Route1 is increasing capacity to produce calendars in time for peak season as the Bluetree Group continues a wave of investment. The company has expanded its large format arm, installed a new Rollem for business cards and has a Konica Minolta 230 for printing labels, starting a diversification that will grow.
For now the focus is on calendars with installation of a Renz Inline 500 Classic punching and binding machine. As well as calendars it is earmarked to produce notebooks and other wire bound books. The deal was finalised during a period that Renz was in administration before agreeing to acquisition by Plockmatic.
Bluetree managing director Mark Young explains that this is a welcome step. “It provides reassurance thanks to a great support network behind the companies. We did look at competitors, but Renz offered by far the best solution and we felt it is best to stick with the people we know well.”
The equipment was commissioned during September, timed to be ready for the peak three-month period for the business. It will enable the business to produce 35,000 calendars a week.
The deal is an endorsement of Plockmatic’s decision to acquire Renz. Equipment will be installed in the Morgana/Plockmatic showroom in Milton Keynes. “This sends a strong positive message to our partners and customers and is another sign of our unwavering cooperation to grow our business successfully within Plockmatic,” says Renz UK managing director Iain Bullock.
Manufacture of the smaller machines in the range has already switched to Plockmatic’s factory in Latvia. Other products will follow. Renz already has the lion’s share of the wire binding market in the UK, making the bigger opportunity across the Atlantic where Renz has achieved little penetration. Nevertheless Plockmatic UK general manager Ed Hudson says: “Moving forward, we are confident we will together achieve further sales success and market penetration.”
