| 2022 |
- 84% reduction in plastic pallet wrap equating to 24,000 tonnes of CO2 per year
- Incorporated 110 years and established 225 years
|
| 2021 |
- Essential service during pandemic supported Covid vaccine roll out with literature
|
| 2020 |
- 8 Colour Komori Press installed
|
| 2019 |
- Winner of the Solutions Award ‘Best of the Best’
|
| 2018 |
- Watch this space...there's more to come
- www.GPSPrintStore.co.uk launched - instant quotes, order & upload artwork 24/7
- Augmented Reality and Digital Publishing launched
- Solutions For Books winner at the 2018 Print Solutions Awards
|
| 2017 |
- Derek Bell is honoured by receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the
40th Irish Print Awards
- Wide Format range introduced with installation of Mimaki CJ150-160 printer
- GPS scoops the Solutions for Customer Service and
Company of the Year Winner Award at the 2017 Print Solutions Awards
- FSB Family Business of the Year 2017 - NI Region
- East Side Award for Business Growth
- Restored c.150 year old 'Eagle Press' makes GPS its home
|
| 2016 |
- GPS moves to 125,000sq ft Marshalls Road site as part of £5 million investment,
arguably Ireland's largest commercial printing company on one site
- 3rd Komori long perfector installed giving the most print capacity in N. Ireland
- iGen 5 installed, the first in Ireland, taking centre stage in 5000 sq feet digital wing
- Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Winner
- Solutions for Customer Service winner at the Solutions Award
- New PlateRite HD 8900Z CTP line bought to run in tandem with GPS's existing line
|
| 2015 |
- Demolition starts at Marshalls Road
- GPS wins the Finishing Award at the Solutions Awards in London,
with 71% of the votes
- GPS wins the Solutions Award for Finishing
- Runner up for Customer Services, at the Solutions Awards
|
| 2014 |
- Marshalls Road site purchased
- XMF Remote online job submission and artwork approval system launched
- Management Restructure
|
| 2013 |
- Installs most advanced perfect binding machine in the UK and Ireland
- Installs most advanced thread sewing machine in the UK and Ireland
GPS is the only printing company in Ireland to have in-house thread sewing
|
| 2012 |
- GPS employs 70 people and produces in excess of 86 million items per year
- Launch of digital service
- Launch of new corporate identity and website
|
| 2011 |
- First company in the UK to install two Komori Lithrone S40 long perfectors
- Installs longest Xerox CP1000 in the UK
- Cycle Scheme Introduced
- 4th company in the world to install MBO SRA0 folding machine - the fastest of its type (a second machine follows in 2012)
|
| 2010 |
- InSite online file submission and artwork approval system installed
- Lamination brought in-house
- Launch of GPS Charity Partner initiative
- Alexander Road premises renovated
- Spirit of Enterprise monthly winner
- Action Renewables Association Awards runner up ‘Delivering Sustainability in Business’
- Derek Bell’s son David joined the business and became a Director in 2012
|
| 2009 |
- Switched to green electricity
- GPS printed its first PEFC publication
- Finalist ‘Right Place to Work’ Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards
|
| 2008 |
- Company’s first perfecting press introduced - Komori Lithrone S1040P
- First commercial printing company in N. Ireland to gain FSC and PEFC accreditation
- GPS prints the first FSC brochure printed in Northern Ireland
- UTV Business Eye Awards winner of ‘Green Company of the year’
|
| 2007 |
- Attained ISO 12647 colour standard
- STEM Project open category winner ‘Creating a Sustainable Future’
- Commended in Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Business Awards for Environmental Achievement
|
| 2006 |
- First printing company in Ireland to become CarbonNeutral®
|
| 2005 |
- All Ireland winner of the Irish Print Awards ‘Environmental Printer of the year’. Retained title for four consecutive years,
