Folio rounds off 90,000 kit spend with recruitment drive

Finishing specialist Folio has invested 90,000 and brought in six new staff in its bid to corner the wiro-binding market.

The Bristol-based company has installed a P500, ECL500 and Autobind 500 from Renz, in addition to a collection of secondhand equipment that was bought in August.

According to Folio managing director Andy Bird, the company decided to add wiro-binding to its array of finishing services when a local finishing company, Cotswold Print Finishers (CPF), closed in July.

Folio brought in CPF's managing director Alan Churchill, bought some of the company's equipment, and added to its machinery portfolio with the Renz investment.

Bird said: "We would not have dreamed of investing in wiro-binding while Cotswold was still going, because then it would not be a niche service. But we have talked about moving into that area and with them closing it seemed like the right time.

"We now have an extensive finishing service; it is easier to say what we don't do than what we can do."

The £3m-turnover company has also added five new staff, taking its total number of employees to more than 70. Several of the new staff were brought over from CPF, which Bird believes will help Folio maintain a high-quality service.

He added: "We want to be a 'jack of all trades', but we need to have the knowledge and skill in each of those areas. We brought in Alan because he understands the market and has that skill set."