News: Rotherham expansion continues as Cepac set to take on closed print premises

A state-of-the-art print facility in Rotherham has closed, according to reports in the trade media.

Near neighbours have already submitted plans to expand into the vacated unit.

Vanacomm, which produced millions of catalogues, brochures and media inserts every week from its Manvers base, has ceased trading according to an article in Printweek.

Vanacomm took on the 120,000 sq ft premises of Garnett Dickinson, which was sold out of administration in a pre-pack deal in 2017 to GD Web Offset Limited, a vehicle incorporated for the purposes of the acquisition.

A statement from Vanacomm to Printweek said: “After careful consideration of the current economic climate, the substantial costs of energy contracts and the continued downturn in the UK web offset market, the shareholders of Vanacomm Ltd have come to the conclusion that the company should cease trading with immediate effect.

“The company is not entering into any form of liquidation and with wages paid up to date to the end of last week, we will continue to collect out the book debts with the intention of paying out all creditors.”

Advertisement
Plans are already in place that could see Cepac, one of the UK’s leading innovators of performance packaging, expand onto Brookfields Park.

Rothbiz reported in September last year on Cepac announcing a £53m investment that will expand its key operations at Manvers.

Founded in 1999, Cepac has established one of the largest and most technologically advanced corrugated packaging plants in the world in Rotherham. Part of the HSA group, it also has operations in Darlington, Doncaster and Rawcliffe.

The "Rotherham 2" project will see investment in infrastructure, equipment and new jobs.

The first phase focuses on "Rotherham 1" - the existing facility that manufactures packaging and where certain machinery is now coming towards the end of its useful life. Plans have recently been approved for an extension of 4,000 sq ft and a proposed mezzanine of 11,400 sq ft to the existing building which will facilitate a wider expansion of the facility.

New plans explain that Cepac are in the process of formally purchasing the Vanacomm building to the south.

The application, drawn up by agents at DPP Planning, show a proposed 7,600 sq ft link building connecting the existing Cepac manufacturing building and Vanacomm building.

The plans state: "Due to increasing demands in the cardboard manufactory industry, the applicants are looking to increase their capacities. The link will send manufactured materials along production line machinery to the Vanacomm building to allow for final packaging and distribution of cardboard products.

"Linking the Vanacomm building to Cepac's current warehouse will facilitate the expansion and modernisation of Cepac's existing production facility which will allow Cepac to safeguard existing local jobs and the company's market position as a leading cardboard manufacturer."

Future plans would involve a new sprinkler tank and pump house and a new substation and switch room.

Cepac website

Images: Google Maps

Read more...

News: instantprint go all in with business card upgrade

instantprint, the online printing company based in Rotherham, has announced a £500k investment to transform its business card range, using the same punch technology trusted to manufacture Las Vegas playing cards.

The upgrade means customers can now expect sharper cuts, smoother edges and business cards that feel as premium as a winning hand as the company firmly establishes itself as the leading manufacturer of business cards in the UK.

This latest investment brings the company’s total to over £8 million in the past year, from the UK’s second nanographic press to state-of-the-art large format print equipment, enabling the launch of their new large format range, all focused on improving speed, quality and product innovation at its Manvers HQ.

The change to business cards comes in response to customer feedback and a recent brand survey, which showed that business owners want more from their printed products and instantprint has listened.

Advertisement
Head of instantprint, Laura Mucklow, said: “Business cards might be small, but they pack a serious punch when it comes to first impressions. We’ve taken feedback from our clients and invested in exactly what they told us they wanted - technology that delivers high-quality, reliable results. Now, with this upgrade, our cards don’t just meet expectations - they exceed them.”

Using industry-leading punch technology (yes, the same stuff used to cut casino-grade playing cards), instantprint is bringing next-level precision and consistency to one of its most popular products. The result? Business cards that are smoother, sleeker and more durable than ever before.

“We’ve always believed that every business deserves print that performs like a pro,” added Mucklow. “With this investment, we’re helping our customers make a knockout first impression.”

instantprint website

Images: instantprint

Read more...

News: instantprint invests over £500,000 in Rotherham factory

The UK’s largest online printer, instantprint, based in Rotherham, leads the way with investments of over half a million in their latest factory upgrades and new job opportunities.

instantprint is renowned for being a leading employer in the local area, creating new opportunities and keeping their Manvers factory up to date with only the latest tech.

Their latest investment includes the introduction of a new piece of kit. A Hunkeler, the best-in-class brand and top of the line inline cutting solution that is already up and running.

Not only does this piece of equipment make their print production facility more efficient, but it’s also helping them to cut back on their paper waste in line with their new sustainability strategy, all whilst delivering a quality finish to customers' print.

Increased quality and efficiency also means that instantprint is able to pass these savings on to their customers and remain a leader as the fastest turnaround printer in the UK with the latest cut-off time of 5pm for next-day delivery.

Advertisement
instantprint have also introduced over 40 new jobs since August and are still hiring. They are currently hiring for a range of roles and positions including a Senior Graphic Designer, Production Planners and PPC Manager, to name just a few, as they gear up for what they hope to be a record-breaking peak period.

Laura Mucklow, Head of instantprint, said: "Our investment presents opportunities for both instantprint and individuals in the region who are seeking employment within a dynamic and expanding enterprise. It also means we’re able to offer our customers better quality products on a fast turnaround at a price that is fair.

