Scarborough-based Duraweld bought the business and assets of Bradford firm Prima on 1 November for an undisclosed sum.
Established over 20 years ago, Prima designs and manufactures quality folding card and PVC high frequency welded products. Its products range from printed and plain folding cartons, corrugated cartons, and POS folders and pockets, through to ring binders, PVC pockets, and paper-over-board boxes and folders. Its clients include retailers, educational institutions, councils, and the NHS.
Founded in 1959, circa 50-staff Duraweld designs and manufactures a wide range of packaging and stationery products for customers from the NHS to the FA, working across sectors such as healthcare and retail.
Headed up by managing director Mark Yeung, it has a purpose-built factory which includes in-house screen printing, digital printing, inline paper-over-board wrapping, high-frequency welding, sonic welding, digital and hydraulic cutting, foil-blocking, and embossing.
Yeung said: “As a market leader in customised stationery and packaging, Prima further extends our range of products, enabling us to continue to expand the business.
“In such a competitive sector, it’s vital to keep looking to the future and planning for growth – the acquisition of Prima will make a significant contribution to our business, adding to our skilled team and building on the solid foundations we have established.”
Prima’s manufacturing capability is being transferred to the Duraweld site and will give Duraweld the additional capability to auto die-cut and fold and glue cartons.
Duraweld told Printweek the deal would unfortunately affect most of Prima’s production staff – the two companies were based over 70 miles away from each other – “although we are delighted that some will be working from the Duraweld site and some remotely”, the business added.
Prima’s former owners are being retained as consultants to the business, and the company’s branding will be retained.
“The Prima brand is well respected and known in the packaging and print space. We are proud of their heritage and values and we have no plans to change that,” Duraweld said.
Advisers to Duraweld on the deal included Tony Berry and Isabelle Hammond of Clarion in Leeds, who provided legal advice, with Jack Tennant of Wilsons Solicitors in Bradford acting for Prima.
Clarion’s Hammond commented: “This is the first time we’ve worked with Duraweld and we were pleased to have been able to complete the deal in just three weeks. It’s great to be supporting such an ambitious, forward-looking business.”
