Avon and Auscote combine for one-stop shop

Queensland will soon have a one-stop shop for print finishing with the acquisition of Brisbane-based Auscote by Avon Graphics.

The two companies will come together under one roof and eventually one name, according to Tate Hone, managing director of Avon Graphics, who told Print21 that the complementary businesses will fit together well and strengthen Avon’s market position.

“We see it as a positive thing for the industry as part of consolidation that is happening. We’ll be creating a one-stop shop in Brisbane through this acquisition,” he said. “We have a full service offering in other states, which is what we’re trying to build in Queensland – so we’re adding laminating, mounting, strutting, and bookbinding.”

Hone has further good news for employees of both Avon and Auscote: they will all keep their jobs, with Auscote owner Murray Whitting staying on as manager of Avon Graphics Brisbane.

“We’ll be bringing the two teams together along with Deb and Murray Whitting, the owners of Auscote,” he said.

Murray Whitting said that it makes sense to combine Avon and Auscote’s talents and equipment, giving Queensland printers a single place to go to for laminating, foiling and embossing, binding, and other trade finishing services.

“Printers are sending orders out to several different trade houses to do the processes, whereas this approach is one quote and one order in one place. That gives us better control over the job and allows us to process it a lot quicker.

“This makes excellent sense to me – it makes it easier for the printers to be dealing with one trade service provider in one place.

“It will be a cost saving to the printers, as their drivers or couriers would be delivering to one location,” he said.

The two companies will continue to trade as usual for now, with Auscote set to move into its new premises within the coming months.