Sydney-based binderies McPherson Binding and Graphic Bookbinding have merged to form a new company named Sydney Binding, following what the owners describe as a sharp fall in market demand.

The two bookbinding firms had been in talks over a proposed merger for some twelve months before sealing the deal to trade under the new collective brand Sydney Binding.

McPherson director Peter Halters says the merger was pushed by a drop in consumer demand and a dilapidating market for bookbinding services, prompting himself and Graphic director Emeh Freelingos to ‘share the load’.

Halters says McPherson and Graphic have a history of sharing clients, and says around 90 per cent of his printer customers use both company’s services.

Graphic Bookbinding’s Kingsgrove location will be closed permanently, and the new business is slated to operate out of McPherson’s current site in Botany Street, Rockdale. 

McPherson Binding was established in 1979 and offers bookbinding services including folding, saddle-stitching, die cutting and guillotining. Graphic has been in operation since 1963 and also provides shrink wrapping, drilling and wiro-binding.

Halters told ProPrint the newly formed Sydney Binding has no plans to diversify services despite a challenging market, but did not rule out the future possibility of expanding into the finishing trade.

McPherson and Graphic will officially commence trading as Sydney Bookbinding on July 1.

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