ACL Cartons is bringing its printing in-house and is looking to move into the point-of-sale market by acquisition.


The firm has consolidated its four associated groups to become ACL Group International. It aims to be a one-stop shop providing visual display packaging and associated products to the retail industry.


We are the High Street, said ACL managing director John Driver. Point-of-sale will be a part of that, but as yet no acquisitions have been confirmed.


The firm has invested 250,000 in an additional factory in Thornbury, near Bristol, where it has installed a Sakurai 1900.


The site, which will house its in-house printing operation, is up and running and ACL plans to recruit 20 new staff within six months.


It also hopes to increase its 6.5m turnover to 20m within five years, a realistic target according to operations director David Carey.


He joined ACL last year from London-based DisplayCraft where he was managing director. ACL used to outsource all its printing to DisplayCraft, owned by St Ives, but will now carry out 50% of that work in-house.


Story by Jeremy Allen