New MD at Ambassador goes for growth
Antalis, which acquired Ambassador in January 2012, said Smith would build on Antalis’ distribution and service provision skills and combine this with Ambassador’s systems and packaging expertise. Smith said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of further strengthening Ambassador’s market position as a leading provider of packaging materials and packaging solutions. Following last year’s takeover the Cheshire-based packaging business was renamed from Ambassador Packaging to Ambassador Antalis. The addition of its £28m annual sales more than doubled Antalis’ packaging turnover. “We are looking to consolidate and take the combined business forward organically, but have no further acquisition plans in the immediate future. We are looking to grow combined sales by 25% over two years. “I want to grow the business using Antalis’ infrastructure of bases around the country. Our biggest rival is Macfarlane Group but there are other businesses out there too and we want to be seen as best in class.” He said there were big opportunities to benefit from the burgeoning use of packaging by internet companies, while openings could also lie in traditional UK companies starting to enjoy economic recovery. Smith has worked at Antalis for 35 years and is a former regional sales director for the print division in the Midlands and the north. He switched to the packaging division in...
read moreFormer print boss admits fraud
Andrew Hemmings was director of Trowbridge, Wiltshire-based Cromwell Press from its founding in 1991 until it fell into administration for the first time in 2009. The academic book and journal printer was bought out of administration and renamed Baldwin, where Hemmings took a managerial role, but the business failed again in September 2010. Shortly afterwards, in April 2011 Hemmings was charged with fraud, including obtaining money by deception and false representation, following a police investigation. After a protracted legal process, the former director entered a not guilty plea at Swindon Crown Court in April this year. However last week (22 July) the case was brought back before the court after Hemmings changed his plea and admitted falsifying invoices to the tune of £81,983 on two occasions. The invoices were fraudulently created from Ken Biggs Construction from April 2005 and March 2006. Following the hearing Hemmings was released on bail and the case was adjourned for sentencing on 30 August....
read moreFormer print boss admits fraud
Andrew Hemmings was director of Trowbridge, Wiltshire-based Cromwell Press from its founding in 1991 until it fell into administration for the first time in 2009. The academic book and journal printer was bought out of administration and renamed Baldwin, where Hemmings took a managerial role, but the business failed again in September 2010. Shortly afterwards, in April 2011 Hemmings was charged with fraud, including obtaining money by deception and false representation, following a police investigation. After a protracted legal process, the former director entered a not guilty plea at Swindon Crown Court in April this year. However last week (22 July) the case was brought back before the court after Hemmings changed his plea and admitted falsifying invoices to the tune of £81,983 on two occasions. The invoices were fraudulently created from Ken Biggs Construction from April 2005 and March 2006. Following the hearing Hemmings was released on bail and the case was adjourned for sentencing on 30 August....
read morePrint promo launch as Yorkshire prepares for Le Tour
The Sheffield-based printing company has produced 100 pop-up banners promoting Yorkshire’s involvement in the next Tour – ‘The Grand Départ’ takes place on 5-6 July 2014 when stages one and two of the tour will follow routes that visit Leeds, Skipton, Harrogate, York and Ripon, finishing in Sheffield. The banners have been rolled out to tourist information centres across the county, timed to capitalise on the high level of awareness of the event following Chris Froome’s victory in the 2013 outing. They were produced on Evolution’s HP Designjet printer on Innotech banner material. Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme made a flying visit to the UK to launch the campaign with Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire. Verity said: “Working with Evolution Print and our tourist information centre partners, we can help ensure that visitors right across Yorkshire will be aware of this massive event happening right here next year.” Evolution director Julie Rice described the project as “incredibly exciting”. “As we get closer, more and more people are started to realise how big this will be for Yorkshire and to play a part in its promotion is fantastic for us all at Evolution.” The 2014 Tour will mark the first time the event has visited the north of England. Millions of fans are expected at the roadside, with more than three billion people watching the tour on television worldwide. Evolution director Graham Congreve added: “Stage two finishes about 300 yards from our factory, it’s going to be absolutely fantastic. We’ve all got a passion for cycling here – out of 35 staff at least 20 have bikes and are in the cycle to work scheme.” Stage three of the 2014 Tour will also be in the UK, with the peloton travelling from Cambridge to London. Picture shows, left to right: Verity, Congreve, Rice and Prudhomme....
