Name change gives Gemini Brighton strong regional focus
The printing and fulfillment business makes £2m from clients such as the local council and businesses and agencies. It runs a five-colour B2 Komori Spica, two Heidelberg Speedmasters, a two- and a four-colour machine, CTP and design kit. Managing director Dave Britton said: “The rebrand is part of the business strategy to firmly position the brand within the Gemini Group. The new name will help communicate the company’s clear Brighton focus. The group includes Gemini Press in Shoreham, West Sussex, Gemini Digital in Bridgend, Gemini West in Bristol and Britton’s newly-named firm in East Sussex. Britton said he was keen to highlight his team’s green credentials: the company has ISO 14001, FSC and PEFC accreditations while equipment is alcohol free, plates are free of chemistry and only vegetable inks are used. “We are proud that Gemini Brighton is the only on-site expert printers in the city and that we have such a strong eco grounding,” said Britton. “Our operation was established around 25 years ago and has enjoyed an enviable reputation in the Brighton market ever since. “The rebrand will maintain our Brighton focus while also help communicate our extended service offerings as part of the larger Gemini Group.”...
read moreAPS Group names new business development director
Moores is responsible for developing new revenue streams across APS Group’s key vertical markets, including retail, financial services, public sector, charity and automotive. He reports to executive director Kim Naylor. Moores previously worked with HH Global as business development director where he secured several pan-European accounts and introduced new opportunities in the US and Asia. Moores said: “I intend to build on our pan-European client base as well as create increasingly diverse and challenging business opportunities that I know our team is capable of delivering on.” APS executive director John Holmes added: “Moores’ insight and experience of the market combined with his second-to-none industry contacts makes him a great addition to the team and puts us in the perfect position to develop our customer base across the UK and beyond.”...
read moreBishops Printers fires up its 70th B2 Speedmaster unit
The 10-colour Speedmaster XL 75 perfector runs out 15,000 sheets an hour, and its automated plate-changing ability won over managing director Gareth Roberts who has added the press to his existing range of eight- and 10-colour machines. Roberts said the the 221-staff litho printer in Portsmouth, Hamsphire, was handling more orders but for smaller volumes, needing a greater number of plates and plate changes. Average makeready times had already dropped from 13 to two minutes, he added. “I’m mindful of the economy but you have to be positive and bold in your approach,” he said. “Enquiries are up 18 per cent year on year and sales have risen 9%. Our biggest client accounts for 5% of our turnover, reflecting good service and value.” Print production operated 24-hours a day, seven days a week to meet customer needs, including Premiership football clubs such as Arsenal, he added. His company runs over 21,750 jobs across 2,371 customers a year. Roberts also installed a new Stahlfolder TH 82 as part of the investment at Bishops Printers, which has upped turnover by £4m to £20m in three years. Average order value from short-run business cards, stationery and leaflets is £983. The business, with clients also including local traders and big names such as Specsavers and the NHS, is part of Bishops Group. Web and app firm Graphic Design House and the direct mail and fulfillment set up the Mailing People are sister...
read moreBishops Printers fires up its 70th B2 Speedmaster unit
The 10-colour Speedmaster XL 75 perfector runs out 15,000 sheets an hour, and its automated plate-changing ability won over managing director Gareth Roberts who has added the press to his existing range of eight- and 10-colour machines. Roberts said the the 221-staff litho printer in Portsmouth, Hamsphire, was handling more orders but for smaller volumes, needing a greater number of plates and plate changes. Average makeready times had already dropped from 13 to two minutes, he added. “I’m mindful of the economy but you have to be positive and bold in your approach,” he said. “Enquiries are up 18 per cent year on year and sales have risen 9%. Our biggest client accounts for 5% of our turnover, reflecting good service and value.” Print production operated 24-hours a day, seven days a week to meet customer needs, including Premiership football clubs such as Arsenal, he added. His company runs over 21,750 jobs across 2,371 customers a year. Roberts also installed a new Stahlfolder TH 82 as part of the investment at Bishops Printers, which has upped turnover by £4m to £20m in three years. Average order value from short-run business cards, stationery and leaflets is £983. The business, with clients also including local traders and big names such as Specsavers and the NHS, is part of Bishops Group. Web and app firm Graphic Design House and the direct mail and fulfillment set up the Mailing People are sister...
