By Tanya Steele
Breen Printing is celebrating its 50th year in business this month with plans to continue changing as the industry does.
Kirsty, one of the current owners is proud of how the business has evolved and where it is today.
“We officially turned 50 a few weeks ago – on April 2nd ,” she said.
The family owned business has been in operation since 1973 and has adapted several times to the printing landscape.
Originally founded by Peter Breen, Derek and Merinda Jones bought the business in 1985, it has since passed along to their daughter Kirsty and son-in-law Luke.
The couple manage the printing press along with the usual demands of family life with their two children.
Kirsty has been working in printing since she was 18 and hasn’t gotten bored yet, she did a graphic pre-press apprenticeship through Breen.
“I really enjoyed the industry and realised how creative and interesting it could be,” she said.
Luke credits their good communication and clearly defined roles within the business to helping their work relationship work well.
The printing industry has changed over the years moving from lead press to offset machines for commercial printing.
Dubbed “Speedy” by the staff, the large offset printer churns out at an amazing rate and Luke and Kirsty enjoy talking about the processes involved.
“With offset, you put a physical plate on the press and that sets the image,” Luke said.
“The image transfers onto the plate and we use ink which is put into the machine and there’s a dot pattern that kind of makes the colours come together,” Kirsty said.
When Kirtsty started in 2000, the digital printing area began in earnest and the site also had a laser printer installed for other styles of printing.
Requirements from the Healesville region have changed over the years, Kirsty remembers printing brochures for holiday rentals some time ago.
“Nowadays we’re doing menus for the wineries and point of sale promotional material,” she said.
The couple want to hold a few open days throughout the year to show local residents how printing works up close.
“We hope to make a year of it and show our appreciation to the local community for their support over the years in as many ways as possible,” Kirsty said.
