SURVIVING CHALLENGES TO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR Lessons for all businesses and bucking the bad news story trend
Guest Speaker: Alex Commins, Managing Director, Colorpak
When manufacturing minnow Colorpak swallowed an industry giant in 2010, it was billed as an industry game-changer and, not unexpectedly, came with numerous challenges.
The mid-tier industrial packaging player’s acquisition of Carter Holt Harvey’s folding carton operations was a bold move at a time when manufacturing was feeling more than the pinch. Job losses and site closures followed as Colorpak restructured to improve its competitive position, further fuelling the negative headlines about the death of Australian manufacturing.
Yet, shareholder returns of 120%; 9-12% growth year on year; a doubling of operational capacity underline a success story that combines the mantras, ‘survival of the fittest’ and ‘who dares wins’.
