Vision in Print and BPIF merge operations

Vision in Print and the BPIF are to combine forces to deliver the best possible service to raise productivity and competitiveness across the UK print and packaging industry. Under new arrangements announced today, ViP and BPIF Business, the bespoke consultancy arm of the BPIF, will merge to form a new company, The Print & Packaging Industry Forum, which will continue to trade under the name ‘Vision in Print’. The new company will have its own management board and will become a subsidiary of the BPIF. The new structure will provide greater financial backing, following the completion this spring of planned funding for ViP from the DTI, as well as enabling operational synergies and economies of scale, and allowing more rapid development of services. The new structure will take effect from 1st July 2007.

‘Since it was founded in 2003, ViP has made a substantial impact on the UK printing industry,’ said Richard Gray, who becomes managing director of the new company. ‘Our engineers have completed over 250 Premier Snapshot operations diagnostics with subsequent improvement programs, over 200 in all, delivering an average of 127,000 added value. In addition for the last 18 months ViP has managed under contract the bespoke consultancy arm of the BPIF, BPIF Business. This service has around eight hundred clients and delivers support, advice and training on topics such as health, safety and the environment, technical, human resources and business development. The new combined structure will enable more companies to benefit from our expertise, which is just as applicable to packaging specialists as printers.’

To ensure the new company abides by the original forum remit, the existing ViP Board will monitor progress. This will ensure that ViP works up and down the supply chain with suppliers and print and packaging customers as well as continuing to collaborate with all relevant print and packaging trade bodies.

Andrew Pindar, chairman of Vision in Print, commented, ‘The Board is very proud of the achievements of ViP over the last four years and is determined that it is able to continue to develop and broaden its services. I am confident that combining our business with that of the BPIF will be pivotal to the future and will not jeopardize the cross-industry support that has been a key feature of ViP’s success.’

Dominic Walsh, president of the BPIF, concluded, ‘The BPIF, under Michael Johnson's leadership, secured the original funding to establish Vision in Print and has been a close partner ever since. The BPIF has been delighted with the impact Richard Gray and his dedicated team have made on the productivity agenda for the UK print & packaging industry. It was natural that ViP should turn to the BPIF to help take this superb business to a new level and ensure its continued success. We will be working to ensure that more and more companies take advantage of the combined services the new organization offers. I am also certain that print and packaging companies will welcome this simplification of industry body structures. We are delighted to support this next stage of ViP's positive development.’

The DTI added, ‘Vision in Print, the Print Industry Forum, has recently completed its period of funding. It exceeded by far the original project delivery targets with over 250 companies having been engaged successfully in best practice programs. We are pleased to hear that ViP will now link up with its original sponsor organization, the BPIF, but will continue to serve the whole print and packaging community. As a member of the Industry Forum network, it will remain a key delivery player in the Government's drive for greater manufacturing productivity and competitiveness. We trust that VIP will continue to provide a valuable and highly respected service to print and packaging companies.’

Top row, left to right: Michael Gardner, head of finance, BPIF; Richard Gray, chief executive, ViP. Bottom row, left to right: Michael Johnson, chief executive, BPIF; John Pulford, vice chairman, ViP