NEO AND EASTERN IN MAJOR MELBOURNE MERGER

Victorian-based commercial printer Neo has acquired Eastern Press, under a deal that will see the much-respected Eastern Press brand live on, with the two A2 printshops to share facilities.

Eastern Press staff and operations will continue servicing their clients from a larger facility at Neo’s two acre site in Mulgrave, Victoria.

It will now have access to Neo’s UV offset capabilities, B2 digital printing press, and inhouse embellishments, which it says will be a valuable addition to kits services, allowing Eastern Press “to continue delivering high-quality print work and amazing customer service, with a larger range of products.”

Neo says it was attracted to the deal by the “deep expertise and storied history” of the Eastern Press brand. It says the Eastern team’s expertise and quality focus provided the “ideal foundation” for Neo to build a commercial offering.

It says changes in customer demand over the past two years have created an opportunity for the newly joined brands to “combine competitive capabilities, and grow operations with leading-edge technology and expertise.”

CEO of Neo, Seth Watts, is enthusiastic about the new opportunities for Neo and Eastern Press, he said, “The Eastern team brings industry and customer knowledge that complements and grows the significant capabilities of the Neo team.

“Equipping the Eastern team with the state-of-the-art kit at Neo will empower both companies to deliver amazing customer experiences, and phenomenal products, to our mutual customers.”

Cormac Deffely, managing director of Eastern Press, will follow the brand to its new home at Neo, and said, “We are excited about this new chapter for Eastern Press. This acquisition represents a great opportunity for the brand, and will allow us to better service our existing customers as well as expand our capabilities and product offering.”

Neo is a third-generation family business that has been printing in Melbourne since 1938. The company continues to invest heavily in maintaining sophisticated production facilities focused on high-quality, fast-turnaround work. With a strong focus on servicing the real estate industry, it has multiple production sites servicing the east coast of Australia.

Neo chairman, Paul Daley, recalls his respect for the late Frank Hilliard who founded Eastern Press in 1983. "Over my business journey, I've interacted with Frank at trade events, and we also visited each other's plants and from time to time, comparing notes on equipment investments. I am thrilled with our acquisition of Eastern Press, and I've also made a commitment to Frank's widow, Irene, to maintain the Eastern ethos with its client base, and also curate the memorabilia items from Frank's printing factory.”

Frank Hilliard passed away unexpectedly two years ago following a short illness, leaving the Melbourne print community in shock.

Eastern Press is a 38-year veteran of the printing industry, combining it says traditional marketing principles with deep print expertise. It says a strong focus on customer service, and consistent, high-quality print has led to deep client relationships, attracting Neo’s attention, which mirrors these values within its own brand.