PLASTGrommet and Eurotech: Working together to enable large-format automation in Australia

How PLASTGrommet and Eurotech’s long-lasting partnership has supported the journey of automating mass production in Australia  

Eurotech is an Australian supplier of signware and materials nationwide. Image: Eurotech 

Australia has always presented a unique challenge for large-format print providers. The combination of vast geography, relatively small population, high labour costs, and climatic and regulatory application requirements have created a market with specific requirements. With its commitment to understanding local production realities, PLASTGrommet’s growth in the Australian market hasn’t resulted from simply supplying machines, it has come through a collaborative partnership with Eurotech and the solutions the company has developed to address common challenges faced by large-format print service providers in Australia.

With a substantial proportion of large-format print output in Australia tied to construction, infrastructure and outdoor advertising and considering the country's geographic scale, reliable logistics, easy access to technical information, and strong local support networks are essential. The varied product mix in Australia along with low unemployment rates and growing skills shortages also creates a greater need to automate efficiently and free up skilled operators. Like many markets, investments in printing equipment are often prioritised over finishing, but it's the businesses that consider both stages of production together that achieve the best outcomes. 

Combining global manufacturing with local expertise

PLASTGrommet supports customers across Europe, North America and Australia with large-format finishing automation solutions. While innovation, engineering, and manufacturing are at the heart of the business, delivering successful support in international markets depends on combining these strengths with the market expertise of knowledgeable local partners. This is where Eurotech, an Australian supplier of signware and materials nationwide with roots in manufacturing, comes in. 

PLASTGrommet and Eurotech’s partnership began when they first connected at FESPA Global Print Expo in the early 2010s and from the outset both companies shared a commitment to innovation, problem-solving, and long-term customer support. Prior to working with PLASTGrommet, Eurotech wasn’t actively supplying large-format finishing equipment but the company’s strong manufacturing background meant it had a deep understanding of machinery, production processes and customer requirements.

James Smith, Finance and Operations Director, Eurotech, explains that this clean slate was, in hindsight, a significant advantage. “We were able to look at the market objectively and focus purely on what the customer actually needed. That allowed us to fully commit to building the PLASTGrommet brand in Australia. All of our efforts went into developing the market, supporting customers, and growing the installed base.” 

A key element to this relationship was their shared approach to delivering value, and James explains that this shows up in how the two companies communicate, how they approach problems, and how they continue to develop their offering. “It’s not just about supplying equipment, it’s about making sure that equipment performs in real-world environments and continues to deliver value over time,” he adds. Rather than simply pushing ready-made products out to the market, this led PLASTGrommet and Eurotech to produce large-format finishing automation solutions that are tailored specifically to Australia’s needs. 

Tailoring solutions for the Australian market 

Australian regulations require construction sites to be screened using mesh products, creating strong demand for printed mesh applications. Because of the lengths involved, Australian fence mesh is commonly manufactured in long rolls, unlike in many European markets, where banners are often produced individually. 

When Eurotech first entered the market, most finishing was still performed manually using separate welding and eyeleting equipment. Through ongoing discussions with customers, particularly Jaybro, an infrastructure supplies and solutions partner in Australia, it became clear that finishing was a major bottleneck for print businesses. Fence mesh production volumes were increasing, but much of the finishing process remained highly manual with a significant amount of time spent welding and eyeleting mesh. 

Working together, Eurotech and PLASTGrommet developed a solution to this challenge in the form of the industry’s first Roll2Roll eyeleting system which was subsequently ordered by Jaybro in early 2016, resulting in a reduction from two people taking approximately 35 minutes to finish a printed roll, to one person completing the same process in around 10 minutes.

However, what began as a solution to one specific customer challenge quickly proved to be the solution the wider Australian market had been waiting for. Many other businesses were looking for ways to remove finishing bottlenecks and increase production capacity, demand for greater levels of automation continued to grow, and Cactus Imaging, one of the leading grand format printers in Australia, took order of the first fully automated welding and eyeleting system in 2019. 

For Cactus Imaging, automation has become a central focus of its production strategy, as Keith Ferrel, Co-founder and General Manager, Operations at the company, explains: “I’ve always been an avid believer that you’re only as quick as the slowest point in your process, and in a lot of cases that’s in the finishing side of things. It used to take two guys two and a half hours to put reinforced webbing around the perimeter of banners and then add eyelets. Now we use a PLASTGrommet machine and it takes 12 minutes to do a 50-metre roll with one person operating it. You can imagine, with the increased volumes, it’s only possible to achieve that through automation.” 

Today, six fully automated welding and eyeleting machines from PLASTGrommet have been installed across Australia and New Zealand, alongside nine dual-head eyelet systems dedicated to pre-hemmed mesh production.

