Colemans Printing, one of the Northern Australia’s longest-running print businesses, has celebrated its 70th anniversary.
Founded in 1954 by John ‘Colie’ Coleman, the company has grown from a small family-run business into a leader in Australia’s printing industry, providing cutting-edge digital printing, signage, labels, and traditional printing solutions across the Northern Territory and beyond.
From its origins under Colie Coleman, followed by his son Gary, and now under the leadership of third-generation owners and husband and wife team, Tony and Magdaline Coleman, Colemans Printing has flourished in the harsh Northern Australian climate.
“It’s a proud moment to look back at our family’s business and see how we’ve grown with the community around us,” said Colemans Printing managing director, Tony Coleman.
“We’ve seen Darwin rebuild and grow many times, and we’re honoured to be one of the longest-running family-owned print businesses in the North.”
Colemans Printing has continuously evolved, embracing technological advancements to stay ahead of industry trends.
From high-quality offset and digital printing to digital signage and label production, the business has diversified to meet the unique needs of local and national clients, delivering superior craftsmanship and reliability under even the most challenging conditions.
Located in the CBD, Colemans Printing is a one-stop-shop for digital and offset printing in Darwin. In recent years, Colemans Printing has taken significant steps toward sustainability, reflecting its commitment to a greener future. The company has installed 200kW of solar panels across its facility, contributing to energy efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint.
“Tony and I were both raised up in Darwin and we feel very passionately about progressing the Northern Territory forward,” said Colemans Printing director, Magdaline Coleman.
“As a business, we have always been early adopters, and we’re the only business in the Northern Territory when it comes to a lot of the printing technology that we have.
“We probably have the largest machinery and floor space footprint in Northern Australia and most definitely the state, and are unique as we have creative, digital, offset, signage, and most recently, labels, all under one roof.”
Colemans houses the latest range of equipment from leading brands including HP, Heidelberg, Konica Minolta, and Summa.
The company is also proud to be the first in the state to install and operate an HP Indigo 6K digital press, supplied by Currie Group, offering labelling solutions to benefit both the community and the environment.
The HP Indigo 6K digital press has enabled Colemans to support industry needs, including the transition to National Packaging Sustainability Targets, which states that 100 per cent of packaging must be reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.
“Our business has always prided itself on ensuring that innovation is at the forefront of our manufacturing capability, and that continues with both signage and labels,” said Magdaline.
“The HP Indigo Labels press allows us to provide sustainable, bespoke labelling solutions for a wide range of industries, from small enterprises to primary producers, government and defence.”
Colemans Printing has earned a reputation for its deep understanding of the Northern Territory’s unique logistics and local conditions, enabling the company to deliver high-quality, timely results.
“There’s no place like the North,” Tony said.
“It’s tough, it’s hot, and it’s harsh, but we know this place and its people. We were born and raised here and intend to stay here, delivering great results time after time.”
As Colemans Printing looks to the next 70 years, the company remains focused on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in print, integrating sustainable practices with state-of-the-art technology.
Recent investments in land and equipment, totalling more than $10 million, are testament to the business’ dedication to continued growth and leadership in the industry.
In October 2024, Colemans Printing celebrated its 70th anniversary by officially launching its HP Indigo label press at an event with Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Lia Finocchiaro and Lord Mayor of Darwin Kon Vatskalis in attendance.
The launch not only marks 70 years of excellence for the company, but also symbolises Colemans’ ongoing commitment to leading the Northern Australian printing industry into a brighter future.
This first appeared in the December issue of ProPrint magazine
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