OPUS Print Group announces UK strategic alliance

OPUS Print Group announces UK strategic alliance

Specialist print and business services provider OPUS Print Group has extended its global reach with the formation of strategic alliances with two British printers.

The strategic alliances with Hobbs the Printers and MPG Books Group (UK) will extend the ability of OPUS to service global and Asia Pacific region customers with cost effective solutions for the European market.

OPUS Chief Executive Officer Cliff Brigstocke says the UK alliances are a further confirmation of the group’s development strategy that was outlined in a recent presentation for rising companies organised by share market operator NZX.

The strategy of having two partners in the UK allows the alliance to capitalise on opportunities across a number of market sectors utilising the individual and combined strengths of those involved. Hobbs has vast experience in publication production for educational, legal and scientific, technical and medical publishers, combined with sophisticated business and print related solutions for government departments, transport organisations and commercial businesses. MPG (UK) is a specialised book and journal manufacturer providing innovative business platforms for many of the leading publishers in the UK and Europe.

The alliance will offer on-shore printing of time sensitive, short run products for the UK and Asia Pacific in conjunction with the ability to print products that are less time sensitive at the OPUS-owned state of the art facility COS in Singapore.

The extensive and complementary facilities and services provided by each of the companies combined with excellent reputations for quality and service will provide a firm foundation for the development of the service offering.

Hobbs the Printers owner David Hobbs commented, “As a privately owned business with a long and well respected reputation as a quality provider of printing services in the UK, we recognise that the world of publication production is changing and that the development of strategic alliances around the world can only be a positive step for ourselves, our current and future customers and our partners. I’ve known both Tony and Cliff for a number of years and believe we can work together to achieve common goals”.

His comments were supported by MPG (UK) Chief Executive Tony Chard, ‘'The creation of this alliance provides our clients with a stable, cohesive and cost effective manufacturing platform encompassing three world class organisations committed to providing innovative solutions on a global basis. I am delighted that MPG Books Group, the largest independent book and journal manufacturer in the UK, is part of this alliance.”

For Cliff Brigstocke, this represents an exciting step in the group’s ability to deliver true global solutions for major customers. “Educational publishing is very specialised and focused on delivering high value content in short runs to suit specific courses and areas of study. Print will maintain its vitality as a distribution medium in this market.”

The OPUS offer is very much a full service package. Digital, including the latest inkjet technology, is a key element along with each partner also having the ability to deliver in-house offset, full colour finishing and binding.

Having established alliances in the UK, OPUS is now looking to further extend its global capability with a strategic alliance in North America. “Negotiations are advanced and we expect to make an announcement in the near future,” Mr Brigstocke says. “When combined with our existing China partner, Hung Hing, this will round out our global capability, unmatched in our specialist markets.”

OPUS will be showcasing its global and regional capability to publishers at the upcoming London Book Fair. Also on display will be the latest release of the OPUS proprietary IPALM platform that provides publishers with a technology bridge to provide seamless digital and traditional supply chain solutions.

“IPALM provides publishers with the opportunity to maximise their revenues while retaining control of the content and service delivery platforms,” Mr Brigstocke says. “Customers are already achieving significant time, quality and financial benefits by taking advantage of IPALM’s capabilities.”

ENDS

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