The new 16,000iph Ryobi is the focal point of the latest
$4.5m investment by Worldwide, and joins an existing four-colour A2 Ryobi, and a
new Kodak CTP system in the Alexandria plant. The new hub is operational 24 hours
a day six days a week, and will produce a remarkable 350 jobs a day for its
client base, which are the 19 NSW Worldwide franchisees, who between them have around
4000 customers. It has the capacity to produce 100 million letterheads a year.

Worldwide's managing director Mark Manderson says Worldwide
is not chasing the A1 market with the new press, rather the company will use
the press in its gang-job strategy for quick and low cost printing. He says,
"The key to print success today is the PDF. The new production hub in Sydney
will ensure the Worldwide print operations will be able to provide the highest
quality of print to their customers in the shortest possible time."

NSW Senator Marise Payne opened the new facility, praising
the company for its investment, and underscoring the value of print to politicians,
especially at election time.

Worldwide currently has 82 franchisees around the country, up
from 71 a year ago, and claims to be the fastest growing of the three major print
franchises – Snap and Kwik Kopy being the other two. Worldwide's model is the hub
and spoke operation, with the store locations essentially sales and design operations,
with print sent to a hub.

Entry price to become a franchisee is around $175,000 plus
working capital, with most new franchisees coming from sales and marketing
backgrounds, mainly outside print.

Private equity from the Navis fund bought the company 18 months
ago form the original founders. Group turnover is currently up to around $60m.

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