Printing and Publishing Companies that are Closed
Printing and Publishing Companies in Northern Ireland, where I worked briefly as a past employee, as a Mac Operator or Graphic Designer, that are closed.
RK Enterprises NI Ltd, Belfast
I worked as a Graphic Designer at RK Enterprises (NI) Ltd, also called New Homes Marketing, in Belfast. This company was marketing property development, new build brochures and signage. Reginald Donnell (also called Reggie, I think?) was the owner from Templepatrick. I worked as part of a small team. This was too much of the same work for me, i.e., property development brochures all the time, so I lost interest after about four months, and if I remember correctly, the work dried up after five months, so I wasn't really worried. In about 2011, the company closed due to bankruptcy. Reason for leaving: I was paid off due to a lack of work.
Dataplus Print and Design, Dunmurry
Dataplus Print and Design was located in Dunmurry between Lisburn and Belfast. The company was owned by Diane Forsythe and was a commercial and general printer located at 13 Hill Street, Dunmurry. I was here as a Junior Graphic Designer and Mac Operator. Mostly, the work was typing and typesetting, and I wasn’t the slightest bit interested in this. Some examples are booklets, newsletters and general printing. I was here for about two months, around 2000. The company closed due to bankruptcy in about 2014. Reason for leaving: Awful pay, working conditions and no training given.
Optech NI, Belfast
Optech NI was located in Maryland Industrial Estate, 286 Ballygowan Road, Crossnagreevy, Belfast BT23 6BL and was a full colour printer. I was here as a Mac Operator and Junior Graphic Designer for about three months in 2002. Mostly this was typing and typsetting, which I obviously didn’t want to do, as I wanted to move more to the graphics for print. Some examples are business cards. Closed, but not sure if they went bankrupt. Reason for leaving: Dreadful pay, working conditions and no training given.
Tudor Journals Ltd, Belfast
Tudor Journals Ltd was a publisher in Botanic Avenue, Belfast, so not a printer. I was here as a Junior Graphic Designer / Mac Operator and was here for about three weeks in 2000. The company was owned by William Campbell and was a very bizarre business which went through staff like hot dinners. You weren’t allowed to ask the manager and owner any questions; you had to schedule a meeting! Very strange indeed. Closed about 2012, but not sure if they went bankrupt or just closed due to retirement. Reason for leaving: Dreadful pay and working conditions.
Other Printing Companies that Closed
Some others that I didn’t work in that sadly closed too, due to various reasons.
Harrison Print & Design, Portadown
I never worked here in the pre-press office, but Harrison's was owned by Barry Harrison and located on Irwin House, 18 Bridge Street, at the bottom of Portadown. Barry retired and left the business over to his son Simon, who, I believe, ran it for a bit and then closed it down. Recently, sadly, the owner, Barry, passed away.
The Associated Print, Portadown
Located in Portadown, The Associated Print was a newspaper print company operated by DMG Media that closed in 2025. Formly owned by Morton Newspapers, which printed the Portadown Times and the Lurgan Mail as well as many others. I worked here for an evening in about 2006 to see if I wanted a part-time job.
Impression Print and Design, Lisburn
I did not work here, but Impression Print was a full colour commercial printing company located at 9 Ferguson Drive, Knockmore Hill Industrial Estate, Lisburn, BT28 2EX, which went bankrupt in 2012. The company that I worked for before this time sent some jobs here.
Commercial Graphics, Belfast
Went bankrupt in 2012, with directors citing a challenging market, I assume because of the 2008 banking problems.
Graham & Heslip, Belfast
Went into administration in 2009 owing £3.1 million to creditors, for I assume the same problems mentioned above. Other print companies that closed that I actually worked in were Antrim Printers, a company in Newtownards and Summit Printing. Another company that I didn’t work in was a company in Limavady and C & R Print, located on Alanbrooke Road, Belfast, which bought over the assets of Graham & Heslip. You can click on the links to read further.
Other Printing Companies that merged with another company
Some companies that nearly closed or that were acquired by another company include Media Design and Print, Quinns Belfast, Impro Printing Ltd and Graceland Print and Design.