|
| 2005 - 2008 |
- Recycling programme extended into plastics
|
| 2003 |
- Increased sheet size to B1, alcohol free presses introduced – all B1 presses alcohol free by 2005
|
| 2001 |
- ISO 9001 and 14001 attained simultaneously
- Derek Bell’s daughter Helen Bell (McClay) joined the business and became Business Development Director in 2006
|
| 2000 |
- Installed computer to plate technology
|
| 1995 |
- Derek Bell’s daughter Lorraine joined the business and became Sales Director in 2002
|
| 1994 |
- Nelson & Knox acquired and company moves to premises at Alexander Road, Belfast
|
| 1992 |
- Bryan McClay joined the company and became a Director in 2008
|
| 1990 |
- First Apple computer introduced together with in-house scanning
|
| 1989 |
- Very Highly Commended in the Irish Print Awards ‘Sheetfed Colour Offset’ category
|
| 1983 |
- Derek Bell acquired Mayne, Boyd & Son Ltd from The Queen’s University of Belfast, the name changed to GPS Colour Graphics Ltd
- Major investment programme, GPS Colour Graphics Ltd installed its first 4 colour printing press, one of the first in Belfast, a number of collating machines and typesetting equipment Irene Bell becomes company secretary
- Mayne, Boyd & Son Ltd.’s Jack Briggs remained with the company and later became GPS’s Production Director
|
| 1978 |
- Graphic Printing Services moved to 279 Ormeau Road, Belfast and premises extended
|
| 1977 |
- Mayne, Boyd & Son Ltd transferred to 27-29 Rydalmere Street as a result of a vesting order being placed on the Corporation Street site
- Mayne, Boyd & Son Ltd undertook a massive investment in new technological equipment - Linotype
- Paul Variable Input Photo-typesetter; Dainippon Screen camera; Chemco Powermatic Processor;
- Parker Monarch III platemaker; Agfa 0420 processor
- Graphic Printing Services invested in a SRA2 press and a 2 colour press simultaneously
|
| 1975 |
- Untimely death of Mr J. M. Jordan, who was responsible for production at Mayne, Boyd & Son Ltd
|
| 1973 |
- Graphic Printing Services founded by Derek Bell, 110 University Street, Belfast
|
| 1971 |
- Derek Bell (printer) started his first printing company in Marquis Ward Street, Belfast.
- In the same year the company was destroyed by a fire which started in a building across the street
|
| 1968 |
- Miss Boyd died and her interest in the company passed to The Queen’s University of Belfast and Sir William McKinney, CBE, LLD was appointed company chairman
|
| 1949 |
- During the centenary year of The Queen’s University of Belfast, the degree of Master of Arts (honoris causa) was conferred on Miss Boyd in recognition of the work the company had done for the University
|
| 1940’s |
- Mechanised typesetting introduced when Mr W. D. Weir, company overseer, was schooled in Monotype keyboarding and casting
|
| 1936 |
- Mr W. O. Bell entered the business and was elected to the board. He was the company secretary and administered the financial side of the business (no relation to the current Bell family)
|
| 1935 |
- Mr J. M. Jordan joined the company and was elected to the board
|
| 1934 |
- John Boyd Snr. died, Marjory Boyd became the driving force of the business
|
| 1917 |
|
| 1912 |
- Mr Boyd’s son, John, joined the company. The company was incorporated and became known as Mayne, Boyd & Son Ltd
|
| 1899 |
- Mr Boyd’s daughter, Marjory, entered the business
|
| 1887 |
|
| 1885 |
- John Boyd became a partner and the company was re-styled as Alexander Mayne & Boyd
|
| 1868 |
- Mr Mayne moved the company to 2 Corporation Street, Belfast
|
| 1854 |
- Company moved to 71/2 & 9 High Street, Belfast
|
| 1851 |
- Mr Smith died, Alexander Mayne (an apprentice to Joseph Smith) assumed control of the company
|
| 1849 |
- Queen’s College, Belfast founded and the company became their Official Printers
|
| 1797 |
- Company founded by Joseph Smith, Printer at 34 High Street, Belfast
|
