Winson told ProPrint the decision to redirect sign, label and plastic manufacturing back to local shores was prompted by slowed turnaround times from Asian imports and a lower Aussie dollar.

“The issue for local manufacturers importing from Asia is that supply time can be very slow, and as the dollar reaches parity it was the right time to make a significant Australian investment,” says Winson.

“Our investment will mainly bring plastic wrap manufacturing and packaging back from Asia into our warehouses, and we are looking at only local suppliers for sign and label printing.”

[Related: Aus Paper promotes local trade]

The plastic extrusion machine itself is valued at some $2.5m, with the rest of the $7m used to expand its Brisbane factory to prepare for the Italian-made piece of equipment.

The family-owned company was formed by Winson’s father John in 1968, and achieves an annual turnover of some $150m producing signs, labels, plastic film and inks for other manufacturers around Australia from its nine warehouses.

Signet’s premises in Brisbane and Melbourne also house digital label printers, and all of its warehouses operate wide format signage machines.

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