United Kingdom

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The restructure plays to the considerable strengths of the current staff and management team, and clearly sets out Miller UK's intention to be one of Europe's leading prepress partners for the 21st century, delivering exceptional service and results to all its clients.

Since its acquisition by the Miller Graphics Group in 2008, Miller Graphics UK (previously Corniche Fine Arts) has continued to develop and invest in its people and facilities. The new company structure has a clear focus on sales and business development and will enable Miller Graphics to further strengthen its competitive position in the UK market.

The restructure sees Alan Brown appointed Managing Director of Miller Graphics UK, whilst Sean Hancocks will take the lead in managing the company's operational needs from its Bridlington hub.

For Miller UK clients the restructure means business as usual, but within a company structure that will allow staff to deliver even better customer service and technical excellence. Alan Brown explains: "These are exciting times for Miller Graphics UK. The support and backing of the Miller Graphics Group, particularly in the context of these challenging financial times, is a clear statement of their trust and belief in the UK operation and will enable us to continue to provide exceptional service to our existing clients whilst seeking out new business."

Miller Graphics Group President Kenth Larsson commented: "Miller Graphics UK has an exceptional reputation for technical brilliance and this restructure is designed to allow more brand owners, printers and converters to benefit from that knowledge and expertise. As Group President I'm confident that the UK team is in a sound position to capitalise on the opportunities ahead, and I look forward to what 2012 and beyond will bring."

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Miller Graphics Corniche consolidated its position as a key player on the UK packaging scene recently, with its presence at the UK Packaging Awards 2011. Held at the Hilton Park Lane and attended by over 620 industry-leading brand owners, retailers, designers and packaging printers, the Awards recognize excellence in every area of the packaging supply chain.
Alan Brown, Group Business Director of Miller Graphics, presented the award for Best Repackaging of a Brand to LRW Design for their work on the rebranding of coffee and tea retailer Whittards of Chelsea.

"At Miller we're passionate about accurately and consistently communicating brand values to customers, through exceptional design, print and packaging. So it was a pleasure to present the award to LRW for their Whittards redesign, which showed a real understanding of an iconic English brand," explained Alan.

The UK Packaging Awards is the industry's foremost awards event, having more than doubled in size in the last three years, and is hosted by Packaging News. Editor Josh Brooks commented: "It was fantastic to have Miller Graphics' support for the UK Packaging Awards 2011."

"By sponsoring the Best Re-Packaging of a Brand category, Miller showed the industry that it backs new design and innovation in packaging and fully supports the value that packaging can add to brands and products."

Miller also joined Kingsway Printers in celebrating their win of Label of the Year for Waitrose's Sustainably Sourced Patagonian Roeless Scallops. The label was produced using LiNX - a cutting edge technology developed and pioneered by Miller Graphics, which enables stunning photographic quality print to be achieved through flexo processes.

"Using LiNX plates from Miller, our highly skilled printers are capable of delivering images which would have previously only been achievable using expensive lithographic or gravure processes," explained Gary Davies, Co-Director of Sales at Kingsway. "Clients have been astounded at the superior images produced, which reflect the quality of their products and services."

To find out more about the range of services that Miller Graphics Corniche can offer,
visit www.millergraphics.com
or call +44 (0) 1262 603495.

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Corniche Fine Arts has rebranded as Miller Graphics Corniche to further drive integration and empathy with its parent Group, Miller Graphics. "The name Corniche has been synonymous with quality and technical excellence," said Corniche Managing Director Sean Hancocks. "Our new branding not only reflects our heritage but importantly becomes a means by which our people can connect with and feel part of an innovative and progressive Group."

Miller Graphics acquired Corniche Fine Arts in June 2008 to strengthen the Groups market position in Europe. "We respect the traditions of our people and our businesses and undertake change in an appropriate and timely manner," said Kenth Larsson, President of Miller Graphics Group. "Sympathetically integrating business, cultures and ethics is an important part of our transition strategy."

