Posted by Andrew Irvine
on Dec 01, 2015
Our Meeting
This week, we traveled out to the highway to have a vocational visit to David and Brenda Foster's printing and sign writing office.
President Geoff opened the meeting with asking the members for a quiet moment to reflect on their friends, and followed this up with a toast to the people of Australia.
He then identified a couple of members who have been tripping around the countryside lately, namely;
Travis - South Pacific on a cruise for 10 days,
Doug Conkey - Golf in Sydney,
Gerry Gerlach - Mornington, Vic, for 10 days of golf and someone had been to Talbingo.
Kat reported that she had been in the Dragon Boat Event, been working on the WWHS production called Contraption, and will be on the water ski this weekend.
David Foster says he and partner Alan De Jong, bought the business in 1991 as a going concern, after they had been in business together in Sydney for a few years together working for Amcor.
They have had four moves; Fitzmaurice St x 2, Dobney Avenue and then the current site for the last five years.
The printing is basically Commercial work, using 5 offset printers (4 plates of colour, and 1 of varnish) for jobs over 1000 copies,
digital printers for any work up to 500/600 sheets, a folding machine (which can handle 20,000 units per hour), a booklet making machine, and guillotines.
Offset Printer, note the colours
Being sited in the country, all facets of the job are done on site, whereas in the city, you'd be able to farm some of the work out to specialists off site.
Geoffrey giving some tips to the new man on the block.
Two years ago, they took on Signarama - a franchise as a logical add on to the tough printing business. As revenues are falling for print, but are rising for the signage, the plan is to weigh the bigger print income to a 50/50 income with the signage.
They employ 13 staff between the Wagga Wagga and Albury sites.
Whilst we were there, we watched a couple of men put a wrap of vinyl on the bonnet of a Ford Utility. This wrapping of vehicles is becoming popular, as a refined replacement for stuck-on stickers.
Nearly there.
This is a new product from Signarama - Wall paper. This particular print is nearly 2 meters wide and over a meter high. It is non stick, will not damage walls, but stays in place miraculously.
You can expect to pay around $50 per meter, and there is virtually nothing that cannot be printed.
The members enjoyed a preparation and cooking of a meal from Michael Knight, Craig Bromley and Mal Robertson. Was much enjoyed by all.
John proudly displays the latest works from Signarama - China division.
Wal Paton was displaying a mighty strength showing up very soon after a successful knee op.
Visitors to the Meeting.
Judy Ferguson, Brenda Foster, and Kat Janzon.
Apologies.
Peter Crozier, Ken Cook, Jim Gibson, John Gray, John Hawkins, Stephen McCoy, Phil McIntosh, John Mason, Rick Priest, Jeremy Riethmuller, Ken Taylor, Darren Wallace, Neil Pinto.
Makeups.
Wal Paton x 2
Nick Leywood - RYPEN
Malcolm Robertson's Airtourer was on display, front row and twisties.
