Print Solutions
A Newcastle printer who has already booked his flights to drupa next year can’t wait until then to invest. Acquisition of local trade printers since last November has resulted in rapid growth and so next month Crystal & Son will install a Polar 78 Eco.
‘Last drupa I bought a really affordable guillotine but my operators have only used it as a table to stack work on ready to go on the Polar despite my attempts to get them to use it,’ said Jonathon Crystal, managing director. ‘So this time we looked at second hand but Heidelberg gave us an attractive finance arrangement that allowed us to buy new.’
Crystal & Son operates in a very price sensitive market – the supply of bingo tickets, raffle tickets, scratch cards and fundraising print generally as well as stationery which is destined primarily for working men’s clubs. It even supplements the print with other supplies from markers to wristbands.
Over the last 12 months, the company has increased staffing from eight to 19 as it has acquired more work by absorbing rival businesses. It has taken over West View Printers, Bingo Ticket Company and Lucky Lotteries and for these the work has come in house. It has also bought Kelly’s Eye but that is still operating as a separate trading entity.
‘The operators are absolutely delighted with the investment,’ said Jonathon. ‘It is the Rolls Royce of guillotines, with the best reputation for quality and reliability. This will eliminate the bottlenecks in our plant and keep our service levels up to standard.’
