Paragon Group company Octink – part of the Service Graphics Display division – has had a £50,000 refurb to support growth plans in the London area. The Brentford site’s buildings have been upgraded, new kit has been purchased and staffing is being increased over the short-term to boost operational capacity.
The moves are key to acquisitive Paragon’s aims to build its Service Graphics Display division into the UK’s dominant force. The division is said to be on target to exceed its FY21-22 turnover targets as business levels return to pre-pandemic levels.
Octink founder Will Tyler said: “The investment and resulting moves are both strategic and necessary. Our Taunton site was heavily linked to our contract with Debenhams, whose high street closure, coupled with the trading impact of Covid, has necessitated a rethink around our operation there.
“It is on this basis, with acquisitions in the pipeline, that the production site at Taunton was closed transferring its print production to our other sites at Chippenham, Brentford, Skelmersdale and Glasgow.
“At Brentford, we have upgraded to a Durst 250 PS, with a second machine likely in the next months. The Burkle liquid laminator has also been added to our main production line, and a second Kongsberg cutting table is due soon to further bolster our finishing process.
“Strategically, the move supports the growth of all the main drivers of the company’s growth in the London area. The property and construction sector for Octink has always been the priority and expertise. This will now be bolstered on a local level with the creative and experiential expertise of our Human Built events business alongside the core retail delivery for Service Graphics.
“The levels of work through the business are already growing and with the recent appointment of Ian Bancroft as group operations director, the strategic plan is under constant review.”
Service Graphics Display MD, Martin Hutchings, added: “The Brentford site is strategically important for our division, serving both Octink’s historic property and construction portfolio of clients alongside the recovering retail and exhibition sectors that our wider group operates in. This re-investment is a major statement and gives Octink the largest large-format production capacity in London combined with our nationwide capability across our other sites.”
