Access Print doubles up with SA acquisition

Access Print Solutions will double capacity and establish a national distribution network with the acquisition of Adelaide firm Graphic Print Group.

The Sydney-based printer will bolt on Graphic Print as a going concern, retaining its 50-60 staff and all its equipment to use as a western production hub.

Access spokeswoman Brenda Esterhazy says as the two printers are of similar size the takeover, effective August 1, will double capacity and add a significant number of local clients.

“We have been looking to buy businesses around Australia and Graphic Print is a great fit for us and supports our mission to grow and improve our services,” she says.

“Transporting work to Perth has been an issue for years as it is very expensive and takes five days to arrive. Acquiring a presence in South Australia gives us a national distribution network and new products that will help us serve our clients better.”

[Related: More mergers and acquisitions]

Graphic Print owner John Barker says he sold the family business because he is retiring after 34 years in the industry and none of his family members want to take it on.

“Access is a similar but complementary business to us and I think combining them provides a significant advantage and is a big opportunity to better service national clients,” he says.

“That they will expand the business and keep all the staff made the sale much more comfortable for me, and that both businesses are family owned and service-oriented with fantastic people.”

Barker is the third generation of his family to run the company, which was started by his grandfather more than 50 years ago.

In addition to more capacity and better distribution, the acquisition will expand the packaging and point-of-sale capabilities of Access.

Graphic Print has four B1 offset presses – two five-colour and one 10-colour Komori Lithrones and a Heidelberg five-colour – plus full in-house folding and binding, two Fuji Xerox digital production printers, and two Epson wide format printers.

Access produces a general commercial printing, catalogues, magazines, books, corporate publications and wide format, with full in-house finishing.

It also uses Komori offset presses, which Esterhazy says made Graphic Print attractive as a fellow Komori house. Access is looking at other acquisition opportunities as they come up.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.  

Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter

Leave a comment:

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required

Advertisement

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Advertisement