read moreAdobe’s new subscription model divides industry
The technology titan triggered a strong response after it used a conference to announce a raft of changes including Photoshop CC (Creative Cloud), a new version of the popular software package. But instead of a one-off licence fee for the Creative Suite bundle, individuals will have to pay £38.12 a month, with groups forking out £53.20. Existing customers are being offered a discounted monthly fee for the new version of £22.22. The company, which used its Max conference in Los Angeles on 6 May to make the announcement, is said to be keen to free itself from its traditional 18- to 24-month upgrade cycle. “This is frustrating; it’s almost as if their margins are dropping and they are trying to achieve an even keel,” said Reprohouse managing director Graham Taylor, whose Chelmsford business uses Photoshop and Illustrator. “It’s bad enough releasing so many new versions, which don’t have enough different options to justify upgrading. This is naughty; it will be prohibitive to smaller firms, who will look at other software, without a shadow of doubt.” But litho and digital printer Gemini Brighton managing director Dave Britton said: “We don’t have the latest versions and upgrading depends on the fee; if there’s no large outgoing cost for upgrades I would embrace it.” Patrick Marchese, co-founder of software developer Markzware said: “If the subscription model stays flexible it can be cheaper than purchasing the old bundles. But I think Adobe has questions to answer. “For professional users with modern machines, a sub is a decent deal. For freelancers, large corporations and those who always lag to upgrade this subscription has them very concerned.” “Apple may be very happy right now; Quark may have a golden opportunity, depending on how Adobe overcomes some of the objections being raised. Maybe Quark could cooperate with a photo-editing software developer and a vector, Illy-like application developer to offer a bundle. A little competition is always good.” Rhapsody Media managing director Les Pipe said: “Hopefully this will mean consistency, as all our customers will eventually use the same product but this will probably take a couple of years. It will however cost us more. “So this is good and bad. The new subscription model is a way for Adobe to gain more revenue, which is understandable to some extent. I’m keen for it to deliver consistency but I do not favour the extra costs.” Adobe used its conference to rebrand its desktop apps from Creative Suite (CS) to Creative Cloud (CC). New features for Photoshop CC include a camera-shake reduction tool to correct blur from camera movement. The bundle also includes InDesign CC, Illustrator CC, Dreamweaver CC and Premier Pro CC....
read moreAdobe’s new subscription model divides industry
The technology titan triggered a strong response after it used a conference to announce a raft of changes including Photoshop CC (Creative Cloud), a new version of the popular software package. But instead of a one-off licence fee for the Creative Suite bundle, individuals will have to pay £38.12 a month, with groups forking out £53.20. Existing customers are being offered a discounted monthly fee for the new version of £22.22. The company, which used its Max conference in Los Angeles on 6 May to make the announcement, is said to be keen to free itself from its traditional 18- to 24-month upgrade cycle. “This is frustrating; it’s almost as if their margins are dropping and they are trying to achieve an even keel,” said Reprohouse managing director Graham Taylor, whose Chelmsford business uses Photoshop and Illustrator. “It’s bad enough releasing so many new versions, which don’t have enough different options to justify upgrading. This is naughty; it will be prohibitive to smaller firms, who will look at other software, without a shadow of doubt.” But litho and digital printer Gemini Brighton managing director Dave Britton said: “We don’t have the latest versions and upgrading depends on the fee; if there’s no large outgoing cost for upgrades I would embrace it.” Patrick Marchese, co-founder of software developer Markzware said: “If the subscription model stays flexible it can be cheaper than purchasing the old bundles. But I think Adobe has questions to answer. “For professional users with modern machines, a sub is a decent deal. For freelancers, large corporations and those who always lag to upgrade this subscription has them very concerned.” “Apple may be very happy right now; Quark may have a golden opportunity, depending on how Adobe overcomes some of the objections being raised. Maybe Quark could cooperate with a photo-editing software developer and a vector, Illy-like application developer to offer a bundle. A little competition is always good.” Rhapsody Media managing director Les Pipe said: “Hopefully this will mean consistency, as all our customers will eventually use the same product but this will probably take a couple of years. It will however cost us more. “So this is good and bad. The new subscription model is a way for Adobe to gain more revenue, which is understandable to some extent. I’m keen for it to deliver consistency but I do not favour the extra costs.” Adobe used its conference to rebrand its desktop apps from Creative Suite (CS) to Creative Cloud (CC). New features for Photoshop CC include a camera-shake reduction tool to correct blur from camera movement. The bundle also includes InDesign CC, Illustrator CC, Dreamweaver CC and Premier Pro CC....
