The merged company will be called Rawson Graphics and operate from Rawson’s site in North Ryde. Artvue is expected to complete the transfer from its Brookvale premises by the end of June.
Rawson was founded in 1974, with current co-owners Lachlan Finch and Andrew Price acquiring their shares in 2000 and 2010, respectively. Artvue opened its doors in about 1970, before Shane Wildash bought the printer in 2000.
Finch said the merger was born out of his long relationship with Wildash, who worked at Rawson from 1986-92.
Finch told ProPrint that the two men had often discussed business over the years, and that challenging market conditions had led them to consider a merger six months ago.
“Through continued conversations, we recognised both businesses worked in similar markets and had similar machinery and weren’t running at full capacity,” he said.
“We weren’t actively looking for a merger, but when you stack it together and add up the numbers, it seemed like a good fit. We’re two very successful businesses that want to make one successful business.”
[Feature: Rawson Graphics thinking big]
Finch said the new company would be more efficient because it would be able to operate at a higher capacity, eliminate duplicate machinery and introduce better shift arrangements.
The three owners will continue to have active sales roles. Finch said employment levels were being finalised, but that some redundancies might have to occur. “Our aim is to keep as many staff as possible,” he added.
The new company will take delivery in June of a five-colour Komori L29 H-UV, which was ordered by Artvue in late 2012.
Wildash told ProPrint that the press would boost production efficiency by slashing waste and eliminating drying time.
He also said the ability to print on plastics and vinyl would save thousands of dollars per month in outsourcing.
Distributor Ferrostaal said Komori H-UV presses could help traditional printers close the gap between offset and digital, and could print runs as low as 250 sheets.
“If you’re an offset printer looking to invest into digital, you would seriously have to consider a press like the Komori L29 H-UV,” said the general manager of print and finishing, Rayne Simpson.
“Unless you’re doing a lot of work that involves variable data, there’s no reason to venture into a digital press, when you can invest in an A2 size press like a Komori L29 H-UV press that can print on any substrate and will give you the ultimate in print quality,” he told ProPrint.
[LinkedIn: Will we see more industry consolidation?]
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