Already a leading provider of heat-transfer equipment and vinyl solutions, the last month has seen Velflex and its founder Ben Carroll deliver a couple of strategic moves that will significantly enhance its footprint and capacity across the sector.
“We’re bringing together the best transfer manufacturing businesses in the country with a view to being able to operate as more of a one-stop shop for the industry,” says Carroll, following a recent merger with Flexi-Print and the appointment of Velflex as the sole importer for Stahls' products across the Pacific region.
“The teams at Stahls Pacific and Flexi-Print are amongst the most experienced in the industry. Flexi-Print’s heritage goes right back to 1972, when my great uncle Noel Wighton and Flexi-Print founder Ray Black helped pioneer heat transfer technology in Australia.”
“Uniting these companies under Velflex means our customers will benefit from deeper expertise, faster service, and access to the world’s most advanced decorating solutions.”
Ray’s son, Shane now leads the business and adds: “You want customers to have the easiest options to supply all the products, and this merger makes it very simple for them.”
The additional integration of Stahls Pacific brings the globally renowned Stahls’ range of heat transfer vinyls and Hotronix heat presses directly into Velflex’s supply chain, further expanding its offering and strengthening ties with international partners.
Carleen Gray, CEO of the Stahls Group, says, “Velflex is an ideal partner for continuing the Stahls’ mission in the region. With their strong reputation, local technical expertise, and deep understanding of the decorator’s needs, we’re confident the future is bright for the Australian and New Zealand markets”.
Velflex has facilities in Brendale, Queensland and Wodonga and has served as Master Distributor for Hotronix heat presses in Australia and New Zealand since 2023. Velflex UltraColour and UltraColour Max solutions will now be complemented by Flexi-Print’s well-established die-cut sports numbers, high-quality plastisol transfers, specialised heat transfer vinyl (HTV) and direct-to-film (DTF) transfers capability.
“Whichever way you look at it, these strategic partnerships are a win for our customers,” adds Carroll, “because they add decades of technical knowledge and manufacturing experience to our operations, further enhancing our ability to serve both high-volume manufacturers and small-scale decorators with premium custom transfer solutions.”