"At instantprint we're all about providing customers with high quality print on a fast turnaround that makes our business clients grow. This investment positions us for sustained success and enables us to do what we do best – help businesses thrive."

instantprint website

Images: instantprint

Read more...

News: instantprint celebrates 1 millionth customer

Rotherham-based instantprint, the largest UK-based online printer, has identified its 1 millionth customer since being in business.

What started with university leavers in Newcastle in 2009, the business has grown massively since a move to Manvers.

The 1 millionth customer was identified as Electric Cycle Café, an artisan coffee and ebike specialist and to mark the occasion, instantprint founders Adam Carnell and James Kinsella printed their last order free of charge and hand-packed it at the massive 147,000 sq. ft. facility.

Placing 13 orders in the last two years, instantprint have successfully supported Electric Cycle Café’s marketing by printing a range of business cards, posters, and flyers for their shop. Their latest purchase of 500 350gsm silk business cards from the Yorkshire printer are currently being used as loyalty cards for customers visiting their shop.

When instantprint asked them how they felt about being their 1 millionth customer they shared - "We were very surprised that our tiny cafe had been picked out from such a mountainous market."

Electric Cycle Cafe are an independent shop, not part of a chain, that cares incredible amounts about the environment and the local businesses around them. instantprint shared that they love when they find customers who share their vision for a greener future.

Owner, Peter, also told instantprint that his top print tip for other businesses in this industry is to "use a printer that has a fast turnaround on their products! instantprint are fast, reliable, and reasonably priced! We’ve found this also applies to when you’re ordering larger quantities say 500 or 1,000 business cards, posters or leaflets, like we have in the past."

Advertisement
Starting with a simple goal in mind and recognising that creating print should be easier for small businesses, the founders made it their mantra and it’s still at the heart of everything they do today.

Delivering a wide range of new products, creating handy online services and features, investing in their factory, expanding their premises and launching a new sustainability strategy are just some of the things they’ve ticked off their list, but there’s say that there’s still plenty more to be done.

instantprint’s founders Adam and James are both incredibly invested in helping like-minded business reach their goals. From their Small Business Hub to hiring Account Managers to take care of customer accounts, their investment into instantprint has helped over 1 million small businesses boost their brand with print over the years. With over 5 million small businesses in the UK alone, that’s a whopping 1 in 5 choosing to print with instantprint.

Adam Carnell and James Kinsella, Founders of instantprint, said: "Celebrating our 1 millionth customer is such an exciting time for us here at instantprint. We both think back to when we first started out with just two members of staff in a tiny office in Newcastle. Now, we’re the UK’s largest online printer, fulfilling thousands of jobs each day. It’s such a monumental milestone for us and we couldn’t be prouder of our team and of course, our customers who have helped get us to this point. We can’t wait to share what the future holds for instantprint."

instantprint website

Images: instantprint

Read more...

News: Recruitment surge at Bluetree

Following unprecedented growth and an investment of £18m over the past year, the Rotherham-based print and medical manufacturer Bluetree Group is recruiting for 60 new positions to help meet the growing demand of its services.

Roles are available across both the print and medical branches of the Manvers business, including machine operatives and Client Service Executives.

Bluetree Group is the UK’s fastest growing printer and in 2020 became the UK’s first manufacturer of Type IIR Surgical masks.

Since the medical arm of the company was established in April 2020, Bluetree has grown from 360 employees to in excess of 585, and is now looking for more like-minded people to join the business.

The company prides itself on producing high quality yet affordable products through investing in the latest technology, optimising its manufacturing processes, and nurturing its employees to meet the ever-growing demand of its customers.

Successful applicants will be working for an award-winning company that has twice appeared in the Virgin Sunday Times Fast Track 100.

Advertisement
Specialising in print for 32 years, Bluetree Group recently expanded into the medical field following a rise in demand for Type IIR Surgical masks, building a dedicated manufacturing facility in a neighbouring unit on their Manvers site. Bluetree Medical is now a proud supplier for the NHS.

To keep up with this high level of growth, there are now 60 positions available across the business. As Bluetree prides itself on its people, candidates will be assessed on values such as positivity to ensure a good team fit during the interview process.

Jarred Stone, who recently joined Bluetree Group, said: “I joined Bluetree last September and by the start of the new year, I’d progressed to a team leader position. This just goes to show that if you put in the effort and show that you fit the company values, there’s plenty of scope for progression.

“I love the job, I love the people and I love the attitude – everyone’s working towards the same goal, and knowing that we’re making a huge difference in the community by manufacturing Type IIR Surgical masks is the best feeling of all.”

A number of trainee positions will be available through the Government Kickstart Scheme, which provides funding to create new job placements for 16- to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment.

Blutree Group website

Images: Bluetree

Read more...

News: Deal being wrapped up for Rotherham print facility

The owner of The Daily Mail is pressing ahead with a deal to acquire a state-of-the-art printing facility in Rotherham.

The facility was created by Johnston Press at a cost of £60m on the site of the former Dinnington colliery and it includes one of the most modern and fastest presses in the world. It has the capacity to print 192 pages in full colour, 120,000 newspapers an hour in full colour and 75 titles per week.

