Page 84 - Print 21 July-August 2019

People in Print
the OVERflow
Eckersley acquires Cross & Hamilton
Vivid buys Elite
Also in Brisbane Vivid Complete Finishing has acquired Elite Finishing Services.
Established in 1985 and owned by Faye Butterworth, Elite is now part of Warren Swinburne’s Vivid, with all staff and equipment relocating to the Vivid production centre in Geebung.
Lisa Fraser, Faye’s daughter said, “Mum was looking to take a step back, she has run the business for many years. We have known Warren and Vivid for a long time, and know what a great business it is, so the opportunity to become part
of the operation here was too good to pass up.”
Vivid is one of the major trade finishing houses in Queensland, with perfect binding, saddle stitching, section sewing, crash folding and burst / lock binding in its portfolio. It also offers embellishing including
spot UV, celloglazing, and encapsulating, as well as mounting and die-cutting.
Elite specialised in mail inserting and polywrapping,
as well as twin loop wire and plasticoil binding, laser cutting, drilling and other services.
* Vivid is not related to Ewen Donaldson’s wide format trade printing house Vivad, located in Melbourne. 21
Industry consolidation continues in Queensland with Cross & Hamilton Printers joining the
growing Eckersley Print Group. Cross & Hamilton was a
49-year-old business located in Geebung, with both offset and digital and operating a print management arm.
Micheal and Natalie Fletcher, owners at Cross & Hamilton, are moving on, but the majority of the staff will be going over to Eckersley. The business
itself will move into the main Eckersley production centre in Moreton Bay.
Tom Eckersley, managing director of the Eckersley Print
Group said, “The significant synergies of this move for Cross & Hamilton customers are also strengthened by the broader range of solutions, improved print technology, and increased capacity, that the Eckersley Group offers.
“The Cross & Hamilton team will be joining us on-site at the Narangba plant, and we foresee a smooth transition.”
The Fletchers said they selected like-styled second generation, family owned and operated business Eckersley,
because of “the close alignment in our working ethos and shared focus on absolute commitment to the customer”.
Eckersley Print Group, headed by PIAA board member Tom Eckersley, has been acquiring businesses since 2012, with companies including ABC, Fine Print, Nicholson, The Printing Office, and Print Approach all becoming part of the group. Growth by acquisition will remain a key part of its strategy. 21
Pictured as the deal is signed are (l-r) Natalie and Michael Fletcher from Cross & Hamilton Printers, with siblings Tom, Luke and Leanne Eckersley from Eckersley Print Group.
84 Print21 JULY/AUGUST 2019