Making an impact around the world

Can you tell me about your history in the sign industry?

I have worked in the sticky tape industry since 1986 specialising in technical tapes. I was introduced to the owner of Poli-Tape Gmbh in November 1994 when they were launching a range of application tapes for transferring plotter cut letters. From there I had to learn my craft selling initially to the sign distributors and then introducing textile decoration media. We are now selling digital print media.

How would you describe Poli-Tape’s growth over the last few years?

Having established themselves as the world’s largest manufacturer of textile decoration materials, Poli-Tape set about developing a range of Poli-Print Digital Print Media. With an investment of over €25m (£21m) in the business over the last five years, the growth has been phenomenal. We now supply customers in over 87 countries worldwide. Although often hidden from view supplying leading OEMs and distributors with own label products, Poli-Tape is now developing its own brand.


You have a wide range of products for the sign industry, can you pick one of your top products and tell me why it is worth investigating?

Poli-Tape has a wide range of monomeric, polymeric, and matching laminating vinyls, as well as speciality films, so it is really difficult to choose just one product. We are especially proud though of our range of high performance polymeric vinyls, our Poli-Print 1000 series.

The main advantages of the range are minimum shrinkage and excellent opacity, helping to achieve the highest standards of print quality. As these materials are coated on very modern state-of-the-art machinery with the very latest adhesive formulations, they often outperform similar materials designed over a decade ago.

Your Poli-Print media have received official certification for compatibility with HP Latex inks, what does this mean for your customers?

Our range of vinyls are printable with all the latest inks including solvent, eco-solvent, UV, and latex.

Latex printing is a fast growing technology in the UK market and we are proud to have this official HP certification, which gives the consumer great confidence in the Poli-Print range of media knowing it is fully compatible with this ink technology.

What makes Poli-Tape stand out as a supplier?

Poli-Tape have modern coating, casting, and converting equipment in purpose built facilities in Germany and Italy. We use industrial automated robots for packaging and handling the goods. Our research and development labs are second to none, which enable us to formulate many of the unique adhesives and polymers we use.



However, Poli-Tape are not a one trick pony; we are a market leading manufacturer of application tapes, digital media, and films for textile decoration. Our Poli-Flex, which is a superior textile decoration film developed by the late founder and chemist Walter Moehren, was the first Flex film to be cast in a pure polyurethane. I would like to highlight we are the only producer manufacturing textile Flex from raw chemicals. It is Oeko Tex Class I certified, which means the product is environmentally-friendly and safe for use even on babies’ clothing.
        
What are Poli-Tape’s plans for the future?

Primarily we are now seeking to develop our own brand ‘Poli-Tape—Made in Germany’ and we are starting a programme of advertising to tell the sign industry of one of its best kept secrets. Regrettably, Walter died prematurely at the end of last year—he had pioneered products for over twenty years, developing a business which now employs more than 300 people at three manufacturing facilities and doubling sales in the last five years. Walter will be a hard act to follow, but we hope to serve his legacy well by continuing to invest in pioneering products and services.


Our new fully integrated IT system went live in March and plans for the warehouse expansion are already in place. From the enthusiasm demonstrated by the team, this story has only just begun.


Key stats

• Worked in sticky tape industry since 1986
• Supply customers in over 87 countries
• Over 300 people employed
• 3 manufacturing facilities

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