The new owner of Veronica Textiles will introduce digital printing and small run capacities to ensure the future of the business.
David Robison, owner of Braeside printing and finishing business Covercraft, became the new owner of Veronica Textiles on September 6. He purchased the textile printing company from long-time owners, the Evans family.
Robison said he planned to improve the capability of Veronica Textiles by adding digital printing facilities to the business' existing screen printing technology.
Polyester digital printing capabilities are already in place, while equipment to process digital prints on silk, cotton, wool and nylon is expected to be delivered in December.
Local fashion firms that require small and fast sampling are Robison's target market.
“The quantity business is gone, that's offshore, that's disappeared,” Robison conceded. “But the folks that want to be able to trial something and have it done quickly, that's the thing we're going to specialise in.”
Robison revealed Veronica Textiles would offer seven to 14-day turnaround times and minimum five metre runs for digital printing jobs. He expected the cost of a five metre digital sample would start at $250, with prices to vary based on the volume and fabrics.
The Evans family will stay on with the business until December, when they will reassess their options, he said. Veronica Textiles national sales manager Margaret Evans said her family was happy with the sale.
“We did have other offers for the business but felt Covercraft, with its commitment to the fashion industry and extra printing and manufacturing facilities, was the best company to continue the quality product and service that Veronica Textiles has offered the industry over the last 30 years,” she said.
The Evans family first listed the business for sale in March 2010, citing the diminishing support for local manufacturing from both government and local business as the reason for the sale.
Covercraft was established five years ago and up until now has focused on creating digital prints for the soft signage advertising industry. The Covercraft business will relocate from Braeside to the Veronica Textiles site in Cheltenham, Melbourne.
Erin O'Loughlin.