The site has printed everything from the Daily Express, Daily Star and The Sun to the Yorkshire Post and Sheffield Star. Other major customers included regional publications and many niche publications.

dmg media has now reached an agreement to acquire print operations at Dinnington, Portsmouth and Carn in Northern Ireland from JPI Media.

Advertisement

JPIMedia Ltd was founded in 2018 when it took over the assets of debt-laden Johnston Press following the sale of the company to its creditors.

As well as The Mail, dmg media is the holding company that owns the Metro and i newspapers and websites.

dmg media said that the three printing plants will enable it to better manage the printing of its national newspapers across the UK. As well as dmg media's newspapers, the plants will continue to print JPI Media's newspapers and other publishers' titles.

Julia Palmer-Poucher, group production director, dmg media, said: “This acquisition reflects our intention to protect and grow the reach of quality journalism through our print media. It better positions us to provide the best quality printing capacity from ideal locations to serve our retailers and readers."

This transaction follows dmg media’s acquisition of the i from JPI in November 2019.

Images: Johnston Press

Read more...

News: NHS face mask contract creates 400 new jobs at Rotherham firm

Rotherham-based Bluetree Group has secured a contract to provide the NHS with a steady supply of Type IIR-medical grade face masks - one of the most sought-after masks in UK healthcare.

The Mavers firm - the first UK business to manufacture type IIR face masks – will produce 1.7 million masks per day, providing essential support to frontline health and care workers and contributing to the Government's Make initiative.

Due to high production demand, the Yorkshire-based manufacturer is currently in the process of doubling its workforce, taking on 400 new employees.

Bluetree Group decided to diversify its business back in March following an appeal from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which called on the manufacturing industry to help increase face mask production by 40%.

From that moment on, the team then worked tirelessly to convert its operation, ensuring production met all the necessary medical guidelines and finalising the complex regulations for medical grade certification.

Advertisement
Adam Carnell, director at Bluetree Group, said: "This contract gives us the opportunity to help produce millions more much-needed surgical masks for NHS and frontline workers using our specialist machinery and team of skilled machine operators.

"This is a period of significant growth for Bluetree Group and we're looking to recruit 400 people in total to help meet increased production demand. Roles we’re recruiting for include machine operators, engineers, lab technicians and logistics professionals. Our priority is ensuring those who need these items most get them, and we look forward to growing our exceptional team."

Health Minister Jo Churchill said: "The response from Northern Powerhouse companies has been phenomenal and I can’t thank them enough for their commitment to the national drive.

"Every health and care worker must have access to PPE and through this national effort we are building more resilient, UK-based supply chains to guarantee an uninterrupted flow to the frontline.

"We have already struck deals with around 30 UK companies to manufacture PPE and over 100 suppliers to deliver items at scale and pace. We will continue to identify further opportunities to get more PPE to the frontline rapidly."

Bluetree Group website

Images: Bluetree

Read more...

News: instantprint keeping it fresh with scented menus

It was crust a matter of time and now a Rotherham-based printer has produced the world's first pizza scented menus.

Specialising in 24-hour flyer and leaflets, business cards, posters and stationery, instantprint's product development team was approached by Danny Holman and Simon Holder, aka The Pizza Boys, an independent, Bicester based pizza truck. The existing customers came up with the challenge of sealing the scent of their pizzas into the menus, with long-lasting effect.

The firm merged with fast-growing print experts, Bluetree Design & Print Ltd in 2012 and then moved into bigger premises at Manvers where staff numbers have passed the 250 mark, with further expansion planned.

instantprint, who currently hold Guinness World Record title of the World's Largest Business Card, are no strangers to a challenge and got its print team on to the job of researching inks and print methods to bring some life, and smell, to the menus.

Jon Constantine-Smith, head of instantprint said: "Simon and Danny were existing customers of ours and when they came to us with this off the wall idea for menus, we of course jumped to the challenge. We pride ourselves on being able to deliver exactly what our customers want, and we weren't about to let the fact we'd never done it before stop us."

Advertisement

The menus were created using scented varnish that sees the scent sealed into the paper fibres through a heat setting printing method.

Danny said: "Myself and Simon take real pride in the pizzas we make, using only the finest Italian ingredients along with locally sourced produce to create the best tasting innovative pizza flavours in the area.

"We really wanted this to be reflected in everything, from our custom-built pizza trailer to our menus and branding which is how the idea for scented menus came about. We wanted to stand out for being different and if we're honest, we weren't at all sure it was possible but the guys at instantprint really rose to the challenge.

"We could smell the unmistakeable scent of pizza seasoning when we opened up the package of menus, and we couldn't be more pleased."

Earlier this year, the printers acquired the premises next door to its current location in an expansion that sees the companies' capacity increase by 45%, with the new floorspace being utilised to house staff, including 40 new starters, and also the £6.5m of new technology that has been invested in.

instantprint website

Images: instantprint

Read more...

News: Johnston Press cuts debts in pre-pack deal

Historic publisher Johnston Press has been forced to undertake a controversial pre-pack administration deal having failed to secure funds to reduce its debts.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, Johnston Press is one of the largest local and regional multimedia organisations in the UK and operates a £60m printing facility in Rotherham.

Over-hanging the company was a £220m bond due for repayment on 1 June 2019. After a strategic review of financing options, Johnston Press put itself up for sale in October.