read morePrint promo launch as Yorkshire prepares for Le Tour
The Sheffield-based printing company has produced 100 pop-up banners promoting Yorkshire’s involvement in the next Tour – ‘The Grand Départ’ takes place on 5-6 July 2014 when stages one and two of the tour will follow routes that visit Leeds, Skipton, Harrogate, York and Ripon, finishing in Sheffield. The banners have been rolled out to tourist information centres across the county, timed to capitalise on the high level of awareness of the event following Chris Froome’s victory in the 2013 outing. They were produced on Evolution’s HP Designjet printer on Innotech banner material. Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme made a flying visit to the UK to launch the campaign with Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire. Verity said: “Working with Evolution Print and our tourist information centre partners, we can help ensure that visitors right across Yorkshire will be aware of this massive event happening right here next year.” Evolution director Julie Rice described the project as “incredibly exciting”. “As we get closer, more and more people are started to realise how big this will be for Yorkshire and to play a part in its promotion is fantastic for us all at Evolution.” The 2014 Tour will mark the first time the event has visited the north of England. Millions of fans are expected at the roadside, with more than three billion people watching the tour on television worldwide. Evolution director Graham Congreve added: “Stage two finishes about 300 yards from our factory, it’s going to be absolutely fantastic. We’ve all got a passion for cycling here – out of 35 staff at least 20 have bikes and are in the cycle to work scheme.” Stage three of the 2014 Tour will also be in the UK, with the peloton travelling from Cambridge to London. Picture shows, left to right: Verity, Congreve, Rice and Prudhomme....
read more300 jobs to go at Goss France after Goss International proposal accepted
Web offset press manufacturer Goss International, parent company of Goss International France, made an offer on its own subsidiary in May this year after the French division fell into administration. The €2.4m deal was accepted by the Commercial Court of Compiègne at a hearing on 26 July (Friday) after being postponed three times pending further negotiations. Under the arrangement accepted last week, 123 jobs will remain across its sites in Montataire and Nantes, which are currently being run by a court-appointed administrator for a restructuring period of six months. According to local media reports in France, around 50 positions will remain out of 110 at Goss’ design and development site in Nantes, while around 240 jobs will be shed from its French manufacturing headquarters in Montataire, leaving around 80. A Goss International spokesman said: “We are aware of the court’s decision and are currently reviewing this. In the meantime, we continue to be in discussion with the administrators of Goss International France regarding our bid, and are working closely with them on this process.” The arrangement is part of a wider restructuring being undertaken by the US-headquartered firm, with the intention of creating what it has termed “an organisational structure based around regional parts, service and support centres for customers” and a “unified, pan-continental sales and service organisation” in Europe. It follows a similar restructuring in 2012 of Goss International’s operations in Asia, (where its owner, Shanghai Electric, is based), and will result in the group’s manufacturing operations being centred in China and the US. The company has said the simplification and transformation of its structure is in response to a changing marketplace and that refocus on growth is critical for the future growth of the business....
read more300 jobs to go at Goss France after Goss International proposal accepted
Web offset press manufacturer Goss International, parent company of Goss International France, made an offer on its own subsidiary in May this year after the French division fell into administration. The €2.4m deal was accepted by the Commercial Court of Compiègne at a hearing on 26 July (Friday) after being postponed three times pending further negotiations. Under the arrangement accepted last week, 123 jobs will remain across its sites in Montataire and Nantes, which are currently being run by a court-appointed administrator for a restructuring period of six months. According to local media reports in France, around 50 positions will remain out of 110 at Goss’ design and development site in Nantes, while around 240 jobs will be shed from its French manufacturing headquarters in Montataire, leaving around 80. A Goss International spokesman said: “We are aware of the court’s decision and are currently reviewing this. In the meantime, we continue to be in discussion with the administrators of Goss International France regarding our bid, and are working closely with them on this process.” The arrangement is part of a wider restructuring being undertaken by the US-headquartered firm, with the intention of creating what it has termed “an organisational structure based around regional parts, service and support centres for customers” and a “unified, pan-continental sales and service organisation” in Europe. It follows a similar restructuring in 2012 of Goss International’s operations in Asia, (where its owner, Shanghai Electric, is based), and will result in the group’s manufacturing operations being centred in China and the US. The company has said the simplification and transformation of its structure is in response to a changing marketplace and that refocus on growth is critical for the future growth of the business....