read moreYPS to showcase kit to help open up new markets
YPS has invited Mimaki distributor Hybrid Services and packaging software supplier FFEI on to its stand for the show in Harrogate from 14 to 16 May, said the former’s managing director Garry Brown. “Our plan is to combine our experience in the commercial print market with our expertise in wide-format digital inkjet,” he said. “We will show a full packaging prototyping workflow and versatile digital proofing process, plus routes into lucrative new market areas such as signage and promotional items.” A Mimaki UJF-6042 A2 digital flat-bed printer and CF2-1218 cutter will execute complex packaging prototypes. Designs can be visualised on the FFEI RealVue 3D packager application, simulating all aspects of the intended printed design. “This simplification of the prototype creation process engenders significant time and cost savings while belying impressive power for the refinement of artwork data,” he explained. Package designs will be transferred to the Mimaki FineCut suite, which aids precise offline cutting before printing. The UJF-6042’s flexible UV-curable ink set ensures complex folds and creases without leaving cracks on the print “We will create packaging using 3D software in a demo that involves printing and cutting right through to the finished thing,” said Brown, adding the “real eye opener” at the show would be the software. “People can be naïve on technology and how it features in their market. Conventional packaging printers tend to be up on software but they are not that up to speed on how easy and accessible the digital technology is to them.” Printers looking to refine their packaging proofing workflows will see the Mimaki CJV30-60 integrated print-and-cut engine, producing four-colour print plus metallic and white onto a diverse array of substrates, including metallic foil. Also on the stand will be the Mimaki JV33-130 1.3m wide-format machine. Hybrid Services national sales manager John de la Roche said: “YPS has made a great impact and we’re delighted they’ll be flying the Mimaki and Hybrid Services flag so visibly at North Print and Pack this year. “What we hope to deliver to the market our true commercial propositions for printers looking to refine, reinvent or expand their business.”...
read moreYPS to showcase kit to help open up new markets
YPS has invited Mimaki distributor Hybrid Services and packaging software supplier FFEI on to its stand for the show in Harrogate from 14 to 16 May, said the former’s managing director Garry Brown. “Our plan is to combine our experience in the commercial print market with our expertise in wide-format digital inkjet,” he said. “We will show a full packaging prototyping workflow and versatile digital proofing process, plus routes into lucrative new market areas such as signage and promotional items.” A Mimaki UJF-6042 A2 digital flat-bed printer and CF2-1218 cutter will execute complex packaging prototypes. Designs can be visualised on the FFEI RealVue 3D packager application, simulating all aspects of the intended printed design. “This simplification of the prototype creation process engenders significant time and cost savings while belying impressive power for the refinement of artwork data,” he explained. Package designs will be transferred to the Mimaki FineCut suite, which aids precise offline cutting before printing. The UJF-6042’s flexible UV-curable ink set ensures complex folds and creases without leaving cracks on the print “We will create packaging using 3D software in a demo that involves printing and cutting right through to the finished thing,” said Brown, adding the “real eye opener” at the show would be the software. “People can be naïve on technology and how it features in their market. Conventional packaging printers tend to be up on software but they are not that up to speed on how easy and accessible the digital technology is to them.” Printers looking to refine their packaging proofing workflows will see the Mimaki CJV30-60 integrated print-and-cut engine, producing four-colour print plus metallic and white onto a diverse array of substrates, including metallic foil. Also on the stand will be the Mimaki JV33-130 1.3m wide-format machine. Hybrid Services national sales manager John de la Roche said: “YPS has made a great impact and we’re delighted they’ll be flying the Mimaki and Hybrid Services flag so visibly at North Print and Pack this year. “What we hope to deliver to the market our true commercial propositions for printers looking to refine, reinvent or expand their business.”...
