Grafenia buys Liverpool sign maker as it plots regional expansion

16th Jan 2017 07:50

(ShareCast News) - AIM-listed Grafenia has bought Liverpool-based sign maker Arthur Diamond Design (ADD) as part of the printing company's expansion strategy.The company said that it is now looking other signage businesses in Merseyside, where the owner is looking to retire or exit, with the aim of rolling all the businesses together with ADD Signs and combine manufacturing facilities and launching a new store through its Nettl brand.Chief executive Peter Gunning said: "We aim to replicate this model across the country. To provide local survey, specialist on-site installation and enable signs to be offered throughout our Nettl network."The acquisition of ADD provides Grafenia with expertise in designing, manufacturing and installing a range of vehicle graphics and building signs.Grafenia, which changed its name from Printing.com in 2013, supplies a range of expo and point-of-sale signage products through Nettl and printing.com, and last year the company invested in equipment to enter the signage market which, according to data from consultancy Smithers Pira is forecast to grow at 20% per year until 2019 and to double in size within five years.Gunning said "We want to use ADD's know-how to extend our offering further into the sign sector and help our Nettl and printing.com partners sell more to clients. We'll use ADD's skills to merchandise a range of sign products to sell nationally through our network. And for partners on Merseyside, we plan to give them access to our manufacturing and installation services."Mark Eccleston, the vendor of ADD, will join Grafenia as regional director of the main operating company.In the year ending 31 December 2016, ADD's turnover was about £375,000.