Page 65 - Print 21 magazine Jul-Aug 2021

Bambra back as DOCA deal done
People in Print the OVERflow
Print pioneer: RIP Bob Meade
Bob Meade Bpasses away
ob Meade, founder of Bokay Signs, pioneering printer, and one of the
leading lights in the WA sign industry, has passed away, two years after selling his business.
Together with his wife Kay, Meade founded Bokay in 1984, and led the company for 35 years, bringing innovation and technology into the industry, until it became part of John Mancini’s company, Jason Signmakers, when the Meades retired. 21
Almost a year to the
day after Melbourne print business Bambra Press went into voluntary administration, John Wanless again took over the business
as it emerged from its DOCA (deed of company arrangement) following a near-unanimous vote from creditors to accept 20c in the dollar.
John Wanless, said, “It’s great for the business to get a second
chance – rewarding the staff who remained focused through the difficult period.”
“We are operating at about 60 per cent of the sales of two years ago – it is a slimmer operation.”
The estimated amount
in the DOCA fund will be $1.75m. This will be used to pay creditors, the administrator and various other costs.
Wanless says make good repayments to creditors will not be
UV coating
Embossing
limited to what is in the DOCA. The Bambra that is
emerging from the DOCA has slimmed down, with some
22 staff moving on since last year, leaving it with around 32 employees in its Port Melbourne production centre.
Wanless has been working
in the business since it hit the skids on 22 May last year. He said a Covid-related 80 per cent drop in sales, together with
a few significant bad debts,
had left it stranded, and he couldn’t see a way back without restructuring.
The DOCA was enacted at the end of August with the variation coming at the end of March. At the time he called in the administrators last year, Wanless said he believed the company would continue, but in a reduced size, which is what has happened. 21
Above left Back in control: John Wanless owns Bambra again
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(right) and Mark Hogan, Hogan Print, with the new Foliant Mercury 530SF 4x4 laminator from Currie Group 2. Hogan offices in Artarmon, Sydney.
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1. “Superior quality,” Peter
Caption xxxxx
3. Hogan Print’s new Horizon AFV-566/TV 564 folder from Currie Group.
Print21 JULY/AUGUST 2021 65
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