Page 70 - Print21 magazine Mar-Apr 2023

| PEOPLE IN PRINT | MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Frank Steel ups die-cuts with new Century
AFI moves into new IVE supersite and rebrands
AFI Branding has moved into the new IVE retail display 50,000sqm green supersite in Braeside, Victoria, which houses the company’s extensive display print operation, and has rebranded into IVE Brand Activations.
AFI will now form part of a new market offering – Brand Activations, with the IVE division bringing together a full-service display, signage and activation offering to the retail, events and exhibition industries.
Brand Activations sees IVE’s Retail Display, AFI and Active Display Group combine to offer what it says is the most comprehensive onshore capabilities in Australia, with extensive production facilities across NSW and VIC. AFI
and Active Display Group were acquired by IVE in November 2021.
The new site is something of a sustainability hero. The building has a 5-Star Green Star rating certified by the Green Building Council of Australia. With 1200 solar panels, it will generate more than 650,000kWh per year – which is the equivalent to powering 120 households a year, or growing 19,500 tree seedlings for 10 years.
The new building can also collect and reuse 100,000 litres of rainwater a year.
ABOVE: Exciting time: Glenn Watson, AFI Branding
Point of sale display company Frank Steel Displays can now offer faster die-cutting times for its displays, and a quicker turnaround for its trade customers, with the purchase of the new Century MWB 1620, installed by Graffic
Owner Anthony Steel says the MWB 1620 die cutting machine, which was ordered from Graffica in July an delivered at the end of October, has replaced a clamshell of the same cutting size. He says it provides flexibility within the die-cutting process as it offers the choice of the right die- cutter for the right job.
“We also have a large clamshell die-cutter (2600mm x 1600mm) which is currently cutting 90 per cent of our work. The Century will take 70 per cent of the work from the large clamshell to free it up for extra- large sheets for cutting and to
Quicker turnaround with new Century die-cutter at Frank Steel: (l-r) Anthony Steel, Graffica’s Robert Allan, and Blake Steel
enable additional machine time for our customers,” said Steel.
“Frank Steel Displays services two types of markets – direct to customer and trade work. The two machines can cost effectively die-cut up
to a size of 2550 x 1550,” he added, confirming that the company also has a sheet-
to-sheet laminator that can accommodate the large clamshell size.
Commenting on the company’s experience dealing with Graffica, Steel says that i was an easy process. “We only heard good things with the machines, so it was an easy sale for Neil.”
Qld Print supports DV charity
The Queensland print industry came together in late February at a charity luncheon to support Small Steps 4 Hannah, which aims to halt the cycle of domestic violence.
Supported by PVCA, LIA, and Women in Print, the print industry lunch featured two AFL legends as guest speakers, Emma Zielke and Jason (Aka) Akermanis.
It also featured keynote speeches from Women in Print’s Morag Pugh, PVCA CEO Kellie Northwood, and LIA Queensland president Mel Ireland.
MC was Evan (Banger) Bancroft, with funds for the charity raised through ‘mega
At the Small Steps 4 Hannah print industry lunch in Brisbane: (l-r) Anne Kemp, Morag Pugh, Marni Groves, Susan Heaney, and Kellie Northwood
raffle prizes’ and a silen auction. The event, which attracted some 70 print industry people, included a delicious three course meal and
four hours’ worth of drinks. Small Steps 4 Hannah was
founded by the parents of Hannah Clarke and her three children, who were murdered.
70 MARCH/APRIL 2023