Marking the biggest acquisition in its history, Labelmakers Group has agreed to purchase Melbourne-based label printer, Rapid Labels, with April 2021 set as the implementation date. The move cements Labelmakers' market leading position in label supply across Australia and New Zealand.
An established supplier and printer of self-adhesive label products, Rapid Labels has built its customer base in the FMCG, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical segments, making it an attractive bolt-on for Labelmakers.
“The acquisition enables Labelmakers to move heavily into nutraceuticals with a full suite of solutions spanning labels and folding cartons,” said Labelmakers MD Adam Bamford.
Rapid Labels has been at the forefront of specialised label printing since its inception, managing a suite of best-in-class digital printing equipment, including Australia's first Gallus Labelfire and one of the first ever installed globally.
Founded in 1982, Rapid has remained to this day a 100 per cent privately owned and managed business by Sean Kennon and Dave Power.
“The Rapid philosophy and its major point of differentiation has been to produce the highest quality labels in-market at industry leading lead times, allowing it to be so successful in its segments,” Bamford said.
“Rapid is a highly complementary acquisition to our Victorian operations and we are excited to bring their capabilities into the Labelmakers’ network.
“Some of the technologies they have adopted are world leading and very few have mastered the art like Rapid.
“The acquisition represents the biggest in the history of Labelmakers and cements our position as the largest label supplier across Australia and New Zealand,” Bamford said.
In terms of the organisational structure, David Power will remain with Labelmakers in his role as general manager of Rapid Labels and the key point of contact for all things Rapid, continuing to manage its tier-one service model.
“Staff members will all continue as normal having contributed so much over the journey and making Rapid the business it is today, with only Sean Kennon retiring at the end of the month,” Bamford said.
“For Rapid’s customers this means business as usual and we look forward to presenting the suite of new opportunities and products available through the Labelmakers network,” Bamford assured. “Sean and Dave have built a truly impressive business and we are pleased to welcome it into the Labelmakers Group.”