read moreEFG lending improves
Unveiled in 2009, the EFG is a loan guarantee scheme whereby the government pledged at the time it was launched to lend £1.3bn of guarantees to banks lending to companies with a turnover of up to £25m and that were unable to obtain loans through traditional means. Since its launch the scheme has been criticised for being ineffective and not getting through to those companies that need it. In response, over the last 12 months the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), which administers the scheme, has changed the eligibility criteria to try to improve its performance. Adjustments include increasing company turnover to £41m, replacing the £1m per business lifetime scheme limit with a rolling £1m outstanding limit and raising the level from 13% to 20% of the lenders’ annual lending portfolio to which the government guarantee applies. Additionally business minister Michael Fallon wrote to all subscribed lenders, of which there are more than 40, urging them to improve lending levels and publicly named those that were failing to make full use of the scheme. According to new figures the combined lending of all those participating in the scheme rose from £71.6m in Q3 2012/13 to £91.7m in Q4, the highest level since September 2011. The total number of loans offered increased from 767 in Q3 to 885 in Q4. However a year-on-year comparison showed that lending was up just £7.2m on Q4 2011/2012 with 92 more offers. Bank of Scotland (BoS) and Santander, which were among the worst performers last year, reported “significant increases” in lending through EFG, offering 20 and 31 loans respectively in Q4 2012/13 compared to just seven and one in the same period last year. This still compares poorly however to the likes of HSBC, Lloyds and Barclays whose loan offers during those periods were in the hundreds. Fallon said the increase in lending through the EFG that banks were reporting must remain steady: “This is an important step towards increasing the finance small firms can access. Some banks are working harder, and they should be recognised for that. “It’s important this isn’t a one-off. Banks must continue to improve their use of EFG. Access to finance is a crucial issue to SMEs and economic growth will depend on businesses having the certainty that banks are lending. “This increase needs to be maintained to improve business confidence and demonstrate that responsible lending can still take place.” Since its launch total EFG lending stands at £2.14bn with 20,903 SMEs having been offered loans....
read moreHeidelberg on track with profit plan
The preliminary figures for the year to 31 March 2013 were described as a “key milestone” on the route back to sustainable profitability by chief executive Gerold Linzbach. Sales at the group rose 5% to €2.7bn (£2.3bn), while operating profit prior to special items jumped from €3m to €28m. Costs of €65m associated with its Focus 2012 restructuring programme, together with other as-yet-unspecified charges, put the manufacturer’s preliminary loss for the year at €110m. In the prior year Heidelberg lost more than double that, at €230m. The group’s fourth quarter results for the three months to the end of March also showed a marked improvement, with sales rising 5.7% to €830m and operating profits prior to exceptionals increasing from €22m to €60m. Linzbach said that in meeting its forecast for the year, Heidelberg had reached “a key milestone on our way to profitability”. “Focus 2012 lays the foundation for us to start making a profit again from financial year 2013/2014 onwards,” he stated. During the period Heidelberg “intensified” a number of Focus 2012 measures to secure its profitability targets. Spokesman Thomas Fichtl explained that this included additional actions such as rationalising the sales and service operation in its home market. “In the process of executing the programme we saw other opportunities. For example, in Germany the number of sales regions has gone from five to three, making it more efficient and flexible,” he said. Year-on-year Heidelberg reduced its workforce by a further 1,200 positions, to 14,215. Heidelberg’s share price had risen to a 52-week high of €2.22 in February (low: €0.94). The shares have subsequently slipped back, and were at €1.80 at the time of writing. Heidelberg will publish its full results on 13 June....
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