exciting news

Shareholders and hybrid holders

Whilst we wait breathlessly (and obviously misguidedly) for exciting news about how $3bn annual revenues in the core paper merchanting business are going to be maintained and perhaps even grown, rather than falling by 17% per annum with a loss of profits of $200m annually, PPX is bravely but quietly focussing on much higher strategic goals and objectives.

Exciting news about providing training for wrapping cars in plastic was reported in the specialist press about a month ago. Incredible that it was missed by the mainstream financial newspapers and was not on the front page of the AFR, FT or Wall Street Journal.

PPX has signed a partnership agreement to wrap up cars in plastic AND (wait for it) to provide training in how to do this ! Hold the front page...

No doubt the lenders and pension trustees who own the business are jumping for joy at this breakthrough.

See below:



Robert Horne & UK Sign Group partner to provide vehicle wrapping training

April 9th 2013

Robert Horne Group, part of international merchant group PaperlinX, has partnered with UK Sign Group (UKSG) to provide customers with access to independent, vehicle wrapping training courses.

The courses are conducted on a specially customised articulated lorry that’s been kitted out to include vinyl application facilities, a six-man lecture room complete with computers and a plasma TV that’s used for training. And, with a comprehensive schedule of courses across the UK in place; customers can elect to attend the one or two-day programmes at a venue that’s local to them.
UKSG training is wholly independent and is endorsed by the British Sign and Graphics Association, Avery and Orafol.

The courses on offer include a two-day Vehicle Wrap Training course, suitable for people who can already apply vinyl to a reasonable standard and want to take it further and learn to wrap. The course takes delegates through the full process of wrapping a vehicle step-by-step using Orafol and Avery materials.

There’s also a one day Advanced Vinyl Application course for people confident applying simple graphics but who want to learn about more difficult applications such as etched glass on windows for example; the day also covers some wrapping techniques.
A one day accreditation programme is also available for delegates. This consists of a wrap assessment exam designed to test knowledge of wrapping and understanding of the media and also includes a hands-on assessment of the vehicle wrapping process.

Those passing the accreditation exam will become part of the UK’s first nationally recognised network of Elite vinyl application technicians.