Spandex Asia-Pacific has completed the acquisition of two highly respected suppliers to the wide format signage and display industry. From November 2013 both businesses became Spandex Group companies, trading under their own names for 12-18 months while full integration takes place.
Plas Image, a distributor of rigid materials and digital media based in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, was established by Stan Vidaic in 2000 and was soon joined by Ed Oleksyn as a partner. Under their stewardship, Plas Image has grown to be a major supplier of top-brand rigid media such as Gatorfoam, Kapa, ForeX, Fome-cor, Smart-X, FoamaLite and Printboard in addition to digital roll media from Metamark, ATP and their own OEM products. Plas Image is now a Spandex company.
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| Alex McClelland, Managing Director and Vice President of Spandex Asia-Pacific |
Qualsign, a distributor of aluminium composite sheets, cut vinyl and digital media based in Perth, Western Australia was established by Merv Hopkins in 1995 and has an existing relationship with Spandex as a reseller of Arlon and Avery signage materials. Qualsign has grown on the back of first-rate customer service, to be a seventeen-staff strong WA supplier, still with Merv at the helm. Qualsign is now a Spandex company.
Alex McClelland, Managing Director and Vice President of Spandex Asia-Pacific explains the acquisitions: “In today’s business environment, we can not stand still; the status quo is not an option. Real quality opportunities for acquisition do not come along that often and we were fortunate to find two this year that offered expansion into new product areas and adjacent markets. The addition of highly experienced industry people is another positive as we begin the task of integration. While there are some inevitable parallels in our customer bases, for the main part, Plas Image and Qualsign bring new products that Spandex did not previously offer. We are delighted with these acquisitions and welcome staff and customers alike into the Spandex family.”
He adds: “These acquisitions are just part of our mid to long term strategy and we will continue to look for suitable acquisitions which will further enhance our position in the market.”
While the commercial terms of the acquisitions remain confidential, Plas Image and Qualsign will add significantly to Spandex’s sales revenue. Spandex’s coast-to-coast reach is also strengthened in that Qualsign WA is much larger than Spandex’s existing WA branch operation.
“The hard work really starts now,” says McClelland, “because
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successful integration of such acquisitions must be accomplished with zero inconvenience to customers. This is why the businesses will initially continue on as normal while the tasks of synchronizing SKU codes, MIS systems, logistics, premises and staff are addressed professionally and calmly. Fortunately, the global scale of Spandex gives us access to some of the business world’s best IT and back-office systems integrators. It’s an exciting time in the industry with overall growth surpassing the rest of graphic arts. With Plas Image and Qualsign now part of Spandex, we have filled in several gaps in our product range, added human skilled resources and are ready to reinforce our leadership position in supplying and supporting the region’s wide format, signage, display, POP, exhibition, architectural, interior design and photographic sectors.”
Spandex Asia Pacific
www.spandex.com.au
Plas Image
www.plasimage.com.u
Qualsign
www.qualsign.com.au
