BIG Group commercial director Graham Budinger said that the deal, for an undisclosed sum, would propel BIG to a global brand.

There are plans to build the business from its current $8.5m [5.1m] to $100m in five years. They give us access to markets and there are synergies of sales to customers across the group, said Budinger.

BIG Group moved premises last weekend to a purpose-built factory about a mile away from its former factory in Ipswich.

Budinger added that the Brady Corporation bought BIG for its expertise in online ordering and digital printing.

We are one of Printcafes largest users over here we do about 85% of our business cards through the system. We also have four years experience with Indigo digital printing, said Budinger.

He added that Brady Corporation could implement this knowledge across its 12 European sites, including its UK headquarters in Banbury, which has 200 staff.

BIG Group has 70 employees including its Teddington-based headquarters and sales office in Paris. The companys clients include JP Morgan, Toyota, Clarks Retail and Vodafone.

Brady Europe vice president Peter Sephton said that the acquisition would strengthen the groups position as a leader in identification solutions.

The Brady Corporation, which is based in Milwaukee, employs 3,300 in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America with sales of 332m. It specialises in labels, signs and die-cut materials.

Story by John Davies