£4m investment hot off presses
Oct 25 2007 by Chris Knox, The Journal
APRINTING firm plans to increase its turnover by 40% following a £4m investment to improve its facilities.
AlphaGraphics North-East will use the self-funded investment to purchase three new digital presses and one new lithographic press at its flagship site in Stockton as well as create 20 new jobs over the next two years.
The firm, which is owned by a US company but operates as an independent business, expects the changes to boost its turnover from £6m to £10m within three years and is looking to expand its operations throughout the North-East as a result.
It will also work its 86-strong workforce around the clock by adding one double day-shift and a night-shift to its operating hours.
Sean Costigan, managing director at the firm, said: “This investment and restructure is set to make a huge impact on our business and on our clients.
“Not only will we be able to cut down on our turnaround and work more efficiently across the group, but we will have the technology and expertise to provide even more innovative and effective marketing solutions for our customers.
“We have been planning this development for 12 months, so we’re hoping it will make a major impact on the business.”
A contract with Xerox has also been signed to help update its digital presses across the company, which operates franchise sites at Stockton-on-Tees, Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham and Redcar.
While the smaller branches of the company will continue to service customers with small printing and copying needs, the Stockton site will increase its involvement with larger-scale orders.
AlphaGraphics’ North-East business was set up in Middlesbrough in 1993, before moving to Stockton in 2001. Last year the business expanded the site from 11,500sq ft to 21,500sq ft, which helped boost its turnover by £500,000.
Commercial director Stephen Jones said: “We have always been ahead of the competition when it comes to printing in the North-East, and with this new investment we are ensuring that we maintain this position.”
AlphaGraphics North-East is part of a franchise with almost 300 locations worldwide. Its services include, design, digital printing, personalised marketing, mailing services and digital archiving.
