Page 18 - Print 21 Magazine Sep-Oct 2020

Trade Printing
Vicon expands
with interstate move
Innovative garment print business Vicon is doubling the size of its floorspace with a move from Sydney to Brisbane. The company is investing $600,000 in additional print equipment as part of the move.
Vicon Transfers, producer of complex UltraColour heat transfer logos
for the trade on its self-developed print system, which uses an HP Indigo and a screen printing line, is now housed in a 1300sqm site in Brendale in the north of Brisbane.
Owner Ben Carroll says the
move and investment in additional production equipment will enable to it expand its product lines. He says, “We are twice the size of our previous factory, which was curtailing our growth. The new factory will enable us to develop new products such as metallics, and reflectives.
“It is an exciting time for us, we will be able to supply the trade with products that are just not available here. The investment is large, with most of it going on a new screen printing line and automated screen making and cleaning solutions.”
Carroll has just signed $600,000 worth of cheques for the new equipment to go into the new Brendale site to join all the equipment that came from Brookvale as additional capacity.
The company will have three
print lines, up from the one that it had in Brookvale. It already had one waiting in the wings but there was no space to run it. That translates into
a production powerhouse with the company looking to build its national and international base by expanding into new product lines now it has the capacity to do so.
With a long background in the heat transfer market, Carroll started Vicon seven years ago, essentially producing the small and complex logos for heat transfer that proved difficult for most printers, with the weeding requirement. The first two or three years were testing times
as the company worked overtime
to perfect the manufacturing technology. However, since then,
the business has been growing
consistently; anyone who went to the old Brookvale factory would have seen it chocked out with equipment. Doubling the floorspace was the clear move.
Carroll says, “We looked at staying in Sydney with a move to the western Sydney industrial heartland, but the costs were still high. Many of my staff were unlikely to make the move. Being in Brisbane means we are well placed for national distribution.
The floorspace and investment in additional equipment means we are in a position to expand our service
to our clients and support them with the means to move into new markets with their existing equipment.”
Associated supplies business Velflex will remain in its Albury- Wodonga base, but will now
use the new Brendale location
as its distribution centre for Queensland.
Carroll says, “To really grow the Queensland heat transfer supplies market we need to be there, so now having a base there means we can connect directly with the market.”
Carroll says the move to Brisbane will set the company up for the next five to 10 years. Part of his vision is to enable his customers
to move into new areas with their existing equipment by providing the consumables and the know-how.
He says, “Many of our garment printing customers have a Roland, Mutoh, or Mimaki that can just as easily print signage, stickers, labels. In these days, and coming out of Covid, all printers will be looking to maximise their capabilities. Vicon will help them do that.”
Specifically, the company has
just signed a deal with Kiwo (Kissel+Wolf) to supply its range of screen printing consumables. It has a separate newly signed deal with Connect to distribute the Metamark range of self adhesives.
“The floorspace and investment in additional equipment means we are in
a position to expand our service to our clients and support them with the means to move into new markets with their existing equipment.” Ben Carroll
Above:
Expansion: Ben Carroll, managing director, Vicon Transfers
Carroll said, “These are proved brands that our customers can have confidence in.” It will also be going to the screen printing market with heat transfers. Carroll says, “Again this is a new market opportunity for our customers, that the new site will allow us to deliver.”
Ben Carroll has always had energy and vision, not just for himself
but for the markets and customers he serves. The newly expanded business should enable him to deliver the new opportunities for those customers. 21
18 Print21 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020