Bosses told staff on Friday that the group was heading into administration and by Saturday, JPIMedia, a newly-formed company owned by bondholders of Johnston Press plc, announced that it had acquired the business out of administration.

As part of the transaction, the bondholders have agreed to reduce the level of senior secured debt by £135m (more than 60%), from £220m to £85m, with extended debt maturity to December 2023. Additionally, the bondholders have provided £35m of new money to provide further additional funding for the business.

Advertisement

The acquisition of the Johnston Press business by JPIMedia secures jobs and the future of its brands and titles but it means that shareholders will be hit as the company delists from the stock exchange.

A defined-benefit pension scheme, with around 250 members, will not move over to the new company and will instead move to the Pension Protection Fund - the safety net that provides compensation to members of eligible defined benefit pension schemes when things go wrong.

The publisher of titles including the Yorkshire Post and Sheffield Star operates a state-of-the-art facility on the site of the former Dinnington colliery which includes one of the most modern and fastest presses in the world. The Daily Express, Daily Star, Daily Star Sunday and Sunday Express are currently printed at Dinnington. Other major customers including News UK, Guardian Media Group, Trinity Regional titles (formerly Local World), Tindle Newspapers, as well as many niche publications.

David King, CEO of JPIMedia, said: "The sale of the business to JPIMedia is an important one for the Johnston Press businesses as it ensures that operations can continue as normal, with employees' rights maintained, suppliers paid, and newspapers printed.

"We will focus on ensuring the group's titles continue to publish the high-quality journalism we are known for and which has never been more important. I look forward to working with JPIMedia to assess and implement the opportunities available to us in the future, underpinned by a stronger balance sheet."

John Ensall, director of JPIMedia, added: "In the absence of another financial solution being available for the business, we are pleased to have reached this agreement to acquire Johnston Press, to protect the value of the business, preserve jobs and allow for the uninterrupted publication of its websites and newspapers.

"As part of this transaction we have reduced the level of net debt very significantly and invested £35m to put the business in a far stronger financial position.

"We look forward to working with the management team as they embark on the next chapter in Johnston Press’s story in the media sector, with the resources to support local and national journalism and embrace the digital future."

Johnston Press website

Images: Johnston Press

Read more...

News: Bluetree Group confirm Rotherham expansion

Fast-growing Rotherham-based print manufacturer, Bluetree Group, has confirmed further expansion at its Manvers base.

Bluetree Group is the market leader in online print and is made up of two customer facing brands - instantprint and Route1Print. Funding from Barclays and the Sheffield City Region Growth Fund Programme enabled Bluetree to move to a new 86,900 sq ft site at Brookfields Park in 2015. It took on the unit that had been empty since DBC Foodservice entered administration in 2012.

Having invested some £20m in its print production facility, the firm has now confirmed plans to expand its manufacturing facility into a neighbouring unit which will increase their total footprint by 45% to 145,000 sq ft, paving the way for Bluetree's continuing growth.

Adam Carnell, co-founder of instantprint said: "We're in an exciting position with the business continuing to grow very rapidly year on year as more consumers choose to purchase their printed products online. When we first moved into the building in 2015 it seemed vast but with the investment in new equipment the space has been filling up quickly. The additional production space will allow the business to fulfil its growing demand and also add new products to the current line-up."

Advertisement

With Bluetree's confirmed expansion, it is anticipated that recruitment will begin at the end of 2019 to fulfil various production roles within the new facility.

Vicki Russell, head of HR at Bluetree Group, said: "We're very lucky to have secured a neighbouring facility so we can continue to thrive in Rotherham with our dedicated, passionate work force that has expanded by over 200 colleagues over the past five years alone. With our expansion, we're very excited to invest in our existing workforce and look forward to welcoming even more members to the Bluetree family."

Renovation on the newly purchased facility will begin during spring 2019 and run through to early 2020; when Bluetree anticipates everything to be up and running.

With its roots dating back to 1989, the former Templeborough firm has evolved from a traditional screen printer to a predominantly digital offering. In 2012 the business merged with instantprint.co.uk to provide a multi-channel offering.

Since the merger, and for two years in a row, the firm was named as one of the top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100.

St Paul's Developments and funding partner Tritax Assets Ltd purchased the 85 acre former colliery and coking plant site at Manvers from Rotherham Council in 2005 and the brownfield regeneration specialist completed around 1.7 m sq ft of industrial and warehouse space, bringing over 1,800 jobs to Rotherham.

Nearby Cortonwood Colliery is where the 1984 miners strike began and was also the first colliery to be closed after the miners' strike ended.

Bluetree Group website
instantprint website

Images: Bluetree

Read more...

News: Print jobs at instantprint

Following a recent investment of £3.25m into its state-of-the-art production facilities in Rotherham, online printer instantprint are currently looking to recruit for a further 14 roles in time for the September period.

Rothbiz reported in June that with the investment, instantprint aims to streamline turnaround times on booklets and large format printing. This will allow instantprint to offer even faster production times.

Over the last five years, instantprint have invested over £20m into their print facility, generating over 200 job roles over the past four years alone. instantprint is now recruiting for a further 14 employees to work in their production facilities to expand their workforce in time for September, which is their busiest time of the year.

