Member Article

Northumberland charitable trust makes a great impression with new digital press

Pegswood based Azure Printing has just invested in a state of the art digital press complete with finishing units that can produce books, brochures and business cards in a trice.

The digital press will complement the company’s existing litho presses allowing Azure Printing maximum flexibility to meet both short and long run work for customers.

Trading since 1989, and employing eight full time staff, Azure Printing is a successful printing and design company with a big heart. As part of Azure Charitable Enterprises its mission is to “improve the lives of people who are disabled or disadvantaged”. The organisatio is based at Pegswood Industrial Estate near Morpeth.

This means that clients who have corporate literature designed and printed here are also helping the local community because all surpluses are ploughed back into the charity.

Additionally, in its quest to provide a better life for people with disabilities, Azure Printing also employs three registered disabled staff.

The company offers a professional service relating to all aspects of design and print, and employs an innovative and creative design team as well as fully qualified and highly trained print and print finishing professionals producing short to high volume print and large format display products.

Azure Printing works with a variety of clients including schools, estate agents, charities, retailers and manufacturers, from as far away as Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as in the North East and Northumberland.

Allan Lynn, Manager at Azure Printing, has managed the company for 18 years. He says: “Azure Printing has gained an excellent reputation for providing quality products at competitive prices to a varied customer base. We strive to provide a professional, economic service at all times and the acquisition of the new digital machine means we can continue to meet clients ever demanding deadlines. Clients, can for example have five or 5000 leaflets produced and the price will still be competitive”.

“Success at Azure Printing is absolutely critical as we are protecting the jobs of people with disability in the North East. We have to be at the top of our game to compete in an open market place – and with this new press we most definitely are.”

Gary Alsop from Bedlington is Production Supervisor at Azure Printing and joined Azure as Printer Supervisor in 1990 when he was just 18. He says: “The new digital press is totally awesome. Where once we might be taking a week to turn around a complicated job, it’s now just taking us a couple of days. Some clients can even order their print and it’s done the same day!”

“The reason I’ve made my career here is because I enjoy the ethos of the company. There’s a great, hard-working team here, we’re producing top quality, up to the minute print work for customers, but we’re also helping vulnerable members of our local community and giving opportunities to disabled people. This dual aspect of the work here makes my role doubly rewarding.”

For more information on Azure Printing, please go to www.azure-printing.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kate Slater .