Miller Graphics has had a presence in the UK market since 1986 with its Suffolk based specialist laser engraving division. In a recent restructure, manufacturing of sleeves was reassigned to sister sites in Holland and France, with a sales and customer service hub now based at the Miller Graphics Corniche studio in Bridlington. The business has also added to its sales and business development team in order to secure further work in the UK market.

"In consultation with our customers, we reviewed the way in which we worked between operating sites to take advantage of Group investments in manufacturing technologies and industry innovations," added Sean Hancocks. "The resulting restructure is centered on maximizing customer value, with a focus on driving efficiency and enhanced service provision."

The two divisions will bring together resources to adopt a more cohesive position in the UK market, enabling the business to offer its customers improved coverage and an enhanced choice of market-leading solutions to support the graphic chain. "The characteristics of our long-term success will be deep-rooted in our flexibility, agility and ability to work together whilst adapting to meet the demands of the market," added Kenth Larsson. "As a totally integrated Group, we are perfectly placed to share best practice combining a broad European coverage, synergies with clients and strong printer relationships to provide a platform to deliver an unrivalled and world-class solution for graphics services."

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A new office to develop local market opportunities

Miller Graphics Group has opened a new office in Leeds to focus principally on developing local market opportunities, further strengthening Miller Graphics presence in the United Kingdom.

The Leeds office compliments Miller Graphics Cornice operational facility in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, to enhance the capabilities and resources that will better serve our customers and will allow us to meet the increasing demands for packaging graphics production in the market.

Efforts in the UK are being led by Sean Hancocks who took over the role of Managing Director, Miller Graphics Corniche in 2008.

"Leeds is firmly established as a leading commercial centre that is attracting more and more business and with its central geographic location, ease of access to rail, air and road networks this means that we can be very responsive to our customers needs wherever they are located in the UK. As such, this growing, vibrant city is a perfect fit for Miller Graphics to expand its services and to position itself as one of the leading packaging graphics companies in the region." said Sean Hancocks.

Miller Graphics, which provides a comprehensive range of products and services supporting the graphic chain, now has 13 offices in 7 countries across Europe making the Group one of the largest providers of graphics production services in the European market.

The Miller Graphics Group new UK office is located at No.1 City Square, Leeds. LS1 2ES

Telephone: +44 (0)113 366 3132

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Technology delivering both outstanding quality and cost savings

OP Chocolate moves to LiNX for advanced Flexo print quality to replace Gravure

OP Chocolate, a member of Groupe Cémoi, a chocolate and confectionery company based in Perpignan, South West France, has recently commissioned new packaging for a range of chocolate products.

Cémoi is a major force in the European confectionery industry, supplying both UK and European markets with an extensive range of goods from its many manufacturing sites across Europe.

Working closely with Primopost, a longstanding supplier to OP Chocolate and Miller Graphics Corniche the company chose the use of LiNX technology to deliver both outstanding quality and cost savings.

LiNX offers an expanding colour gamut permitting significant colour reduction when combined with the relevant colour reduction and origination expertise.

The packaging structure required reverse print onto OPP which was then laminated to metallised OPP. The designs were printed on the newest of Primopost's eight colour Schiavi presses with continuity of colours enabling fast design changes to be achieved on press.

Primopost Sales Director, Alastair Bearman, commented, "This is the latest in a succession of designs where we have been able to "value engineer" reductions in colour using Corniche's LiNX technology".

He continued "Not only does this bring truly outstanding quality at screen rulings previously only associated with Gravure but also saves Repro, Plate and Press costs to the benefit of the customer.

In these demanding times we see this as a major part of our ongoing strategy which targets higher quality alongside outstanding value".

Speaking for OP Chocolate, Graham Gough, New Business Development Manager, said:
"We are delighted with the final results and of course the cost benefits that were delivered along with this. We now have a real alternative to gravure when it comes to our premium brands!"

For more information on LiNX technology contact David Ettie at Miller Graphics Corniche on +44 (0) 1262 603495