4 minute read
FINISHING & BOOKBINDING: BOOKBINDING PRESS COVERS THE SPECTRUM OF FINISHING
Bookbinding Press covers the spectrum of finishing
Specialist knowledge and skills deliver high quality finishing and bookbinding.
From its Glenfield base, on Auckland’s North Shore, Bookbinding Press completes a range of finishing work.
Owner, director, and man of all trades at Bookbinding Press, Gary Horsbrough, is a qualified Bookbinder and Print Finisher. He has owned the business since 2010.
He says, “It was established in 1976, and I purchased it off the founder. I was his very first tradesman; I started here after finishing my apprenticeship with Trade Ruling and Binding. I have had a few hiatuses with things like the Big OE, but 95 per cent of my time since 1989 has been working in this industry.
“We currently employ seven staff members, and they perform the full range of print finishing and bookbinding tasks. They are a great group of people so I can confidently tell customers that they will receive the best quality work. I work on the floor as well as running the sales side and manage the company.”
Bookbinding Press’s work covers:
Bookbinding
PUR binding
Case binding
Line Mounting
Foiling
Ring binders
Menus
Bespoke boxes
Section sewing
And sail/singer sewing
Gary adds, “We also offer a consultation service. It is important that, prior to printing, the customer understands what we can do to obtain the best result for their job. We often provide one-off samples for sign off.
“Our customers come from all sorts of places. Obviously print companies and advertising agencies feature here. There are fewer companies with real expertise in bookbinding and finishing, so when companies realise that we can help them deliver a top quality outcome for their work, they can make the most of our services. We have rate cards for the trade, and we are always happy to help with advice and recommendations.
“Our retail customers include the likes of real estate agents, textile and construction companies, and stationery suppliers. We also do a solid amount of archival work for one-off clients. We have a variety of requests such as wedding albums, thesis binding, baby books, memorial books, recipe books and so on.”
Disaster and recovery
At the beginning of 2023, lethal atmospheric rivers flooded the Wairau area where Bookbinding Press sits. The flooding almost destroyed the business.
Gary says, “The atmospheric rivers had a massive effect on us. The building flooded and we lost most of our equipment and stock. We were able to save some of the machinery. Fortunately, our insurance company did the right thing, and we have worked hard to rebuild the business.
“We have replaced the equipment that could not be saved, and we have fortified the building against further flooding. Importantly, we have managed to retain customers.”
The flooding wasn’t the only issue Bookbinding Press faced. Its recently acquired case binding machine caught fire, but Gary and his team were able contain the blaze. He says, “It was timing. We were closing up the factory when we saw the smoke. If it happened a couple of hours later, we might have lost the whole building.”
If you are superstitious, you would be expecting a third misfortune and sure enough, Bookbinding Press had part of its roof come off during a storm.
Currently, Gary says the biggest challenge Bookbinding Press faces is the lack of industry skills. He says, “Finding qualified bookbinding tradespeople is getting more difficult. Another issue is the ongoing cost increases that most businesses are having to cope with.
“One of the best aspects of this business is the incredible people I get to meet. It is truly rewarding to know that the skills we bring can make a real difference to their projects. Whether it is a quick chat with a customer or going the extra mile to get the job done, it always makes for a fulfilling week. Ultimately, we are proud to assist people in creating exactly what they want.”
