The Todisco family and industry is mourning the loss of a print icon with the passing of former PrintLinx Group managing director, Frank Todisco, on 1 July.
Born on 20 December 1948, Frank was a powerhouse – he was in the printing industry for more than 60 years and started his career in print with an apprenticeship at the age of just 17.
Shortly after, Frank purchased a Gestetner printing machine and started printing in his garage in Howe Parade, Port Melbourne, after hours, then purchased the company from his boss.
The business grew fast, resulting in his family joining in to help. With his two brothers, joining the business, it became RFM (named after the trio – Ralph, Frank, and Mario) in Port Melbourne.
Unfortunately, the venture didn’t work out for them, but it gave them the opportunity to start their own printing companies. From the split, great companies grew.
Frank started Frank Todisco Printing at Coburg and with several acquisitions added, became PrintLinx, in a factory he restored from the ground up in Port Melbourne. PrintLinx Group became very successful in his time, acquiring several companies and taking the competition out of the market.
The list of company acquisitions includes Squires Print, Impress Print, Energy Print, Cherry Print, Mylund Print, Trojan Press, Mercedes Waratah Press, Holmes Commercial Print, M&M Binders, D&J Plastics, John D Harris, Print Applied Technology, Geon Tasmania, and Mountings.
These businesses were all integrated into PrintLinx Group, making three entities – Mercedes Waratah Group, M&M Binders, and Mercury Walch, which were taken over by Frank’s sons Peter, Lenny, and Michael in April 2011.
This was also the time Frank retired at the age of 67, but remained as business advisor to them. The business employed 250 staff at its peak.
Following a mega merger of three companies in July 2015 including the Todisco business Mercedes Waratah Group, Docklands Ability Group was created, which was also when the Todiscoes bowed out of the company. Mercedes Waratah Group was sold with the most impressive set up in Australia.
Frank’s sons remember him as a person that believed in having the latest technology. Frank was also always on a guillotine or letter press on the weekends, and he would buy lunch for all the staff that worked on weekends.
He was deeply involved in the running of the business – from estimating to costing, purchasing, and sales.
Affinity Print director Steven Todisco, who is Ralph’s son and Frank’s nephew, penned a heartwarming tribute to his late uncle.
Frank’s funeral will be held on Thursday 10 July at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church in Middle Park, VIC 3206, at 10am.
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