Page 72 - Print21 March-April 2022

People in Print
the OVERflow
Neo and Eastern Press in
Got something you want to tell the rest of the printing industry? Send your news, views, gossip and tip-offs to waynerobinson@yaffa.com.au or call 02 9213 8213.
mVajor Melbourne merger ictorian-based
Left Amazing customer experiences: Seth Watts (right), CEO, Neo, with Cormac Deffely
production facilities focused on high-quality, fast-turnaround work. With a strong focus
on servicing the real estate industry, it has multiple production sites servicing the east coast of Australia.
Neo chairman, Paul Daley, recalls his respect for the late Frank Hilliard who founded Eastern Press in 1983. “Over my business journey, I've interacted with Frank at trade events,
and we also visited each other’s plants and from time to time, comparing notes on equipment investments.
“I am thrilled with our acquisition of Eastern Press, and I’ve also made a commitment
to Frank’s widow, Irene, to maintain the Eastern ethos with its client base, and also curate the memorabilia items from Frank’s printing factory.”
Frank Hilliard passed away unexpectedly two years ago following a short illness, leaving the Melbourne print community in shock. 21
commercial printer Neo
has acquired Eastern Press, in a deal that will see the much respected Eastern Press brand live on, with the two A2 printshops to share facilities.
Eastern Press staff and operations will continue servicing their clients from a larger facility at Neo’s two acre site in Mulgrave, Victoria.
It will now have access to Neo’s UV offset capabilities,
B2 digital printing press, and inhouse embellishments, which it says will be a valuable addition to kits services, allowing Eastern Press “to continue delivering high-quality print work and amazing customer service, with a larger range of products.”
Neo says it was attracted to the deal by the “deep expertise and storied history” of the Eastern Press brand. It says the Eastern team’s expertise and quality focus provided the “ideal foundation” for Neo to build a commercial offering.
Neo says changes in customer demand over the past two years have created an opportunity
for the newly joined brands
to “combine competitive
capabilities, and grow operations with leading-edge technology and expertise.”
CEO of Neo, Seth Watts, is enthusiastic about the new opportunities for Neo and Eastern Press, he said, “The Eastern team brings industry and customer knowledge that complements and grows the significant capabilities of the Neo team.
“Equipping the Eastern team with the state-of-the-art kit at Neo will empower both companies to deliver amazing customer experiences, and phenomenal products, to our
mutual customers.”
Cormac Deffely, managing
director of Eastern Press, will follow the brand to its new home at Neo, and said, “We are excited about this new chapter for Eastern Press. This acquisition represents a great opportunity for the brand, and will allow us
to better service our existing customers as well as expand our capabilities and product offering.”
Neo is a third-generation family business that has been printing in Melbourne since 1938. The company continues to invest heavily in maintaining sophisticated
Print Storm creating offset eco park
NSW general commercial operation Print Storm is aiming to offset all of
its carbon emissions from its Dubbo and Mudgee facilities, with an innovative solution that it says will benefit all.
Paul Cavalier, managing director of the business, says,
“At Print Storm, we believe in sustainability, so we’re moving forward with our plans to offset all of our carbon emissions, through creating a publicly accessible
park and oak tree micro-forest in Gulgong, just north of Mudgee.”
The trees will be planted for their superior long-term carbon capture characteristics, with
an under-planting of flowering
natives to support the local eco-system, including bees.
Cavalier says, “In addition to carbon offsets, this project is about giving something back – not just reducing our footprint, but improving conditions for everyone around us.
“We believe that carbon offsets shouldn’t just be a go-to option for businesses to buy their way out of creating carbon emissions – instead, they should create positive change in the world. An ambitious goal, no doubt, but one that’s worth aiming for.”
Print Storm Oaks is the company’s first step towards achieving this goal. Cavalier says, “We’re proud to have been able to start this journey with a project that everybody can
be a part of. We want everyone to have access to this public space, and to encourage and
Left Print Storm giving back: Paul Cavalier
incentivise other businesses to follow in our footsteps.”
During this year the company will begin planting thousands of oak trees at the site, just south
of Gulgong. With the assistance of a number of professionals in the field, it will shortly begin work on the park, with most trees anticipated to be in the ground by the first or second quarter of next year. Plans are also underway to create public gardens and BBQ areas for public use.
Cavalier says, “We look forward to providing further updates in the coming months. In the meantime, we’re excited to hear everyone’s thoughts and suggestions, so feel free to get in touch.” 21
72 Print21 MARCH/APRIL 2022