News
Issue No. 9 - February/March 2003
News Snapshots
Rainbow Press rises from ashes
The fire which destroyed Rainbow Press at Dry Creek could not have happened at a worse time. With only three weeks before Christmas, all printers work at a frantic pace during the busiest time of their year.
But news reports suggesting Rainbow’s 24 workers would be thrown out of work were premature. In a minor miracle of goodwill and organisation, Rainbow presses were turning again within days.
"Within five working days of the fire, we had three printing presses up and running and had restored one third of our printing capacity before the fire. Many thanks to our former tenant, Ian of Hillsley Hire [who provided warehouse space], our plant suppliers AM International, CPI Graphics, Graf-X and Heidelberg and their engineers, and Jeff of Galipo Food Services," says Rainbow director, Jack Chan.
Rainbow management welcomed the assistance, some of which came from surprising directions. Other pinters, such as Custom Press, took on subcontracted work, reprinting Rainbow jobs in some cases before their own.
“It’s a very small town; although we are competitors normally, once something like this happened they were quick to help,” Jack says, adding there was no way Rainbow could have come up to capacity so quickly, to deliver jobs to customers on time, without the help of their industry colleagues.
Jack also warns of the danger of under-insurance, which was a problem for Rainbow and—he suspects—probably for the printing industry as a whole.
Darwin rail rates released
The Essential Services Commission of SA (ESCOSA) released draft pricing guidelines in January for the rail line to Darwin, expected to be operational by early 2004.
"These draft guidelines provide assistance to the operator, Asia Pacific Transport (APT) Ltd and to companies planning to use the railway, in agreeing charges for services," says Commission chair, Lew Owens.
E...
