Europoint rises from ashes of Paperlinx VTS
Europoint claims it has “had a strong first six months trading” after being formed from Vink Holding’s acquisition of the Visual Technology Solutions division of Paperlinx.
Tuesday, 10 Nov 2015 16:02 GMT
Europoint, headed by Frank Moran (far right), claims to have experienced a ‘strong’ first six months of trading—it is now set to embark on a multi-site move to new premises
Europoint is now set to embark on ‘phase two’ of its development, with its Manchester hub moving into a 40,000sq ft (3716sq m) site in Trafford Park, while its Northampton site will move to a similar-sized facility in Brackmills.
“The last six months have been incredibly challenging and demanding, but also very exciting,” says Frank Moran, managing director of Europoint in an exclusive interview with Print Monthly.
He continues, taking up the story of its performance since the demise of Paperlinx in the UK: “It’s almost trite to say ‘every cloud has a silver lining’, but it is true here to some extent. The demise of Paperlinx was very dramatic, but maybe not quite as seismic as some people forecast. Nonetheless, it was game changing in its impact.
“We saw rapid change in the market place dynamic. In many respects, the market changed in terms of opportunities for customers, distributors, and manufacturers alike.”
The last six months have been incredibly challenging and demanding, but also very exciting”
Moran continues: “If you’re determined and willing to accept the challenge then the demise of Paperlinx represents an opportunity. We certainly look upon it like that and aim to take full advantage.
Immediately after administration I lost 80 percent of my staff from the VTS division of Paperlinx UK (formerly Robert Horne Sign and Display). VTS was market leader, but we were a small part of the Paperlinx UK business and could not avoid the administration process.
“I kept a core of experienced people in Northampton as a rundown team and that’s when Vink Holdings arrived on the scene.”
Included in the assets bought by Vink Holdings was the conversion equipment previously used by Paperlinx VTS.
Europoint has installed this equipment at each of the new premises, enabling it to offer local services. A trade counter facility for customers to come and collect those products required at short notice has also been established.
Moran concludes: “We’ll run with these three operations in 2016 and—depending on results, performance, and objective results—then we will consider where a fourth location could be established. We have no firm plans yet but that is our long-term goal.”
Europoint’s new sites will stock all brands such as Orafol and Avery vinyls, Dtec digital media, Foamalux foam PVC, Altuglas acrylic, Lexan polycarbonate, Penta PVC, Euroflute, and Skybond aluminium composite.
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