Advertisement

The firm merged with fast-growing print experts, Bluetree Design & Print Ltd in 2012. The group moved to bigger Rotherham premises in 2015 when funding from Barclays and the Sheffield City Region Growth Fund Programme enabled the company to take a new 86,900 sq ft site at Brookfields Park in Manvers.

James Kinsella, co-founder at instantprint, said: "instantprints aim is make it as easy as possible for small business to buy affordable print. Delivering this promise starts and ends with the team behind the scenes, these are the people checking the artwork, helping customers online and producing the final product. Its for this reason that we continue to invest not only in our facilities but in our teams training and development."

instantprint website

Images: instantprint

Read more...

News: instantprint invests a further £3.25m

Fast-growing online printing company instantprint has announced that it is investing a further £3.25m into the latest print technology this summer, creating up to 40 new job opportunities at its Rotherham facility.

The firm merged with fast-growing print experts, Bluetree Design & Print Ltd in 2012. The group moved to bigger Rotherham premises in 2015 when funding from Barclays and the Sheffield City Region Growth Fund Programme enabled the company to take a new 86,900 sq ft site at Brookfields Park in Manvers.

Over the last five years, instantprint has invested over £20m into their print production facility and, as a direct result, it has seen an increase in 206 employees over the last four years. Thanks to the recent investment, the printing firm is set to expand further, aiming to recruit a further 40 new employees before September.

Advertisement

James Kinsella, Co-Founder of instantprint, said: "Our investment provides opportunities for both instantprint and for people in the region wanting to work for an exciting and growing business. As a result of this investment, we’re able to create a significant amount of job opportunities in the local area.

"At instantprint we're all about providing affordable print for small and micro businesses. This investment enables us to do what we do best – help small businesses thrive."

With this latest round of investment, instantprint aims to streamline turnaround times on booklets and large format printing. This will allow instantprint to offer even faster production times.

Kinsella added: "We've purchased two new print engines, both high-definition inkjet screen presses, these combined with in-line Tecnau cutting systems will really bolster our capacity, and further increase our efficiency. We have also recommissioned our second large format HP Scitex 11,000 print engine. Ultimately this investment strengthens our promise of fast turnarounds, helps us maintain our competitive prices and widens our product range.

"We've also invested substantially in our cutting, stitching and binding equipment, which will be a game changer for our stitched, wire bound and perfect bound books as we're now able to offer a speedier turnaround for those products."

instantprint website

Images: instantprint

Read more...

News: Guardian's tabloid switch hits Johnston Press

A switch to a tabloid printing format in a national newspaper contract has led to Johnston Press making a £5.5m impairment charge relating to its Dinnington print site in Rotherham.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, Johnston Press is one of the largest local and regional multimedia organisations in the UK and operates a £60m printing facility on the site of the former Dinnington Colliery.

The Daily Express, Daily Star, Daily Star Sunday and Sunday Express are currently printed at Dinnington. Other major customers including News UK, Guardian Media Group, Trinity Regional titles (formerly Local World), Tindle Newspapers, as well as many niche publications.

The Guardian Media Group switched its Guardian and Observer titles from the Berliner format to the Tabloid format in January 2018. It previously announced that printing would be outsourced to Trinity Mirror.

Johnston Press revealed the reduced value relating to its Dinnington press in its financial results for the year ending December 2017. The impairment charge means that the book value of the asset exceeds the profit and cash flow to be gained from the asset.

For the year ending December 2017, the company posted a 9.5% decline in overall revenues to £201.6m. A loss before tax of £95.0m was reported, which compared to a loss of £300.7m in the previous year. The reduction by 68.4% includes a non-cash impairment of £64.4m, compared to £344.3m in 2016.

Advertisement

As the publisher of titles including the Yorkshire Post and Sheffield Star, the company said the trading environment remained "challenging, notwithstanding early signs of some improvement in the national print advertising market."

Johnston Press reported that contract printing revenue was £13.3m, up 4.2% on the previous year.

During the period, a print contract for the Trinity Regional titles that currently print at Johnston Press print sites at Portsmouth and Dinnington was extended for a further three years to 2020.

The report stated that it had an "increasing market share, with strong record of client retention and competitive wins for Sheffield and Portsmouth print plants." It added that it was "an encouraging performance, particularly in light of the contraction in the overall market, and achieved through a combination of maintaining existing contracts and winning new contracts to print."

The report concludes: "The market for contract printing remains challenging as volume continues to come out of the market as circulation volumes across the sector continue to decline, which will be further accelerated by a further hike in newsprint price rises from January 2018. Johnston Press, is one of three major printers in the United Kingdom, (alongside Trinity Mirror and News UK). In 2017 capacity in the market has shrunk, and some smaller printers have ceased production, while we have been able to flex our capacity to take on new business."

Johnston Press website

Images: Oxford Architects

Read more...

News: instantprint launches in the US

Rotherham-based online printing company instantprint has recently expanded its services into the US.

Launching in the USA is a huge achievement for instantprint and further evidence of its incredible success in the UK. Since launching in 2009, instantprint have gone from strength to strength.

The company was named 88th in the 2016 Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 and was recently included in the London Stock Exchange Group's 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain - a celebration of some of the fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises. Not to mention being listed as one of the 12 National Winners in the United Kingdom at an exclusive event for The European Business Awards in January 2018.

The firm merged with fast-growing print experts, Bluetree Design & Print Ltd in 2012. It then moved into bigger premises at Manvers where staff numbers have passed the 250 mark.

