It’s not all doom and gloom in the printing industry as 2019 progresses. Steve Hall’s SunPrint, based just outside Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, has logged two stunning results for January and February.
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| Steve Hall, owner of SunPrint, was awarded an Honorary Senior Fellowship at the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2017 for his mentoring work with Design students. |
“January was up 25% and February up a staggering 50%,” says Hall, adding, “and we’re not alone as our local offset outsourcing partner has told us they also have had a super solid start to 2019. Digital accounted for approximately 74% of the job mix, with wide format 21% of that.”
SunPrint is a multi-award-winning digital printer at the National Print Awards and PICAs, having won Gold in the Wide Format, Digital Printing and Inkjet categories and Bronzes in the Small Business (under 15 employees) and Limited Edition Art Reproduction categories. The firm’s motto ‘if you can think it, we can print it’ shows the broad range of services from commercial print to packaging, point-of-sale to exhibitions and beyond. SunPrint manages print for major brands across Australia and New Zealand.
Smart equipment decisions
All offset work is outsourced and SunPrint retains a Fuji Xerox C75 digital press in-house and two Mutoh wide format printers, plus a Canon wide format. “The most significant equipment acquisitions this year have been a Mutoh 1324 CMYK workhorse printer and a Rollover applicator, both from Ron King at Willenco,” says Hall, adding: “The Rollover has revolutionised the efficiency of the business and is probably the best equipment investment I have made in the last 35 years.”
“We focus on service first and foremost, providing large, small and complicated projects managed and delivered on time with enthusiasm and our more than 35 years’ experience,” says Hall. “We offer a diverse range of printed products including labels. The addition of a hot-foil label press this year, although ‘old’ technology, has proven to be very successful”
The Sunshine Coast’s economy has consistently outpaced regional economies over the past 15 years and was valued at $17.7 billion in 2018. Current growth projections forecast its economy to be worth $33 billion by 2033. This growth has added over 20,000 jobs since 2012, with knowledge-based jobs, exports and household income driving high valued and knowledge-based sectors including professional business services, innovative manufacturing and numerous high-tech start-ups.
Population, already at over 312,000, is expected to increase by around 190,000 over the next two decades.
It seems the Sunshine Coast is a great place to be for smart operators like Steve Hall’s SunPrint.
