Page 24 - PWM2025_SEPTEMBER EBOOK

NEWS GLOBAL

IN BRIEF SIGN CHINA 2025 in

Plastics replacement inno-
vator Xampla has gained a
fresh eight-figure invest-
ment to boost its interna- Shanghai this month
tional growth ambitions.
Cambridge-based busi-
ness has developed poly- SIGN CHINA 2025 opens solutions for fast-growing
mers made from plant its doors soon, and boasting and rapidly evolving markets,
proteins that can replace a
variety of single-use plastics. Its Morro range of products more than 800 exhibitors including advertising, fash-
includes plastic-free materials, biodegradable coatings, and visitors from more than ion, home décor, personal-
edible and soluble films, and Morro Micro which is targeted 145 countries it’s set to be the ised products for
at applications that currenly involve micro plastics, such as biggest yet. SIGN CHINA is a merchandising and promo-
fragrance release encapsulation in homecare products. The
new investment of more than $14m has been led by Emerald well established name in the tion, and more.
Technology Ventures, described as Europe’s first venture- industry, backed by 22 years One location, 4 events, 9 themes Visitors can gain profes-
backed investment fund that targets the full packaging life- of history. Its organisers are sional technical and strategic
cycle. Other leading investors in the fresh Series A round line-up to enable them dis-
include UK SME funding specialist BGF and Munich-based confident the 2025 edition cover new business growth insights into the printing
Matterwave Ventures. Existing investors including have also will offer an even more com- opportunities across the wid- industry, meet top solution
contributed follow-on investment. prehensive platform as a est range of markets. providers, and explore new
Bar Graphic Machinery result of joining forces with This year, Digital Printing business opportunities with
(BGM) is taking on a new Digital Printing China, LED China 2025 makes its debut like-minded peers. SIGN
managing director follow- CHINA, and Digital Signage at SIGN CHINA as a key CHINA 2025 runs from 17 to
ing the company’s acqui- China 2025. The four co- addition to the event. It 19 September at Shanghai
sition by Duplo just over a
month ago. The Bradford, located events will present brings together cutting-edge New International Expo
West Yorkshire-based visitors with an unrivalled printing technologies and Centre.
manufacturer of high-
performance finishing
equipment for the labels and packaging industry has Label materials in Nancy
appointed Adam James, who is currently co-managing
director of CS Labels. He will take on the new role as of UPM Adhesive Materials improving the overall profit- continue providing world
Labelexpo Europe in Barcelona, which runs from 16-19
September. Peter Jolly, chief innovation officer at Duplo is planning to discontinue ability of our operations and class service to our custom-
International and a company director of BGM, said: “We are label materials production at maximising synergies,” said ers in Western Europe.”
absolutely delighted to secure the services of Adam as our its Nancy factory in France Tim Kirchen, executive vice
new managing director at BGM. “Adam’s extensive experi- as it continues to centralise president at UPM Adhesive The plans would affect a
ence in the labels and flexible packaging industry, com- maximum of 82 positions.
bined with his history of helping to guide a company its label materials produc- Materials.
through an acquisition, made him a standout candidate. tion to “more cost competi- “By centralising the pro- According to UPM’s web-
James will work alongside founders Bill and Annemarie tive units”. duction to more cost com- site, the Nancy site was
Rhodes.
The business said there petitive factories, we will founded in 1990 and
William Gibbons has won had been overcapacity also improve the cost effi- employs 186 staff.
the contract to print the resulting from “exceptional ciency and quality of our
R oyal Hor t icul t ural market developments” dur- products. UPM Adhesive Materials
Society’s (RHS) prestigious employs around 3,200 staff
m onth l y magaz in e. ing the past few years. “The Nancy site is
Printing of The Garden has “These planned changes aim planned to be transformed and recorded sales of nearly
been at Walstead Group’s at supporting our growth by to a distribution terminal to €1.6bn (£1.39bn) in 2024.
Peterborough site since
2021. The title will move to
November issue, which prints in mid-October. RHS print Print.Inc’s brand & assets acquired
Wolverhampton-based William Gibbons from the
and production services manager Diana Levy told
Printweek: “We’ve printed The Garden at Walstead A fellow Leeds-based busi- dered clothing, workwear,
Peterborough since 2021, when Walstead came to the rescue ness has acquired the brand safety gear such as high-vis
and allowed us to move the title from YM Group before the and assets of merchandise
latter went under, helping us to avoid any disruption to specialist Print.Inc. and hard hats, and a wide
production. “Having tendered for the print contract in 2024, range of merchandise and
we were expecting to renew the contract with Walstead. For Print.Inc Group went into
a number of reasons, however, we were unable to complete voluntary liquidation last printed products.
signing.” Levy said William Gibbons had come very close to month. Branded workwear, The business was
winning the original tender, and a new contract with the Involution plans to complete
Willenhall web and sheetfed printer had now been signed. merchandise and print spe- described as debt-free, and
“We’re excited to be working with the team at William cialist Involution agreed a Inc brand continues, with with “a reputation built on
Gibbons and have been impressed by the work they have deal to acquire the Print.Inc the strapline “Powered by
already done to ensure the smooth transition of the con- Involution”. credibility, quality and ser-
tract,” Levy added. William Gibbons joint managing direc- brand and assets – including vice”.
tor Mark Gibbons said he was delighted about the win: “It’s its customer database – on Involution was established
a great title to have and we’re very proud to be working 20 August, with the details in 1999. Its product range The terms of the deal were
with the RHS.
just made public. The Print. spans branded and embroi- not disclosed.
22 PrintWeek MENA September 2025 www.printweekmena.com