Canon UK appointed as Kongsberg distributor Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems (Kongsberg PCS) has appointed Canon UK to distribute its products across the UK. As of February 2025, Canon UK’s Large Format Graphics sector will promote Kongsberg cutting solutions in conjunction with its Arizona flatbed and Colorado roll-to-roll wide-format printers. All cutting tables distributed by Canon UK will be installed and serviced by Kongsberg’s dedicated UK team. In addition, Kongsberg PCS engineers will offer customers on-going technical, application, and maintenance support. As part of the agreement, a Kongsberg PCS X24 cutting table will also be showcased at Canon UK’s Birmingham Customer Experience Centre, aiming to give UK customers a chance to see how Kongsberg and Canon solutions can be integrated. Speaking about the new partnership, David Preskett, vice president (EMEA and APAC) at Kongsberg PCS, says: “Canon is known for its high-quality, ultra-productive print production systems, and this agreement is testament to Kongsberg’s ability to deliver market-leading cutting solutions that match those output capabilities. This agreement will increase our reach to print and converting businesses across the UK and Ireland and marks an important step in our established relationship with Canon.” Kongsberg’s cutting solutions include a range of tools specifically developed for the signage industry. Its core research and development facility is located in Kongsberg, Norway, with its main production facility located in Brno, Czech Republic. Other Kongsberg cutting solutions include its RotaCut Tool, which is specifically developed for cutting textiles, canvas, mesh, and other air transparent materials where the vacuum hold-down system of a cutting table is often less effective. Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems was established as a standalone business in 2021 after originally being founded in 1965 in Kongsberg, Norway UPM Raflatac purchase Metamark in £146m deal UPM Raflatac has acquired UK sign materials manufacturer, Metamark, in a deal worth a reported £146m. Manufacturer UPM Raflatac, which is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, has purchased Metamark to accelerate its growth into the graphics sector, particularly for its recently developed UPM Graphics unit. Metamark’s existing graphics business was also seen to strengthen UPM Raflatac’s overall competitiveness, significantly boosting the company’s market value. UPM Graphics is a new strategic self-adhesive business unit within UPM Raflatac which was formed when the company acquired AMC AG and its graphics business in 2022. The acquisition is part of a wider strategic decision by UPM to pursue global growth in graphics in recent years, both organically and through mergers and acquisitions. Metamark provide a range of sign materials and vinyl for the sign-making and digital media industries Matic Media rebrands to Graphic Warehouse Matic Media Services has completed its transition to its new name, Graphic Warehouse, revealing a range of significant operational advancements and sustainability efforts alongside the revamp. The rebrand follows a £1.1m investment in a new facility alongside an update to its printing technology. Investments include a Liyu Platinum Q3 wide-format printer, as well as the installation of a line of solar panels on the roof, which reportedly generated over 500KW of energy in the first month of installation, despite it being winter. The company aims to significantly reduce its dependence on grid electricity as part of its wider sustainability goals. Pictured: The newly-renamed Graphic Warehouse facility in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire Tecna unveils new brand identity Modular event and exhibition display specialist, Tecna, has officially launched its new brand identity. The company’s previous red and grey branding has been replaced with a bold purple, magenta, and white design, with a more simplified text only logo. The website has also been fully revamped, with new videos, interactive elements, and graphics, all emphasising the company’s new brand colours. The rebrand follows the appointment of Robert Andersen as Tecna’s new head of creative in January. According to the company, the rebrand was made in response to the changing landscape of the exhibitions and events industry, where bold designs are a focus, and brands have to work harder to stand out. Tecna’s website has been fully revamped as part of the rebranding 8 Ocean Outdoor secures new contract for Piccadilly Lights Real estate investment trust, Landsec, has extended its partnership with Ocean Outdoor to manage the digital out-ofhome (DOOH) contract for Piccadilly Lights in London. Under the terms of the new longterm agreement, Ocean will continue to manage content for the 783.5m2 DOOH screen into the 2030s. Long term partners of Picadilly Lights include Coca-Cola and Samsung. Ocean has also announced that it plans to work with Landsec to elevate The Venue, the event space which sits beneath the Piccadilly Lights screen. The Venue, originally called Below the Lights before a rebrand by Landsec, is often used to extend DOOH campaigns into in-person experiences. For L’Oreal Paris’s Worth It Experience, Paris Fashion Show was streamed on the Piccadilly Lights screen Issue 258 - April / May 2025 www.signlink.co.uk BUSINESS / NEWS By Jonathan Pert signlink signlinkmagazine
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