Speaking at a client event last night, where the group launched the upcoming revamp of its web offset facilities to more than 450 guests, Hibbert delivered a tour de force in praise of the power of print.
He contrasted print’s proven effectiveness against the comparatively miniscule revenues from digital publishing and other online channels.
"Of course we should embrace and encourage digital, but we shouldn’t do that at the expense of a sound business model that has stood the test of time," he stated. "Without printing, none of you would have a digital stream to work with.
"We want to encourage you to continue to invest in the golden nugget of printing."
Hibbert also said Polestar was likely to make an acquisition in the digital content space "when the time is right". "We want to be a one-stop shop but the digital market is too fragmented at the moment, it's like the VHS and Betamax scenario. When the time is right we will acquire."
Clients including major newspaper, publishing and retailing brands attended the event.
Two months ago Polestar announced a £50m investment in new web presses from Goss International. It also plans to add two new high-speed perfect binding lines as part of the plan.
The first two 96pp Sunday 5000 presses are due to be installed in the first half of next year, but Polestar is still assessing options for their location.
Hibbert thanked customers for the long-term commitment of more than £900m of business over the next seven-to-eight years, which had made the spend possible.
Group finance director Peter Johnston said the financial picture at the £280m turnover group had been "strengthened immeasurably" since 2011, when Polestar nearly collapsed prior to the pre-pack acquisition by Sun European Partners.
"Despite the fact that we are operating in a very difficult economic climate we grew our earnings by 13% to £34m in 2012, and we expect to make a profit of £37m in 2013," he said.
"The printing industry in the UK is robust but the players in it are fragile, with weak balance sheets in the hands of private owners with limited access to funds. Polestar is the exception to that," Johnston stated.
Chief operating officer Peter Andreou said the new presses would result in Polestar becoming "one of the most technologically advanced web offset business in Europe, if not the world", with the capacity to produce 11bn 32pp sections per annum.
When installed, the new presses will provide "a 500% productivity increase over our current capabilities," said Andreou.
Goss International chief executive Rick Nichols, who made a flying visit to the UK in order to attend the event, said: "I’ve racked up more than 500,000 air miles visiting Goss customers in print and packaging since I joined the company 11 months ago, and Polestar is in the top five in terms of innovation and making a huge transformational change in their business."
He said the Goss webs would deliver "a sheetfed-type finish at web offset speed."
