Presses
Polestar Petty in consultation over 52 jobs
Polestar Petty will begin a consultation with staff over proposals to cut 52 jobs after announcing it is to cease production on two of its litho presses.
All staff from the Leeds-based company's press hall are awaiting a consultation period, which it is understood will start in the next few days.
Polestar said the decision was part of an ongoing review of its print strategy. As part of that review, the Baker Perkins G16 and a Manroland Lithoman 3 will cease production.
Catherine Hearn, Polestar's group operations director, told PrintWeek that the decision to close the two presses was announced to workers this morning.
She said: "We have planned to take web offset capacity out of the market and workers will have been aware of this.
"The presses were closed because of their ages. One was over 20 years old, the other was just under."
Polestar chief executive Barry Hibbert said: "I suspect this is one of many moves in the sector to reduce capacity.
"From a group perspective, it is better to close presses at one of our major web offset sites rather than downshift at several sites; the net result is to take press hours out of the market.
"Having run the Petty site as managing director back in the 1990s I am sorry to see this affect many of the people I have worked with closely.''
Chris Bowen, Polestar Petty managing director, said: ''We will consult with staff over the coming weeks and provide as much support as possible to help those at risk of redundancy.''
Andy Hogg has been appointed as Polestar Petty's Unite representative. He is expected to hold meetings on Friday (19 December).
Hibbert: net result is to take press hours out of the market
Comments
lordof weboffset - 15 December 2008
Don't worry Polestar; I hear that Rosco P Coltrane is riding to your rescue. He has done such a good job at BGP, you're the next company he is going to save.
Couldn't make it up if you tried. Priceless.
- 15 December 2008
Polestar are following good business practice in a very tough market place. It is better to save a few of the future plants with modern business models and survive.
If you require our free report on;
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ronald dyer - 15 December 2008
the tide has turned an farefare of business of acalodes on one blog and missery on the next
ronald dyer - 15 December 2008
sorry should be "a fanfae of business accolades on one blog and here we ago again on the next greaves shut down jan 09 and pettys shutting closing down sale down also on
Mr P. Turner - 16 December 2008
Love the way it's still referred to as a '30 day consultation' - Can't wait til the 'consulting' starts, I wonder if this will be a rare case whereby a different and more practical solution to redundancies is found, one that doesn't lead to a complete closedown. Oh and Catherine - what's wrong with an aged machine? Just means it's been bedded in well. Maybe an alternate solution would be to get rid of a few inept middle managers and enlist the skills of some establlished and competent sales managers to get work flowing through these machines and help turn a profit?
A R w - 16 December 2008
this coinsides with the 'capacity' that was taken out of quebecor ie, 72pp KBA that is now running at chantry which houses no less than 5 20 year old presses\(8 unit 32pp presses aswell)and 1 modern rotoman\(which was rumoured to be going) it was obvious 'capacity' was going to be taken out somewhere, personally i think theres more to come in the near future at least petty`s has newer machines with modern technology and 4 unit presses with 4 men how long will presses with 5 and even 6 men continue........
the PM - 16 December 2008
Mr Economics you clearly know little about print economics.
What's wrong with an old press . . let me help out
Old press runs at 17000 per hr – new press runs at 38000 per hr
Old press has 630mm cut off – new press has 620mm cut off
Old press takes 2.5hrs to make ready – new press 40 minutes
Old press prints 64pp in one revolution – new press 72pp
So, Mr Economics, if your speed increases by 123%, paper consumption drops by 1.6%, make ready time is reduced by 73% and ach revolution of the press gives you 12.5% more copy do you get the answer to your question Milton?
A R w - 16 December 2008
spot on PM
only thing is tho id say most old presses print 16pp in 1 revolution rather than 32 on the twin web 64pp presses
Bush Whacker - 16 December 2008
Polestar. LOL! Now THERE'S a great business model......ROFL.
buyer man - 16 December 2008
This makes a lot of sense, better to shut web presses than keep excess capacity in an oversubscribed market. If you start adding up the announced capacity reductions over the last few weeks this is a lot of press production. I bet St Ives will be next.
Charlie Minnot - 16 December 2008
Mr Economics is right to refer to it sarcastically as a "consultation" period no matter how long it may be. It's just another piece of useless union inspired \(an oxymoron if ever there was one) legislation that slows down implementation of decisions that have already been properly made by management. I can tell you with certainty these consultations are a complete waste of time, no more than lip service and an extra month on the notice period via this back door process. Having participated in dozens of such consultations over the years and listened to some pathetic, supposedly alterative options put forward by union people with no idea of how to run a business, I just hope the next Conservative government will grasp the nettle and dispense with these kind of arrangements that are no more than payback to Labours paymasters.
web break no evidence - 16 December 2008
pettys will do what other polestar plants have done -shut presses down and then run them on overtime -good business practice ??? fill your boots again polestar printers who are lucky enough to make the cut
Robert Smith - 17 December 2008
Where were all these commendations when Wyndeham recently announced a similar \(if slightly larger scale) downsizing?
Mr P. Turner - 18 December 2008
To 'The PM' Here is why you keep a 20year old press. It's fully paid for - it's an asset that's worth more than you'd get selling it. By all means upgrade and buy a new press but why not keep it stacked with work to capacity and running. It could be that you use this press as your bread and butter money. And if one of my printers took two hours on make ready i'd march him down the dss to sign on myself as he clearly isn't a very good cost effective member of my staff?! But since you know little about economics and cost/saving vs productivity/commissioning of funds and assets i'll let you live in your little bubble. Thanks to Charlie though - i'm glad you gleamed the sarcasm I used! Think it's bad at Polestar though chaps? - Keep your eyes on Wyndeham, they been mentioned on here more times than United have won at home lately, think Mr Sibbalds going to have his work cut out with these giants in the next few weeks. Good luck to all and everyone though - hope some will at least have a happy christmas.
