Having served the printing business since 1966, Precision Printing recently celebrated its 50th birthday – and what a few years it has been.
The North-East framed prints provider began its life in Central Street, London. Twenty-year-old founder Clive Cooper dreamed of starting a print shop, and when the opportunity came to acquire and re-brand an existing printers, Clive took the opportunity and ran with it.
Later, Clive’s stepson, CEO Gary Peeler joined the business, and brought with him a desire to evolve and adapt, which helped when technology developed over the decades.
The company saw many changes in print products. Here are some highlights:
- 1960s: letterpress, letters and short runs
- 1970s and 80s: General stationery, stitched books, long runs and GTOs
- Now: Personalised direct mail, lay-flat books, digitally printed short runs and LED UV offset.
Today, digital presses have reduced the need for larger print runs, and instead allow for seamless short runs that are also more economic.
The turnaround for products like business cards, which used to be a two-week turnaround, can be turned around on the same day, with the customer placing their order online, with little involvement from an artworker.
Precision has turned now more from printing services to a combined creative print agency. The company works with agencies to give advice on the best products to meet client needs, and how new technology such as Scodix and Motion Cutter can be utilised.
Graphic design has also changed through the years too. Technology has changed to help designers push themselves – and their boundaries. Technological advancements help printers to tell a story through design in a more creative way than ever before.
The future’s bright for Precision Printing. The company is moving forward with Where the Trade Buys, a service specifically targeted at trade printers, providing selfie frames to business cards and loyalty cards.
This year, Precision will also be moving from its 3,300sqm Barking site to a larger 5,110sqm premises. Its team is also Beta-testing a HP 12000 Digital Press, which produces a superior print quality, has high productivity, and wide versatility. This will allow them to fulfil large orders in even better quality.