When childhood friends Adam Carnell and James Kinsella, graduated, they had already spotted a gap in the market for online printing. The duo founded Instantprint using second-hand printing equipment and a borrowed office.

Advertisement

James Kinsella, co-founder of instantprint (pictured left), said: "This is a very exciting move for the business and the team which has created a real buzz through the office. We feel that our customer focused proposition will resonate with US clients who want to deal with real people but buy print in a quick, easy way. It's very early days but the feedback we've had so far has been great and we're excited to see what the future holds."

Adam Carnell, co-founder of instantprint (pictured right), added: "Nine years ago we saw an opportunity in the UK market to provide online print with a difference. One that takes advantage of the benefits of the online world, but is still backed up by real people who can guide, check and help, just like your local printer. This business model has been hugely successful in the UK, with our team winning multiple business awards from appearing in The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 in 2016 to being named as one of the National Winners at the 2018 European Business Awards.

"Having been fortunate enough to have experienced continual growth, we are now going to offer the same great print services to customers in the US."

instantprint has selected FedEx as its courier service provider to the USA. By partnering with FedEx instantprint are able to provide printed materials to US customers within two working days. Customers are able to track deliveries, receive notifications when packages are delivered and are able to manage packages from the FedEx mobile app.

Instantprint website

Images: Instantprint

Read more...

News: Gala Graphics invests to keep more work in-house

Gala Graphics, the Rotherham-based graphic design and promotional print specialist, has introduced a new in-house dye sublimation printing service as part of a recent £75,000 investment in new equipment.

Gala Graphics is a division of Gala Tent, the Manvers company with over 17 years' experience in design, manufacture and supply of marquees and gazebos to the events industry. The sister company offers vast printing capabilities, providing anything from a business card to banner flags, full branding packages and bespoke printing orders as well as a variety of accessories.

With the latest investment, Gala says that it will be one of only a handful of print companies based in the UK who are able to offer this specialised service, which often has to be outsourced to businesses in other countries, such as China.

Dye sublimation printing uses heat and pressure to transfer high-quality images onto a variety of materials including fabric, plastic, metal and wood. The process relies on a specialised ink, which when heated changes from being a solid dye to a gas, without passing through a liquid stage. The dye is sublimated into the fabric, so cannot flake off and won't fade over time, creating a brighter, more premium finish compared to traditional processes.

Advertisement

Glen Robinson, managing director of Gala Graphics, said: "We recognised that there was demand in the market for printing on specialist materials for a wide variety of industries including visual marketing, textiles and household.

"As we can now carry out dye sublimation printing in-house this means lead times are significantly reduced. As a result we expect this new service to attract further business from across the UK and Europe, which will create more employment opportunities for local people."

By purchasing this new printer, Gala Graphics can offer a more premium finish on all of its products, whilst also being able to print onto the most delicate of fabrics. The dye sublimation process also offers unlimited colours to choose from as the new technology has the capabilities to produce any pantone required.

As part of the £75,000 investment, Gala Graphics has also upgraded its solvent printing capabilities with the purchase of a new Roland TRUEVIS 640.

The company is based in a custom built facility in Rotherham, which allows the team of experienced designers and print technicians to work side by side, serving customers from around the UK and the rest of Europe, on both domestic and commercial levels.

Gala Tent Ltd is the UK's leading distributor of marquees and gazebos and has grown from a table top operation in Grimethorpe to a company with a turnover of £10m having moved into new 53,000 sq ft headquarters at Fairfield Park in Manvers in 2011.

The ambitious firm announced that it had secured £3.6m of funding from HSBC to back its growth plans at the start of 2016.

Gala Graphics website

Images: UKSE

Read more...

News: Johnston Press extends print deals

Johnston Press, one of the largest local and regional multimedia organisations in the UK, has extended a deal to print high profile titles at its state of the art facility in Dinnington, Rotherham.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, Johnston Press operates a £60m printing facility on the site of the former Dinnington Colliery. The company, which is behind local titles such as The Yorkshire Post and The Star, has extended the print contract for the Trinity Regional titles (formerly Local World) that currently print at Johnston Press print sites at Portsmouth and Dinnington for a further three years to 2020.

Trinity Mirror is the largest national and regional multimedia content publisher in the UK, comprising national and regional newsbrands across the country. Having acquired Local World in 2015, Trinity Regional titles include dailies such as the Manchester Evening News and weeklies such as the Retford Gainsborough & Worksop Times.

The Trinity Regional deal, which also includes work going to Johnston Press' print site at Portsmouth, is part of an extension deal that sees the i newspaper, acquired by Johnston Press in 2016, continue to be printed and distributed at Trinity Mirror Print sites.

Advertisement

Ashley Highfield, CEO of Johnston Press plc, said: "It is important, in this current media climate, to look for ways to work together to stabilise and strengthen relationships in the UK newspaper market. We are therefore delighted to confirm that we will be working with Trinity Mirror for a further three years, in a mutually supportive printing arrangement. The operational benefits are important and will be particularly helpful as we look to develop the Saturday issue of the i newspaper."

Johnston Press secured a deal in 2015 to print a number of national titles. The deal to print Express Newspapers' north of England titles in Dinnington is worth some £12.8m.