Pedro Duval - 18 December 2008
Having been enthused by the recent advertising promotions of Colin Thompson and Doug Richardson I am going to start my own consultancy, it will be carry the proud name of 'Sustainable Manufacturing Efficiency Gains', which I will abbreviate to the eminently more pronounceable, SMEG.
I am sure you have heard Ruud Gullit speak of 'Total football', well, welcome to the visionary world of 'Total SMEG'.
My aim is to transform the industry through the implementation of 'Total SMEG'. One of the key ingredients that underpins the success of 'total SMEG' is 'Pedro Duval's Immediate Print Industry Miracle Cure' which must be quickly swallowed prior to any searching questions:
IngredientPreparation
Waffle \(Lots of) Reports full of it.
Bullshit \(The thicker the better)Ladle on generously – do not spare!
For further information on 'total SMEG' please e-mail me for the extortionate price of the downsized version of the full brochure entitled 'How to be totally SMEGGED', or, if you prefer, I could send you a small sample of Pedro Duval's Immediate Print Industry Miracle Cure \(I have strangely amassed massive stocks).
'Total SMEG', The Way Forward!
Print Observer - 18 December 2008
where do I sign!
Print Observer - 18 December 2008
small point... the £2,500 fee? seems a little OTT
Black Dog - 18 December 2008
The timing of this is very intriguing. Were Polestar waiting to see how much capacity would be required if the doors were locked at Wyndeham before announcing their own planned cuts?
Does Wyndeham now have the only truly 'sustainable' business model in the country?
Who will be making the next restructuring announcement? Something is imminent I feel..................
Captain Black - 18 December 2008
no prizes there I am afraid, is got to be Roy of the Rovers
lordof weboffset - 18 December 2008
They have done it allready!
Boss hogg and rosco have "left the building"
Pedro Duval - 18 December 2008
Learned Ladies & Gents Please excuse the earlier posting of this comment, it did not copy and paste very well and then, because I have poor hand to eye co-ordination, \(or, as some would say, I am a clumsy [EDITED]) I inadvertently pressed the 'Post Your Comment' button. So, again: Having been enthused by the recent advertising promotions of Colin Thompson and Doug Richardson on the Printweek comments pages I have decided to start my own consultancy, it will be carrying the proud name of 'Sustainable Manufacturing Efficiency Gains', which I will abbreviate to the eminently more pronounceable, SMEG. I am sure you have heard Ruud Gullit speak of 'Total football', well, welcome to the visionary world of 'Total SMEG'. My aim is to transform the industry through the implementation of 'Total SMEG'. One of the key ingredients that underpins the success of 'Total SMEG' is 'Pedro Duval's Immediate Print Industry Miracle Cure' which must be quickly swallowed prior to any searching questions: Ingredient -\- Preparation Waffle \(Lots of) -\- Reports full of it. Bullshit \(The thicker the better) -\- Ladle on generously – do not spare! For further information on 'total SMEG' please e-mail me for the extortionate price of the downsized version of the full brochure entitled 'How to be totally SMEGGED', or, if you prefer, I could send you a small sample of Pedro Duval's Immediate Print Industry Miracle Cure \(I have strangely amassed massive stocks). 'Total SMEG', The Way Forward!
The Mighty wind - 18 December 2008
this was the price for the debt for equity swap and there is more coming
Pedro Duval - 19 December 2008
Print Observer
Thank you kindly for signing up to 'Total SMEG' and 'Pedro Duval's Immediate Print Industry Miracle Cure', however, I have to correct both your grammar and numeracy:
When you typed 'the £2,500 fee?' you missed both a comma \(poor grammar) and three zeros \(poor numeracy), it actually should have read 'the £2,500,000 fee?' Back to school for you boy!
I look forward to the 'cheque in the post' to the following business address, c/o:
A. Shaft
Hilton Barbados
Needham's Point
St. Michel
Barbados
Print Observer - 19 December 2008
It's worth every penny , I'm learning already.
Norman Stanley Flecher - 19 December 2008
In conversation the other day I was reminded of just how ancient a lot of Polestars web presses actually are. We've all gone on a length about the debt position but who's going to allow them to do it all over again when some of these old bangers finally expire.
The Mighty wind - 19 December 2008
NSF: somebody already is the press and binding lines from Quebecor @ 4mill. But your point is very valid polestar's webs are old and poorly maintained
buyer man - 19 December 2008
Well just been for an interview at Sheffield, 600,000 sq ft new factory of 4 new 3.88 gravure, 6 new Farags, 7 new poly lines.\( well 2 years old) and a full factory......I must have gone to the wrong Polestar !! Got the Job :) !!!
The Mighty wind - 19 December 2008
[quote user="buyer man"]
Well just been for an interview at Sheffield, 600,000 sq ft new factory of 4 new 3.88 gravure, 6 new Farags, 7 new poly lines.\( well 2 years old) and a full factory......I must have gone to the wrong Polestar !! Got the Job :) !!!
[/quote]
you mean ferags, and my condolences on getting the job ;). [The discussion was on their web offset]
NDCT - 21 December 2008
Buyer : You'd better just hope that no-one at Polestar reads this blog.
Too late.
Hello Catherine!
web break no evidence - 22 December 2008
72 page presses are ok if you have a competent and experienced stacker man
The Mighty wind - 24 December 2008
love it
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