Mercedes Waratah, which is the new name for Port Melbourne-based PrintLinx, will produce 120,000 copies of the 10th edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook, according to the Department of Health & Ageing.

The handbook will be distributed to doctors, hospitals, state health departments, immunisation clinics, and other public and private health bodies. It was last printed in 2008.

A government spokesperson told ProPrint that Mercedes Waratah had beaten three other printers to the $500,000 contract after 15 companies were invited to tender.

The spokesperson said Mercedes Waratah had won the contract based on "production timeframes and whole-of-project costs".

[Related: PrintLinx rises again]

Managing director Michael Todisco said the health contract was one of several recent wins. "We're finding things are improving very well. I think what's happening in the market is that there are a lot of cowboys and they've had their share of picking up work, but people are realising if you want to go down that line you get a crap job and it gets delivered late."

Todisco said Mercedes Waratah had capitalised on having a fleet that included a 10-colour and six-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 alongside a Kolbus perfect binder and hardcase binder.

"We've got the press power and the state-of-the-art bindery to back it up, so we're better suited for the job than anyone else in Australia," he said.

The machinery and plant in question had been at the centre of a rent dispute back in 2010-11, with the former owner, Michael's father Frank Todisco, telling ProPrint he was going to close down the company.

Instead, Michael Todisco took over PrintLinx from his father and renamed it Mercedes Waratah in April 2011.

Related company PrintWorld Victoria was wound up with a $1.5 million tax debt in October 2011.

[Related: More news about contract wins]

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