Page 42 - Print 21 Magazine Sep-Oct 2021

Cover Feature
Wide-format printing
Keeping pace
Finishing equipment
Finishing is just the beginning
Finishing is the bedrock of printing, it’s the value- adding process that transforms print into product. It is also a foundation of Currie Group’s ongoing success. Under the watchful eye of Bernie Robinson, managing director, the Group’s Horizon range
of equipment has become the default finishing technology for most of the commercial printing industry across Australia and New Zealand.
“I estimate we have eighty-five percent of the finishing equipment installed in the A3 market. Because it’s so good Horizon almost sells itself. Most of our customers are medium-size printers who have to keep up with the changing market. There’s a lot of consolidation going on, and people are looking to automate the process,” he said.
He nominates the Horizon Perfect Binder as the top seller from the comprehensive range. With a machine for every size business from the BQ-280PUR to the BQ-470PUR, he is now looking to introduce the next generation, BQ-500, the most flexible version yet, able to swap between EVA and PUR hot-melt glue. Knowledge from a skilled operator can be stored in custom templates to ensure every operator produces consistent high quality books.
Ever aware not only of the market pressures on commercial print but of the need to continue to attract young people into the industry he is keen to talk up the Horizon iCELiNK, cloud-based workflow management system. The iCE software is a new product that can link multiple systems, automating an end-to-end process.
“Printers have to be nimble and more of them should be taking up automating their workflow. I
reckon about seven per cent now have a good system in place to take jobs
from prepress, to press, through to finishing. But there should be more.”
In his role as managing director, Robinson, keeps across the entire Currie
Group product range. He describes the New Zealand operation as
with the market
Sign & Display is one of the two new industry sectors being addressed by Currie Group. (The other is 3D printing). Since acquiring
the distribution rights for the prestigious EFI suite of wide format machines, it has enjoyed considerable success in the face of the most challenging circumstances. Paul Whitehead, business unit manager, has two large machines on the water during August due for installation this month and in September. One can only wonder how it would go in a normal year.
Coming on board to spearhead
the new strategy, the well-known industry identity nominates the breadth of Currie Group’s ANZ service capability, along with the arrival of
a new EFI machine, the Pro 30h, as compelling reasons for printers, as well as traditional signage operators who may be unaware of Currie Group until now, to get in touch.
“It’s fairly well recognised that service hasn’t kept pace with the advances in technology for sign & display. Most brands fall down in terms of scale and serviceably, in getting technicians to locations
where there may be only one or
two machines. Currie Group has
the advantage of an existing strong service infrastructure. As wide format becomes more mainstream, customers are going to expect the same-day service they get in printing,” he said.
Because Currie Group is already delivering service across its broad range of products, it is able to provide local service and installation for the EFI products anywhere in Australia and New Zealand (even during a pandemic), a notable point of difference that Whitehead finds is resonating with signage operators.
“Unless you’ve got scale you can’t deliver the type of backup signage businesses need. As the industry consolidates, businesses are growing ever larger. They expect suppliers
to respond with twenty-four seven service for critical production. EFI technology is as good as it gets and we are the only truly ANZ supplier
with scaled up infrastructure to support our customers. I expect
the strong combination between Currie Group and EFI will realise multiple installations in 2021 despite the difficulties of Covid, as more customers come to realise the value of our partnership,” he said.
There’s no doubt that Covid has wreaked havoc with Whitehead’s launch plans. After a successful
Open House in Melbourne before
the lockdown, and following the postponement of PacPrint, he is now champing at the bit to bring the latest EFI products to the ANZ marketplace. He is especially excited by the pending arrival of the new EFI Pro 30h, which he declares will lead the brand’s high- end technology into a new, entry-level, production marketplace.
“ The Pro 30h will increase the number of printers who can access EFI’s industry-leading, high-end technology. This flatbed/roll-fed hybrid allows printers to consolidate their work onto one system to deliver a full range of applications, at a very attractive price point.”
Paul Whitehead, Sign & Display business unit manager
Bernie Robinson, managing director, Currie Group.
“steady,” mostly as a service and consumable business, even as
equipment sales slow. He was intending to make a splash
with the new HP Indigo 100K at PacPrint but is now looking to show it at an Open House in Melbourne before the big press, the second in Australia, (the first went to CMYKhub
in Melbourne) is delivered to a customer.
“I was disappointed at PacPrint being postponed. We always have a good
year when there’s a show. However, our labels and
packaging division is going hammers and tongs as big multinationals move in and consolidate.”
42 Print21 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021