The Daily Express, Daily Star, Daily Star Sunday and Sunday Express are currently printed at Dinnington. Other major customers including News UK, Guardian Media Group and Tindle Newspapers, as well as many niche publications.

For the 26 weeks to July 1, the heavily indebted plc, reported that revenues (including the i newspaper but excluding classifieds) rose by 4.6% to £85.6m while total revenues from continuing operating totalled £102.9m - down 3.1%. Adjusted pre-tax profits fell by 31.4% to £6.7m.

Digital advertising revenues were up 14.8% (excluding classifieds) but print and digital advertising revenues combined were flat for the period (excluding classifieds). Contract printing brought in £6.8m for the period, up by 3% on the £6.6m in the first half of 2016.

Johnston Press website

Images: Trinity Mirror

Read more...

News: AMRC invents game-changing hybrid 3D printing process

Engineers at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing have developed a unique hybrid 3D printing process.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the AMRC is a world leading model partnership between industry and academia that focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors. Its Design and Prototyping Group, which includes the Medical AMRC, develop everything from conceptual designs, to fully functional prototypes for a range of industries.

The group has developed a patent-pending process it calls "THREAD" where electrical, optical and structural elements can be introduced throughout an additively manufactured component as it is being made.

It has so far been successfully demonstrated on machines used for 3D printing polymer components and will be an advantage in the manufacture of components requiring encapsulated electronics. Components such as those used in medical prosthetics, consumer electronics or structural components that require electrical connections and until now, would have been secured externally to the component.

Advertisement

In the medical sector, the introduction of digital monitoring systems to implants could pave the way for real-time diagnosis that prevents contamination and provides a more accurate way to monitor the condition of artificial prosthetics.

In the aerospace sector, integrating remote real-time data services would enable the continuous monitoring of vital aerospace components such as wing parts, fuel ducts and engine systems. This could allow for more accurate insight into the condition of costly and advanced equipment.

Mark Cocking, AMRC development engineer and AM specialist, said: "THREAD has scope to simultaneously add multiple industry-recognised threads of differing materials into one component, giving the component additional functions. This will open AM up to a greater variety of uses.

"The development of this process is a potential game-changer. It could be used across many sectors such as medical, aerospace and automotive; where weight and size of components is critical or where components would benefit from integrated data transfer and the protection of sealed connective tracks."

"THREAD has potential to be developed as an add-on technology for existing AM platforms and also incorporated into next generation AM technologies."

Re-thinking the design process, the AMRC are further developing the THREAD process and technology for various commercial markets.

Chris Iveson, who is driving the commercialisation of the technology, said: "We see THREAD transforming the functionality of additively manufactured components. Feedback from our contacts in various industries indicates a real need for this capability, with new potential applications being discussed daily. This is a great example of the AMRC using its unique expertise to solve real industry problems."

AMRC website

Images: AMRC

Read more...

News: Garnett Dickinson downed with £25m pension deficit

Problems with an investment in a new press led to the administration of Rotherham print group, Garnett Dickinson, documents reveal.

And the administrator's proposals also show a pension scheme deficit of £25m listed amongst the unsecured creditors.

Jonny Marston and Howard Smith of KPMG, were appointed as joint administrators to the business on January 24 2017 after the business ran into cash flow difficulties due to operational issues.

The joint administrators confirmed that Garnett Dickinson was sold in a pre-pack deal to GD Web Offset Limited, a vehicle incorporated for the purposes of the acquisition.

Based in a £20m state-of-the-art facility in Manvers, the group specialises in large run multi pagination printing and customers include high profile monthly magazines and luxury catalogue brands.

Garnett Dickinson Print Ltd had a turnover of £17.2m and made an operating loss of just over a £1m in the year to September 30 2015. KPMG highlighted that the financial position of the business deteriorated due to the poor performance of a newly installed printing press.

KPMG stated: "The Group invested in a new press in September 2016 to provide increased capacity, however operational issues encountered during the installation and subsequent use of the press resulted in high levels of outwork, overtime, paper usage and production overheads that were not sustainable. As a result of the operational issues, losses of approximately £1m were made in the first quarter of FY17 and this resulted in acute cash pressure.

"The directors of the Group were forced to enter into discussions with key suppliers, HM Revenue & Customs, its landlord and the Secured Creditors as the Group was struggling to generate sufficient working capital to continue trading."

Previously a board member, Nicholas Alexander bought Garnett Dickinson Group, with the exception of its digital operation, for an undisclosed sum in 2015 and instigated a restructure of the operations.

Advertisement
KPMG was engaged by the group in December 2016 to provide advice on options for restructuring its defined benefit pension scheme following a meeting with Alexander.

The cash pressures led to an exploration of options available in respect of investment, refinance or a sale, and to run an accelerated mergers and acquisition process. No offers were received for the Group so six trade competitors were identified and contacted regarding the opportunity.

GD Web Offset Limited was the only offer to come forward and the deal saw all of the trading business and assets sold to the new company whose directors are Paul Mursell of EWO Media in Essex and Jeremy Spring of Aspenlink, a company that converts some twenty five thousand tonnes of paper a year.

KPMG documents show that three connected Garnett Dickinson companies have left a shortfall of £29m, including a £25m pension deficit and £4.1m owed to trade creditors including finance providers RBS and Lombard.

