LIA VICTORIA EXPLORES IVE SUNSHINE

Some 30 industry professionals with the LIA Victoria  delved into the heart of IVE’s expansive catalogue and magazine plant in Sunshine, in an exclusive plant tour.

The excursion marked an opportunity for many of those present to witness a heatset web printing plant in action for the first time.

The latest in LIA Victoria's series of technical events, the tour provided a rare glimpse into one of Australia’s foremost web printing facilities, responsible for churning out millions of catalogues annually for major players such as Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi.

The 30 printers set a new attendance record for LIA Victoria’s technical events, with participants travelling from far and wide, some spending nearly two hours to get there from as far as Healesville, Dandenong South, and Ocean Grove. Once there, they were welcomed by LIA Victoria president, Robyn Frampton.

“I am sure I speak for all the guests when I say that we were blown away at the sheer size, scope and professionalism of the operation,” said Frampton.

Guided by IVE execs Brad Hoffmann, general manager Print – Web Offset, and Ken Bishop, head of sales – Catalogues, along with Ward Glennon, account director, guests were treated to comprehensive tours covering every facet of the production process. From prepress to platemaking, print halls to waste management, attendees gained invaluable insights into the inner workings of IVE’s operations.

Following the demise of Ovato, IVE is the major heatset operation in the country, with plants in both Melbourne and Sydney. Print management giant TMA also has heatset presses, which it bought from Spotpress in Sydney last year.

The next LIA Victoria event will be held after drupa, Frampton said, “We are looking forward to further technical events this year, and to joining with Visual Connections and the FPLMA in a post-drupa dinner on 25 June, where we will also be celebrating the presentation of our Graduate of the Year Awards.”