Buying Modern Bookbinders’ machinery, stock and expansive client list, The Flow Group has also taken on the firm’s two production staff “for the foreseeable future” and former owner, Warren Eastwood, in an advisory capacity.
“We are incredibly proud to carry forward the legacy of Modern Bookbinders,” said Richard Standing, managing director of The Flow Group.
“When we saw that a business with nearly a century of history was at risk of being dissolved, we knew we had to step in.”
Speaking to Printweek, Standing added that he had been having very positive conversations with Modern Bookbinders’ clients about the future.
He said: “Warren has been sending me emails from people saying they’re delighted that we’re continuing with the business, and I’ve got a few meetings booked in with some large customers in the new year, so it’s been a really positive start.
“It’s definitely a different product, but I think it will complement what we do. I’m convinced that there will be some work where Modern Bookbinders' clients will find some use for what we do, and vice versa.”
Modern Bookbinders uses a variety of specialist kit, including some old and rare machinery; its plant list features a pair of Kolbus 1966 GDS casemakers, Kolbus PE 48 foil blocking press and Kolbus rotary guillotine, alongside a rotary creasing machine, power creaser, guillotines, gluers, riveting machines, and a pair of PBE Marking Systems machines for foiling and rounding.
“We just want to ensure a really smooth transition, and to make sure we keep up the high quality of the products they produce, and maintain the great relationship they have with their customers,” Standing said.
“From a financial point of view, we’d like to see £400,000-£500,000 in year one, and we’d certainly like to think we can maintain or grow that over the coming years.”
This half-million-pound turnover will go on top of The Flow Group’s existing sales, which total around £3.5m annually.
To fit the new business into its Brighouse site, The Flow Group has undergone some rapid building work, converting an exterior structure into a new unit and adding a 110sqm mezzanine floor to its existing unit, giving a total area of roughly 1,800sqm at the site once complete in January.
“It’s a little bit of discomfort now, because it’s quite a lot to do in a short space of time, but we’re aiming to have all the equipment ready, commissioned, and wired in the building by 13 January. There’s quite a lot to do by then, but we’re definitely excited for the challenge,” Standing said.
