Corporate-owned Brisbane printer gears up with latest Vutek and Zund technology after buying out IPG Connect and moving into its Brendale premises.
Topping off one of the most innovative company transformations of recent times the Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd-owned printing business formally known as Direct Impact Media, is settling into new premises and upgrading its wide format and finishing capabilities. In the five weeks since it bought print supplier IPG Connect, the newly enlarged company has consolidated production, installed new equipment and is launching itself as IPG Marketing Solutions.
According to Kahn Barlow, general manager, the name change better describes the scope and capability of the newly formed company. “We’re much more than a printer now, we’re a complete one-stop-shop marketing solutions provider. Our client base is quite significant and includes customers such ranging from local government bodies to creative agencies and various other retailers, in addition to servicing the Domino’s business,” he said.
There is no shortage of printing work for the powerhouse company that counts a Heidelberg 8-colour as well as two Shinohara in its offset battery. The Domino’s business on its own is enough to sustain many a stand-alone printing entity. Apart from producing all the backlit posters, signage and menus for the pizza chain throughout Australia it also produces and distributes in excess of 2 million Domino’s fliers every week.
The original corporate-owned company focused mainly on producing the wide format products with a range of Epson, Seiko and EFI engines as well as being a mail house and short run digital specialist. It outsourced all its offset and some digital work, before the decision was made to acquire the company and grow the business. IPG Connect was notable as being a major HP Indigo site with one of the first HP Indigo 10000 presses in the country.
Having the production now under one roof, Barlow is bedding down a range of technology he first decided on following a visit to drupa last year. First off the rank is an upgrade of the wide format sector with a two-meter wide Vutek GS 2000 Pro. He was sold not only on the machine’s productivity but also on its ability to print on both rigid and roll-to-roll substrates. “We really needed the extra capability and speed to keep up with demand. And of course you can’t go fast without having the finishing to go with it,” he said.
That came in the form of a powerful Zund XXL 3200 dual vacuum zone cutter, “to round out our offering.” Both pieces of kit are now up and running with a fairly smooth operator transition to the larger and more powerful machines.
Originally ordered through DES, now Starleaton, in Brisbane, Barlow singles out Matt Hall, Queensland manager, for special mention. “Matt always looks after us well. They’ve been a very good partner as well as a supplier for a lot of our ink and media,” he said.
The IPG Marketing Solutions installation is one of the first resulting from Starleaton’s newly invigorated partnership with EFI since its acquisition of DES. The suppliers have promoted it as a complete premium solution that also includes the Fiery RIP ProServer DFE. Dominos chose to partner with Starleaton due to the in-house service capabilities supported by local EFI personal.
According to Ben Eaton, general manager, Starleaton (pictured right) part of the reason for the success is due to Starleaton’s in-house service capabilities supported by local EFI personal.
“I’m so proud to see our first installation for 2017 going into a developing business in the Queensland market. I look forward to working with IPG for a long time to come,” he said.
The Vutek and Zund are only two of a number of new pieces of drupa-bought kit scheduled to go into the vibrant printing plant. An Australian first will see a Stahl CH 56 KT from Heidelberg, an automated 50 x 70-cm cross-fold unit specifically designed to produce fliers from B2-format short-run production, get installed in the next couple of weeks.
It will add extra firepower to a well equipped finishing line up that has moved across to the new premises and is up and running. With plans to expand its online print management capability well in hand, there’s no doubt that IPG will continue to deliver, not only for owner Domino’s but for its growing base of customers Australia wide.