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Clarion announces black economic empowerment
deal
Clarion Printed Products has announced a black economic empowerment
deal which involves selling off 26% of the company to BEE partner
Brian Fortuin.
Mr Fortuin is the production manager of Clarion and has 28 years of
service with the company. Funding for this deal was made possible
by the Green Valley Trust.
The BEE deal was part of a process in which Clarion Trust sold a 36%
stake in the company to Brian Fortuin, Blake Currie and Wayne Lotz,
with 26% being the BEE component.
The Clarion Trust has stayed true to its commitment to do a BEE deal
internally, notwithstanding numerous external offers to sell all or
part of Clarion Printed Products.
“The intention has always been to make equity available internally
to our key staff and in so doing enact the real intentions of BEE,”
said managing director Steve Loughton. “I am delighted that
we have been able to conclude our BEE deal internally and welcome
Brian, Blake and Wayne to the board of directors.”
New energy at Clarion
Clarion Printed Products has announced
a massive R6-million investment into new digital printing technology
and introduced a fresh corporate image to represent a new generation
driving the company forward.
Clarion now has a full service digital offering broadly focused on
the branding, marketing, events and retail industry. The new technology
includes wide format digital printers with a 360 DPI capability focused
on outdoor billboards, fleet graphics, signage; digital medium format
printers with true 720dpi and capable of up to 1440dpi photo real
images ideal for POS display prints, exhibition display unit prints,
and retail, window and floor graphics.
Clarion has also added a 1.6 metre wide, direct fabric sublimation
printer to its impressive list of equipment. Two high resolution "continuous
tone" digital printers with a maximum resolution of 1440 DPI
have also been added to cater for the high quality end of the paper
poster market.
The new Clarion logo is made up of three interlinking
rings in different shades of blue, each representing the various printing
processes available. The modern design and typeface signifies a new
creative energy at Clarion but also reflects a calm work environment
where work is managed, with a cool head.
Barcelona, HP Digital Conference
In October, Clarion’s Production
Director, Wayne Lotz, and Operations Director Blake Currie travelled
to Barcelona to view the latest in digital technology at the HP Digital
Conference. As the guests of HP Scitex, they joined peers from all
corners of the globe at presentations and workshops to learn about
the cutting-edge advances made in the digital arena.
But, the trip was not all about work. Evenings were spent soaking
up the culinary and visual delights of Barcelona and attending special
events arranged by HP. Blake and Wayne even have a fuzzy memory of
being dressed as Elvis impersonators!
“It was an extraordinary event and we felt enriched by the new
relationships forged and by the opportunity to spend time with existing
friends in the industry,” said Wayne.
Did she really believe it was Elvis?
Teeing off
Clarion was proud to be one of the sponsors
of the Steenberg Golf Club’s 10th Anniversary Classic Week in
October 2006. Clarion’s sponsorship included all the print requirements
for all the marketing and advertising material used at the event.
Blake partnered Jupiter Drawing Room’s creative director, Darren
McKay in Clarion’s four ball on Sponsors Day during the celebrations.
 Meet
Blake
In each newsletter Clarion will introduce
a member of our staff.
In this edition meet Blake Currie. Blake is Operations Director at
Clarion. He has been with the company for seven years.
Blake matriculated at Wynberg Boys High School in Cape Town where
he excelled in sport.
He then shipped himself off for
his stint of national service in the South African Navy where he learnt
many skills that have stood him in good stead in later life. His passion
for rugby led him to being selected to represent his province in the
under 21 W.P. team until injury forced him to retire from the game.
Blake studied Graphic Design but decided to see the world and travelled
extensively, working mostly in the food and beverage industry where
he learnt the art of tolerance and diplomacy! Upon his return to South
Africa he took up employment in a managerial capacity with the Monex
group at Century City. It was there that he was ‘head hunted’
for a position as Clarion’s Texprint Divisional Manager at Clarion
and his technical training in graphics assisted him to bring about
a dynamic new thinking to Clarion’s range of products. His youthful
enthusiasm forged many new relationships with customers and Blake
was soon promoted to Group Operations Manager and has recently been
made a Director of Clarion. |
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Woolworths
Adderly Street
Window Graphics |
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Caltex tankers
Fleet Graphics
for 100 Caltex tankers |
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Kia
Wallmark
Showroom Branding |
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Ssyang Yong
Wallmark
Showroom Branding |
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Daihatsu
Wallmark
Showroom Branding |
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Jordon Shoes
Wallmark was used extensively to brand the
newly renovated, impressive Jordon shoes showroom |
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Various visual
graphics products such as
floor and
wall graphics
were used to brand
the BAT headoffice in Stellenbosch to launch their new brand,
Kent internally |
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| Lithotex
transfer printed for Speedo for Woolworths girls swimwear |
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Plastisol
transfer printed for Canterbury
for SA Rugby
supporters jerseys |
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Jewellery
accessory card
produced for
Exact stores |
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Entry
box produced
for Masterfoods "Whiskas/Pedigree" promotion |
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