Christchurch’s Spectrum Print has completed a remarkable recovery story since it suffered devastating damage during the February 2011 earthquake.
The Heathcote printer made it to the supreme finals at this year’s Pride In Print Awards with its business print category winner the Market Gardeners Annual Review. Guy Phillips, general manager at Spectrum, considers its placing at the awards as a massive achievement, saying, “This is particularly so when considering the very viability of the business, employing 60 staff, was thrown into jeopardy just before 1pm on February 22 four years ago.
Spectrum Print’s supreme finalist ion this year’s Pride In Print Awards
“We were in full production and our factory ground to a sudden halt. It was immediately inoperable, with floors ruptured and liquefaction everywhere. Staff dispersed urgently to care for family/friends. The site was too badly damaged to return to and we never have.”
Immediately following the disaster, Spectrum made contingency arrangements for its clients. He says, “We shifted a core production team temporarily to Wellington and Spectrum was run from Format Print during March 2011. All work-in-progress was shipped to Wellington for finishing.
“Our Blue Star sister companies were fantastic, every site weighed in to help. We also ran work at other Christchurch print shops and had Spectrum staff deployed around the city press-passing the work to ensure Spectrum standards. Our Heidelberg A1 SM102 press had to be shipped to Kuala Lumpur for refurbishment. We became a virtual printer with customers and sales staff, but no press power. But all Spectrum work was delivered and we’re proud of that.”
Initially the company retained all staff on full. He says, “Those who were not required were released to assist with food distribution in Christchurch. “Those Spectrum families who lost their houses were shouted an offshore holiday courtesy of the company. A small gesture, but appreciated at the time.
Spectrum Print’s Heidelberg A1 SM102 press has received a full refurbishment.
“Unfortunately by July 2011, Spectrum had no choice but to make production positions redundant, having paid all staff for six months. We were able, however, to support local South Island printers, spending over $3m across 18 months after the quake.”
Spectrum retrenched to a core staff of eight or nine people and moved through three different office locations during the period. In September 2013, it re-establish its production footprint in a large print-specific facility shared with Kiwi Labels in September 2013.
Phillips says, “With offset, toner, and inkjet, the new Spectrum has a wider basket of print capabilities than ever before. We offer high quality, full production capability utilising the most modern equipment across both offset, digital and wide format print.
“We have also been able to re-recruit some former staff and have now built back up to a workforce of 26. We’re excited to be here.”
Sue Archibald, manager at the Pride In Print Awards, says “It is a reflection of the grit, determination and amazing attitudes shown by our friends in Canterbury, not only to return after such destruction, but to be better than ever. This is a true reflection of what Pride In Print is all about.”
Despite the upheaval experienced since the 2011 earthquake, Phillips says his firm refused to take a backwards step on quality. He says, “We have a longstanding reputation for impeccable quality, onto-it service and the best people in the local print market. The pride and quality in our work has been around from day one — something that will never change.”
Looking to the future, Phillips says the drive remains continued growth in predominantly the local market. He says, “We are not trying to take over the world in the print space and are focusing on aligning ourselves with customers that want that extra quality, want to source print from a local producer and expect a high level of service.
“Our team loves the Canterbury region and is focused on helping our clients grow their business with the help of great print work. Spectrum Print has always had a reputation for high quality work and we continue to achieve this with the great people we have on board.”
