Page 62 - Print21 July-August 2022

Association News
Vale Peter Clark
Peter Clark, industry leader, innovator, and president of the Print & Visual Communications Association, passed away at the beginning of July. Before he passed he was inducted into the Print & Visual Communications Association’s Industry Honour Role, at the 39th National Print Awards, in recognition and appreciation for his outstanding achievements and industry contributions over the past half century.
Peter Clark, print industry pioneer, leader and servant, and president of PVCA, has passed away following a short illness, leaving the industry in mourning.
Clark, who hailed from Tasmania, had an illustrious 59-year career in print. Just before he passed he was inducted into the Print & Visual Communications Association’s Industry Honour Role, at the 39th National Print Awards, in recognition and appreciation for his outstanding achievements and industry contributions over the past half century.
He owned his fi st print business at the age of 30, managed some of the biggest businesses in the industry, founded one of the world's most advanced heatset operations, was an environmental champion long before it was de rigeur, and when he sold AIW to IVE six years ago, he volunteered his considerable experience and worked tirelessly for the benefit of the entire industry.
The imminent merger of PVCA and The Real Media Collective is due in no small part to Clark's vision, efforts, and negotiating skills, as he sought a united voice for print. He had been president of PVCA for six months, and was a board member for two years prior.
Entrepreneurial
At the age of 17, he commenced his indentures as a litho platemaker and printer at Cox Kay Print. By 27 he was in management and, three years later, purchased his own small print and packaging business – the fi st of many entrepreneurial endeavours.
He then sold his initial business and moved across to
Lifetime achievement: Peter Clark
Melbourne to further his career in 1978. He then progressed through senior roles with various large national and international organisations, both public and private.
At Cargo Nupack Display Packaging he pioneered the
use of recycled paper to make corrugated liner board for packaging, which included egg cartons, other containers and inserts made from 100 per cent recycled paper pulp.
Exciting time
He then joined Visy at an
exciting time for the company, establishing a pilot papermaking mill in NSW that featured
100 per cent recycled paper
and board products, including corrugated liner boards.
That was a huge success and, within the next few years, Visy commissioned and installed four full-sized paper mills in Victoria and New South Wales. Today, Visy produces 90 per cent of its products made from 100 per cent recycled product, both within Australia and in the US.
Clark then moved to News Limited’s Commercial Division,
which later became PMP Group. In 1993 he was appointed
Group CEO of Manufacturing, Publishing & Distribution in New Zealand, overseeing PMP, Adams Print and Pacific Publishing.
From 1995, he took the
reins as managing director for Keppel Printing and PMP at Moorebank NSW, then became CEO for PMP Progress Press and Progress National Letterbox Distribution.
Setting pace
In 2000 Clark, together with
a group of industry colleagues, co-founded AIW Printing.
This rivately-owned, highly automated, printing business commenced operations in 2001, and quickly became one of Australia’s largest and most well- respected printers, setting the pace with automation, innovation and environmental leadership. He put in one of the biggest heatset presses in the world in 2008.
AIW achieved an annual turnover of $125m with only 100 employees across its manufacturing site in Springvale Victoria. Working with Norske Skog’s Boyer Tasmania Mill they developed a lightweight paper, which led to AIW optimising its production to enable printing on paper as low as 42gsm.
It was just the start of a number of sustainability initiatives including pioneering the use of grades of paper,
and the installation of a half megalitre rainwater storage facility, which saw AIW become the fi st printer to use 100 per cent rainwater, collected from its six-acre roof. The trim and paper waste were recycled by Visy for use in its 100 per cent recycled paper production.
At its peak, AIW was the fourth largest heatset web printer in Australia and today, along with former competitor,
Franklin Press, is part of the successful IVE Group.
Clark’s own professional development included achieving a Certificate of Applied Management, a qualification in the Governance of Registered Organisations, and he was
both a graduate and member
of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees, and
a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Most notably, Clark’s industry contributions have included stints as a director of the Printing Industries Association of Australia, which is now the PVCA, as a board member for PrintEx 19, and as chair and director for Graphic Innovators Australasia – and in January this year, he was elected president of the PVCA.
Passion
As important as all of the above was Clark’s passion, knowledge and understanding of the industry, which provided such a vibrant backdrop to his life and career.
He was widely respected and admired, not only for his achievements and experience, but for his strategic mind, calm and measured approach and sense of reason, which underpinned the success of his projects.
As for Clark himself, he credited the printing industry with some of his life’s greatest opportunities, saying it had been an honour to be able to give back to the industry which has given him so much.
“I’ve had a fantastic time in the industry so it’s been nice to be able to contribute,” he said shortly before his passing, telling everyone who knew him, “Ink really is the blood that flows in my veins.”
Vale Peter Clark. 21
62 Print21 JULY/AUGUST 2022
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