North East Print and Copy owner Wayne Turnbull has seen turnover rise by 40% and productivity up 30% after he bought Adelaide Image Printing from Carl Boos in December.

Turnbull took on the acquired company’s name and added its five staff to North East Print’s nine. He also brought across 60-80 customers and installed a Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52 to his Windsor Gardens site, he said.

Turnbull told ProPrint the new Adelaide Image had cut turnaround times by 30% after the Speedmaster was combined with two new Konica Minolta Bizhubs – a colour C7000 and black-and-white Pro 1051.

“Our customers are happier. They’re getting things done faster. And my staff have got the latest equipment, so they’re happier too.”

Turnbull said he been able to retain all of Boos’ customers thanks to the knowledge and assistance of the old Adelaide Image’s staff.

That included Boos and his wife and fellow director, Christine, who spent the first six months as full-time employees of the merged outfit. Boos has since begun a six-month part-time stint, while Christine has become a consultant.

Turnbull said he had benefited from the experience of taking over Alrae Press in 2002 and Steed Press in 2004.

Turnbull and Boos did their apprenticeships together about 40 years ago. They then shared a cooperative relationship after Turnbull founded North West in 1992 and Boos bought the old Adelaide Image in 1995.

Turnbull said that was typical of Adelaide, which he described as a small town in which most printers knew each other and mixed well.

Boos, 62, told ProPrint he decided to sell so he could work on his golf swing and retire to Victor Harbor.

He said he was pleased to see Turnbull defy a gloomy market by expanding and heartened that his “well respected” business name would live on.

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