Page 21 - Print21 July-Aug 2018 Magazine

business that’s willing to spend the time,” says Wilson. “You’ve no idea how many hours I spent just thinking about it before attempting to actually set it up and make it work. That’s
the investment. Ultimately it’s what makes a successful business.”
It might be different in the
metropolitan areas, but in Ballarat, the onus was squarely on Wilson to make the thing work. There are few consultants in the area, and even if there were, he’s not impressed with that solution.
“I did it all myself. It was a massive job. Some people say to hire a consultant, but I don’t think they can do it. They don’t know the business. They’ll never understand internally what your drive and motivation
is and how you want to run your business,” he advises.
“You also need to know how to manipulate the software, because if you’re pitching to a client and they ask you can you do something, you know straight away how it can be done, because you built the darn thing. It’s about having that confidence.”
‘Can-do’ attitude
Revolution is a very differentiated printing company but in many ways, it fits a normal commercial profile. It prints a wide range of materials, ready to take on everything and outsource what doesn’t suit its production. According to Schreenan, much of the difference is what happens to the jobs once they’ve been downloaded.
“We go across a range of products and a lot of other printers do as well. But where it’s different is what happens once it gets to us and then how it gets to print,” he says.
“Our business philosophy is
very ‘can do’. Our attitude is extremely different. Seventy percent coming through online is a pretty
big percentage. We know it’s a massive number. That’s something we’ve worked hard at for a long time. Leon took the base system of online and developed it. We made it work the way our customers need it to work. The software is not ‘one size fits all’. That’s the unique side of our business.”
There’s a very natural synergy between the two directors, with Wilson first working in the business and then buying in as an equal partner four years ago. Very much the high-energy entrepreneur, he revels in the role of visionary and evangelist. Schreenan is more in the traditional style; after a long career with Fuji Xerox, he came back to Ballarat
“We don’t want to be the same as everyone else, to do the same thing printers have been doing forever...”
and transformed the company by investing in digital printing. He’s now the customer service side of the business, giving Wilson air to constantly look towards the future.
There are more investments on
the cards for Revolution apart from the Horizon finishing kit, but they’re taking a step back from their usual full-on speed. “We’ve obviously made a bunch of investments. There will
be more, maybe other acquisitions, but let’s bed this in first. The growth curve is massive and we’re trying to manage that,” says Wilson.
“Updating our MIS is a massive project. We’ve moved across to printIQ, which is the system that will decide the most appropriate route for every job that comes in. But you must realise we’re only using fifteen percent of our true automation capability. We have so much potential ahead of us,” he says.
KM-1 is number one
As this is only the second Accurio KM-1 in Australia (the first went into Jossimo in Melbourne late last year), Konica Minolta is understandably keeping a very close eye on the operation and lending as much support as required. According to Sue Threlfo, GM production & industrial print, inkjet is such a relatively pioneering technology at the high
Above:
Revolutionaries: (from left) John Schreenan, Leon Wilson and Sue Threlfo.
Revolution’s Ballarat, Vic HQ.
end of the market that just about everybody in it is new.
“That’s why an innovative organisation such as Revolution has a real market advantage. When the KM-1 technology is paired with such dynamic forward thinkers as John and Leon, it shows just what can be achieved in the printing industry.”
“The AccurioJet KM-1 is
rapidly having a positive effect for Revolution. We appreciate Leon and John sharing their passion for the Konica Minolta KM-1,” says Threlfo.
“John and Leon first saw the KM-1 at drupa in 2014. From there they reviewed all the available solutions in the B2 inkjet marketplace and decided that the total offering from Konica Minolta was the superior option. It seems their decision
has been a great choice. At Konica Minolta we are excited to see where the future takes such an energetic and innovative organisation as Revolution Print.” 21
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