Automation wasn’t the only area where the Australian market required a different approach as environmental conditions also influence finishing requirements. Clear eyelets are the preferred choice across Australia due to being rust-free and visually unobtrusive. Their compatibility with recyclable materials and their long-neck configuration also make them suitable for thicker substrates without causing damage or deformation to materials. However, in cases where metal eyelets are required, Australia’s coastline and proximity to the ocean can cause corrosion and in these cases stainless steel eyelets are more suitable than traditional metal alternatives. 

To support these requirements, PLASTGrommet and Eurotech have worked together to develop 9.5mm stainless steel eyelets with spur tooth washers specifically for the Australian market, with the first eyelets already having been shipped to Australia. By offering stainless steel eyelets in addition to its clear eyelets, PLASTGrommet and Eurotech will enable customers to automate a wider range of industrial applications while still meeting demand in sectors where metal eyelets remain a requirement. With many businesses serving multiple industries, this broadens the range of applications they can support while still being able to invest in automation. 

The importance of collaboration 

James credits PLASTGrommet’s approach to product development as a key reason the partnership has been able to deliver such effective solutions for the Australian market. “The Roll2Roll systems are a good example of this,” he says, adding: “That didn’t come from a catalogue, it came from a specific customer need, and then evolved over time as more customers adopted it.” 

Local knowledge also remains critical. Australia’s mix of geographic distances, population distribution, and application requirements means solutions developed for the European or North American markets can’t always be transferred directly. “Without that ability to adapt and innovate, you end up trying to force customers into equipment that doesn’t quite fit,” James adds.

Supporting growth at every stage

Since the relationship with PLASTGrommet began over ten years ago, Eurotech has supplied PLASTGrommet finishing equipment across the full product range, from entry-level hand presses through to fully automated Roll2Roll welding and eyeleting systems. “There isn’t really a category on our website that hasn’t been installed somewhere in Australia or New Zealand,” James explains. 

While a lot of attention is often given to fully integrated automated finishing systems, the reality of the Australian market is that many of today’s larger operators began with simple hand presses and semi-automated equipment before gradually investing in greater levels of automation as their businesses grew. 

Over the past decade alone, Eurotech has sold more than 1,100 hand presses across Australia and New Zealand, demonstrating the significant number of smaller operators active within the region. While automated systems are fewer in number, their impact is substantial, delivering major improvements in throughput, labour efficiency, and production consistency. “A lot of the larger customers we work with today actually started with entry-level equipment, so for us, supporting customers at every stage, from manual through to full automation is critical,” James says. 

A long-standing partnership built to last 

Despite the significant geographic distance between Spain and Australia, PLASTGrommet’s partnership with Eurotech has continued to strengthen over the past decade. James credits the quality of the technology itself and the level of communication from PLASTGrommet for this. “Firstly, the equipment performs. At the end of the day, if machines don’t do what they’re supposed to do in a real production environment, the relationship doesn’t last, regardless of everything else. Secondly, communication has been direct and practical. When you’re dealing with equipment and customers who rely on it daily, there’s no room for vague conversations. Issues need to be understood and resolved properly. 

James also points to a shared commitment to problem-solving and long-term customer success with both Eurotech and PLASTGrommet sharing a focus on building long-term relationships with customers, not just making short-term sales. “That means supporting customers as they grow and ensuring the equipment continues to deliver value over time. When you combine product performance, clear communication, problem-solving, and an aligned approach, that’s what has enabled our relationship to last.” 

Rafa Menéndez, Head of Sales at PLASTGrommet, adds: “Australia is a market with very specific requirements, and that is exactly why our relationship with Eurotech has been so valuable. Their understanding of local customers, production environments, and market challenges has helped us to develop solutions that genuinely fit the needs of Australian businesses. From the early development of our Roll2Roll systems through to new products being developed today, Eurotech has been much more than a distributor, they have been a true partner in driving the adoption of finishing automation across Australia.” 

The evolution of large-format finishing in Australia is being driven by manufacturers, distributors and print businesses working together to solve real production challenges. As more Australian print service providers introduce automation into their finishing workflows, they are not only reducing manual processes but creating greater capacity for growth. By increasing productivity, improving consistency and making better use of skilled operators, automation is helping businesses take on more work, expand their product offering and compete more effectively in an increasingly demanding market. 

To find out more about PLASTGrommet and its products, visit https://plastgrommet.com/en/. 

About PLASTGrommet

PLASTGrommet is a leading manufacturer and supplier of banner finishing systems, automatic and manual eyelet presses and eyelets, media storage racks and media roll lifters, as well as tools and accessories such as car wrapping squeegees and banner and webbing tape. Headquartered in Alcoy, Spain, PLASTGrommet supplies high-quality finishing equipment in over 30 countries and has distribution centres in Europe and the US. For more information, visit plastgrommet.com/en