Mayday was established in 1981. It sells a large range of products including wide-format printers, cutters and laminators, media, digital presses from Xerox and Kodak, and pressroom products including inks and chemistry. 

The business has been acquired by Ultraflex Europe, the European wing of US-headquartered Ultraflex Inc. 

Ultraflex makes a range of wide-format media and speciality substrates. It was one of Mayday’s largest suppliers, and was familiar with the firm’s business model and structure as a result. 

The takeover was concluded in Q4 2020, but has just been made public. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

Mayday, like many other industry suppliers, has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Managing director Jim Fox said that it was during the “strange Covid-19 climate” the firm had been approached by a number of other businesses looking to partner with the company, but Ultraflex was the stand-out option. 

Fox has worked at the business since 1990 and is its longest serving director. He will remain with the company under its new ownership. 

Ultraflex Europe managing director Clint Green said: “We weren't the only printing supply business to see the potential in Mayday, their product offerings, customer relationships. One thing though in particular stood out for us, their sales team and staff dedication, really sealed it.”

The Mayday brand identity is likely to be retained, although the firm can now take advantage of Ultraflex’s back office systems and warehousing facilities. 

Fox confirmed that he would remain with the business and had no plans to step down. “We did this so that Mayday could grow with our strategic plans. We needed bigger premises and an access to the larger users of materials and equipment. Now we have that,” he explained. 

“Ultraflex have been known in the bigger wide-format businesses and with Mayday offering a lot more products and equipment it seems a perfect match for post-Covid. There are plans for the future so watch this space,” Fox added.

Mayday is celebrating 40 years in business this year. The company remained open during lockdown, and although some of its customers were closed or working reduced working hours the firm's wide-format media products remained in demand for social distancing graphics, and it also added Covid-centric products to its range including hands-free hand sanitiser dispensers. 

The firm was based in Bury St Edmunds for 39 years but relocated to Ultraflex's St Neots facility in November.