The documents show that KPMG has been "liaising with the trustees of the defined benefit pension scheme, the Pensions Regulator and the Pensions Protection Fund concerning the changes caused to the pension scheme as a result of our appointment."

Accounts filed at Companies House for 2015 describe the defined benefit pension scheme as having a £6m deficit. The scheme was closed to future accrual in 2009 with no further contributions made by the company. A defined contribution scheme was set up and the company entered into an agreement to make good the deficit on the group pension scheme.

The original Garnett Dickinson business started in 1858 in the back of a busy stationary shop where it first published the South Yorkshire Advertiser. The Rotherham Advertiser is now published by Regional Media Ltd, a company which also has Alexander as a director and acquired the publishing business and assets from Garnett Dickinson in 2015.

Garnett Dickinson website

Images: Garnett Dickinson

Read more...

News: Garnett Dickinson goes through administration

Rotherham print group Garnett Dickinson has been acquired out of administration in a deal which has safeguarded 125 jobs.

Based in a £20m state-of-the-art facility in Manvers, the group specialises in large run multi pagination printing and customers include high profile monthly magazines and luxury catalogue brands.

Nicholas Alexander bought Garnett Dickinson Group, with the exception of its digital operation, for an undisclosed sum in 2015 and instigated a restructure of the operations. Alexander had stepped down from the board at Garnett Dickinson after leading a management buyout (MBO) of subsidiary, Acorn Web Offset, in 2013.

Jonny Marston and Howard Smith of KPMG, were appointed as joint administrators to the business on January 24 2017 after the business ran into cash flow difficulties due to operational issues.

Garnett Dickinson Print Ltd had a turnover of £17.2m and made an operating loss of just over a £1m in the year to September 30 2015.

Advertisement
The joint administrators have now confirmed that Garnett Dickinson has been sold in a pre-pack deal to GD Web Offset Limited, a vehicle incorporated for the purposes of the acquisition. The deal saw all of the trading business and assets sold to GD Web Offset Limited whose directors are Paul Mursell of EWO Media in Essex and Jeremy Spring of Aspenlink, a company that converts some twenty five thousand tonnes of paper a year.

With 130 employees, five roles were not part of the transaction and have therefore been made redundant.

Jonny Marston, partner at KPMG and joint administrator, said: "This transaction secures a large number of jobs and the continuation of operations at an important printing site in Rotherham.

"We wish the business well in the future under new ownership."

Managing director Mark Bennett departed Garnett Dickinson in December.

The original Garnett Dickinson business started in 1858 in the back of a busy stationary shop where it first published the South Yorkshire Advertiser. The Rotherham Advertiser is now published by Regional Media Ltd, a company which also has Alexander as a director and acquired the publishing business and assets from Garnett Dickinson in 2015.

Garnett Dickinson website

Images: Garnett Dickinson

Read more...

News: instantprint amongst UK's fastest growing companies

Rotherham-based online printing company instantprint has cemented its place in the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100, after continuing its impressive growth in 2016.

The firm merged with fast-growing print experts, Bluetree Design & Print Ltd in 2012. It then moved into bigger premises at Manvers where staff numbers have passed the 250 mark.

The 20th annual Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 league table ranks Britain's private companies with the fastest-growing sales over three years. instantprint was ranked 88th (3rd in Yorkshire) after seeing its revenue grow by an average of 54% per year over the past three years. It became the first Rotherham-based company to make the list in 2015.

Founded in 2009 by Adam Carnell and James Kinsella whilst at University, the business now employs a team of more than 260, including the addition of 92 in the past 12 months. Merging with Templeborough-based point-of-sale printing specialist Bluetree, it now offers a range of online print products through the instantprint, Bluetree and Route One Print brands. Customers range from sole traders to multinationals and the company claims it prints 450,000 business cards a day.

Advertisement

Adam Carnell, co-founder of instantprint (pictured, right), said: "It is terrific that we have been able to retain our place in the Fast Track 100 and are amongst such a prestigious cohort of companies. Our business has continued to grow at a tremendous rate this year; we have added a great group of new faces to the company, built on our revenue, and been able to invest in more production equipment.

"We have worked hard to gain this success since instantprint was founded and being named in the Fast Track 100 for a second straight year is a testament to everyone that works for the business."

Over the past two years the business has invested £16m in the latest generation equipment coupled with a new production facility in Manvers. The move has been supported by a £1.5m grant from the Sheffield City Region LEP's Unlocking Business Investment Regional Growth Fund programme.

James Kinsella, co-founder of instantprint (pictured, left), said: "This is such a fantastic accolade for instantprint to receive, especially for a second consecutive year. Over the past few years the team have worked incredibly hard to keep developing our proposition and moving the business forward in a very competitive market. It's great to see UK manufacturing performing and it's a credit to the team we have here."

instanprint joins companies such as restaurant group Bill's, brewer BrewDog, appliance manufacturer Gtech, fashion retailer Missguided, and number one ranked company Gymshark, an online activewear retailer.

To qualify, firms had to have annualised sales exceeding £250,000 in the base year and not show a drop from the penultimate to the latest year, where total sales had to exceed £5m. Firms had to have ten or more employees, and make operating profit of at least £500,000.

instantprint posted a 54% growth in annualised sales over the last three years, up to £19.9m at the end of April 2016.

instantprint website

Images: instantprint

Read more...