Page 29 - Print21 July-Aug 2018 Magazine

For-trade printing
CMYKhub opens new production hub in Cairns
There’s nothing like being on the ground when it comes to print production and delivery. For customers in Far North Queensland, the news that national for- trade printer CMYKhub is upgrading its equipment and investing in the local area is definitely welcome.
Trade printer CMYKhub has launched a new digital and wide format production facility in Cairns, investing in two HP Indigo presses
from Currie Group and two Mimaki printers from Spicers to serve its expanding Far North Queensland market.
“We’ve decided to relocate our North Queensland production hub from Port Douglas to Cairns to maximise our ability to better service a broader geographical area, which now includes Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and Port Douglas,” says Carl Stobie, CMYKhub QLD’s general manager.
The leading trade printer has sold off the offset press at its former
Port Douglas production centre
and reinvested in a range of new equipment for its Cairns facility, including two new HP Indigo printers from Currie Group.
“We decided not to continue with offset printing in the region as our old five-colour press at Port Douglas had become outdated and didn’t measure up to our national print quality standards set by the other presses in our network,” Stobie says. “We bought the HP flatbed and
the existing finishing equipment. Everything else is a new investment.”
Stobie says the company has increased its investment in digital and wide format because: “It’s the best fit for the local area. We’ve continued with our HP Indigo commitment via Currie Group, by installing a 7000R and a 7600. We decided to create a point of difference by installing the only Indigos in the region, providing a high quality digital alternative.”
Above: Carl Stobie, general manager of CMYKhub Queensland.
Below: The skilled printing team at the
new CMYKhub Cairns facility – with one of the new HP Indigos.
The company has also bought
six Mimaki presses from Spicers, with two of them already installed
in Cairns. “We’ve invested in six Mimaki UCJV300-160s across our Australian network, two of which have been installed at our Cairns Hub. These are LED UV ink, 1600mm wide roll-to-roll machines which print and cut; one 4 colour and one
8 colour, including white ink.
“We’ve also invested at the top end of cutting tables with the Esko Kongsberg X24, which provides
a broader range of wide format finishing options,” Stobie says. “We’ve identified a large number of sign writers in the region that could utilise the router cutting and milling as a trade service.”
Staff members at Port Douglas have agreed to relocate to the new plant in Cairns, about 65 kilometres down the coast. “We’ve been very lucky with our staff from Port Douglas,” says Stobie. “We haven’t had to hire anyone new. Their fantastic attitude was a key factor in the decision to move from Port Douglas to Cairns and make substantial re-investment into the business.”
The investment in Cairns underlines the company’s increased focus on North Queensland. “We are very supportive of the local economy and industry, and we are
genuinely excited to be a part of it and help contribute to it,” Stobie says. “While most manufacturers are choosing to shift work down south, we felt the best option was to focus on speed to market and provide local support for resellers in the region. We understand many have tried and failed with this approach over the years but we back our model to stand up and last the distance.”
The new Cairns production hub is scheduled to be officially launched
at an open night beginning at 6pm on 9th August. All members of the trade in the region are welcome to attend for an evening of education, ideas and networking, including the announcement of new product and service initiatives tailored specifically for the North Queensland market. 21
29 Print21 JULY/AUGUST 2018