Sydney-based Plas Image and Perth-based Qualsign, both of which will continue to trade under their own names for the next 12-18 months, became Spandex group companies at the beginning of this month. Plas Image, which was founded in 2000 by Stan Vidaic, is a distributor of rigid materials and digital roll media. Qualsign, established by Merv Hopkins in 1995, is a distributor of aluminium composite sheets, cut vinyl and digital media and had an existing relationship with Spandex as a reseller of Arlon and Avery signage materials. Alex McClelland, managing director and vice president of Spandex Asia-Pacific, said: “In today’s business environment, we cannot stand still; the status quo is not an option. Real quality opportunities for acquisition do not come along that often and we were fortunate to find two this year that offered expansion into new product areas and adjacent markets. “The addition of highly experienced industry people is another positive as we begin the task of integration. While there are some inevitable parallels in our customer bases, for the main part, Plas Image and Qualsign bring new products that Spandex did not previously offer. We are delighted with these acquisitions and welcome staff and customers alike into the Spandex family.” McClelland added that Spandex would continue to look for suitable acquisitions to “further enhance our position in the market”....

According to reports, some 28 staff are at risk of redundancy as a result of the planned closure, which will see the printing of titles including the Reading Post transferred to Trinity Mirror’s Watford site. A Trinity Mirror spokesman said: “Trinity Mirror Printing Reading has announced that it will not be renewing the lease on its Tessa Road site in Reading when it expires in early 2014. “We have entered into a period of consultation with all affected staff.” It is understood that alternative roles will be available at Watford for some of the affected print staff. Excluding Reading, Trinity Mirror has nine other print sites around the UK, which are used to print its own titles and for contract printing....

According to reports, some 28 staff are at risk of redundancy as a result of the planned closure, which will see the printing of titles including the Reading Post transferred to Trinity Mirror’s Watford site. A Trinity Mirror spokesman said: “Trinity Mirror Printing Reading has announced that it will not be renewing the lease on its Tessa Road site in Reading when it expires in early 2014. “We have entered into a period of consultation with all affected staff.” It is understood that alternative roles will be available at Watford for some of the affected print staff. Excluding Reading, Trinity Mirror has nine other print sites around the UK, which are used to print its own titles and for contract printing....

An HP T300 will be installed next at Copley, in December, followed by the second T400 in March 2014, at which point the site will replicate the HP T-series setup at Communisis’ main transactional print site in Speke, Liverpool. Communisis announced the triple installation in an Interim Management Statement published this morning (6 November), in which it said trading was in-line with expectations and listed the Lloyds contract win, Editions Financial acquisition and £60m debt refinance amongst its third-quarter highlights. Communisis hailed the high-speed digital investment, which it said would “enhance the group’s competitive advantage as the largest transactional operator in Europe” of HP’s T-series platform. The company said that the Lloyds outsourcing contract had been ratified by the LBG board and was “operating as intended” after successfully going live on 1 October. The Lloyds deal represents Communisis’ second major win of the year after a nine-year contract was signed with Nationwide in January. Communisis’ legacy cheque printing business was said to be suffering from the “continued erosion of volume”, leading the company to state that managing this trend and the opportunities arising from growth in outsourcing were its key priorities. “Continuing to win substantial, multi-year contracts and generating additional revenues from expanded service offerings [is an] essential part of our long-term growth strategy,” the company added. Communisis’ £60m debt refinance includes an increased £55m revolving credit facility, committed until March 2018, and a £5m overdraft, renewable annually; the firm’s banking syndicate includes RBS, Lloyds TSB, HSBC and Barclays. Communisis chief executive Andy Blundell said the company was continuing to “deliver successfully on its strategy for profitable growth”. Communisis share price was unchanged at 63p....

An HP T300 will be installed next at Copley, in December, followed by the second T400 in March 2014, at which point the site will replicate the HP T-series setup at Communisis’ main transactional print site in Speke, Liverpool. Communisis announced the triple installation in an Interim Management Statement published this morning (6 November), in which it said trading was in-line with expectations and listed the Lloyds contract win, Editions Financial acquisition and £60m debt refinance amongst its third-quarter highlights. Communisis hailed the high-speed digital investment, which it said would “enhance the group’s competitive advantage as the largest transactional operator in Europe” of HP’s T-series platform. The company said that the Lloyds outsourcing contract had been ratified by the LBG board and was “operating as intended” after successfully going live on 1 October. The Lloyds deal represents Communisis’ second major win of the year after a nine-year contract was signed with Nationwide in January. Communisis’ legacy cheque printing business was said to be suffering from the “continued erosion of volume”, leading the company to state that managing this trend and the opportunities arising from growth in outsourcing were its key priorities. “Continuing to win substantial, multi-year contracts and generating additional revenues from expanded service offerings [is an] essential part of our long-term growth strategy,” the company added. Communisis’ £60m debt refinance includes an increased £55m revolving credit facility, committed until March 2018, and a £5m overdraft, renewable annually; the firm’s banking syndicate includes RBS, Lloyds TSB, HSBC and Barclays. Communisis chief executive Andy Blundell said the company was continuing to “deliver successfully on its strategy for profitable growth”. Communisis share price was unchanged at 63p....