read moreDrytac releases easy-use polyester film
ViziPrint SEL is a printable, clear, 75µ (3 mil) adhesive polyester film, which is removable and repositionable, for application onto glass, acrylic and other non-porous surfaces. The product is targeted at high-quality graphics for shop fronts, POP displays and backlit displays as well as quick application situations such as fixing a menu to a restaurant window. Managing director Hayden Kelley said: “The polyester window film is intended for large-format graphics. Numerous customers were looking for a very-easy-to-apply graphic. “It does not require professional skills or water, is removable, peelable and repositionable. Smaller format can use something like static cling film but this tends to come off in larger-format.” Drytac Europe sales director Steve Broad said: “Installing a ViziPrint graphic is simple: users position the graphic, remove the release liner and smooth out any air bubbles with a squeegee. “There is no need for a professional installation – the customer can install the graphic in most cases,” said Broad. ViziPrint SEL is suitable for on virtually all solvent, eco-solvent and latex printers and costs around £4 per sqm, with a UV version costing around £2.70 per sqm. The latest substrate release from Drytac follows the expansion earlier this month of the firm’s Protac high coat weight films for UV printed output. Drytac films and adhesives are exclusively distributed in the UK and Ireland by Antalis....
read moreDrytac releases easy-use polyester film
ViziPrint SEL is a printable, clear, 75µ (3 mil) adhesive polyester film, which is removable and repositionable, for application onto glass, acrylic and other non-porous surfaces. The product is targeted at high-quality graphics for shop fronts, POP displays and backlit displays as well as quick application situations such as fixing a menu to a restaurant window. Managing director Hayden Kelley said: “The polyester window film is intended for large-format graphics. Numerous customers were looking for a very-easy-to-apply graphic. “It does not require professional skills or water, is removable, peelable and repositionable. Smaller format can use something like static cling film but this tends to come off in larger-format.” Drytac Europe sales director Steve Broad said: “Installing a ViziPrint graphic is simple: users position the graphic, remove the release liner and smooth out any air bubbles with a squeegee. “There is no need for a professional installation – the customer can install the graphic in most cases,” said Broad. ViziPrint SEL is suitable for on virtually all solvent, eco-solvent and latex printers and costs around £4 per sqm, with a UV version costing around £2.70 per sqm. The latest substrate release from Drytac follows the expansion earlier this month of the firm’s Protac high coat weight films for UV printed output. Drytac films and adhesives are exclusively distributed in the UK and Ireland by Antalis....
read moreShuttleworth MIS upgrade streamlines job tracking
Joint managing director Paul Deane said: “This new release is simply one of the most significant updates to the Shuttleworth MIS for some time.” The release includes a new iPhone & iPad mobile customer relationship management app, giving sales teams instant access to company, contact and enquiry details while away from the office. “Improved, immediate communication across the system includes this new app. Enquiries can be viewed and updated in real time and addresses linked into most satellite navigation systems.” Additionally a new job-tracking functionality called Milestones automatically updates jobs, making it simpler and quicker to view the status of any job, according to the company. Implementation administrator Dawn Safford said: “Milestones’ job tracking gives clear visibility of where a job is at any time. The information was always there but this makes it easier to find through things like colour coding.” The package was unveiled at user meetings in June and is now commercially available. The whole package costs around £10,000 and modules around £3,000 each. Multisets Print Solutions managing director Iain Cox, who has already installed the system, said: “It has given complete transparency to the business, without having to search. “Information is a click of a button away and the format is presented in a completely user friendly way so that anyone can access and look at information instantly.” Shuttleworth Business Systems is running a new webinar program to coincide with the new release and also has a 5.3 YouTube Playlist where users can view the package’s...
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