Netherlands investment extends portfolio and customer service proposition
Spandex, the one-stop supplier of innovative solutions to the sign and display industries, is continuing its global expansion with the latest in a series of acquisitions, which aim to further enhance its market presence and customer offering in key geographies.
The acquisition of Proga Plastics, a Dutch supplier of rigid materials for graphics producers, a company with an 18-year heritage in the market, adds rigid media products to Spandex's portfolio of materials as well as bespoke cutting capabilities. These additions will enable Spandex to offer a new, high value service to its customers across the Netherlands.
The acquisition will enable the Spandex and Proga joint sales organisations to offer customers of both companies a comprehensive selection of roll and rigid media solutions, giving them access to the broadest branded product offering of any supplier in the Netherlands.
Spandex CEO Rod Larson explains the strategic motivation behind this and other recent acquisitions: "Following the move to private ownership in 2011, the Spandex leadership team has been focusing on ensuring customers have access to the widest possible portfolio of products, supported by first-class service. All our acquisitions are in line with our long-term strategic plan to grow our international reputation as a one-stop, value-added supplier of quality branded products across multiple market segments. This is a very dynamic period of both organic and external growth for the company."
Previous acquisitions made by Spandex since 2011 include:
The Turkish acquisition of OTS in October 2014, a specialist provider of signage and graphics hardware, consumables and support services, has provided Turkish customers with access to films from POLI-TAPE, Arlon and ImagePerfect, Spandex's own brand of materials, which includes the largest range of digital films on the market today.
The September 2014 acquisition of Polynorma, an established Spanish specialist supplier of equipment, materials and inks to signmakers, digital and screen printers, had a positive impact on service levels for Spandex customers who now benefit from the availability of the widest portfolio of branded products on the market. With the acquisition, Spandex customers have access to equipment from brands such as HP and Roland as well as consumables from Avery Dennison, 3M, Orafol, ImagePerfect and Mactac among others.
The Australian acquisitions of Qualsign and PlasImage, both distributors of rigid materials and digital media in October 2013, and LMV AG, a Swiss distributor of rigid media selling both full-size and custom rigid sheets one year previously, have allowed Spandex to offer customers a rigid materials portfolio.
In March 2013, Spandex acquired Italian distributor of roll and rigid media, Sanvido SRL. As one of the largest distributors of architectural finishes products in Europe, Spandex has been able to leverage Sanvido's expertise within this market, with sales of architectural and interior decoration products across the Spandex group increasing by 200% in just two years.
Larson continues: "Intelligent, targeted acquisitions of businesses with a deep heritage in the visual communications market have proved a very successful route to securing our commercial and strategic objectives. The acquisitions have provided us with expert, highly knowledgeable teams, robust, long-term customer relationships and a dedicated customer service ethic, while delivering tangible value-add for customers.
"We continue to look for positive opportunities to grow and enhance product portfolio and customer service by integrating strong supply businesses led by people with a passion for building lasting customer relationships."
www.spandex.com
