EFKA Frame Solutions: Endless Possibilities

One step into last year’s European Sign Expo at FESPA and it was hard to miss the gigantic space rocket filling a large amount of space towards the front of the hall. The stand was created to demonstrate the “endless possibilities” of aluminium textile frames and lightboxes – two components that are highly used in signage.

The stand belonged to EFKA, a company that originally was established in 1888 as a wholesaler of wooden frames, operating under the name Foppe Klijnstra & Son.

On the stand was a collection of EFKA staff members, including its UK team, which were getting ready to launch the company’s new webshop following EFKA’s strategic acquisition of DPI UK in October 2023.
Nearly a year later, and EFKA has continued to aim for the stars by embracing innovation, growing its UK footprint, and investing in new products and services.

A New Frame of Mind

Founded in 2012, DPI UK was founded by Paul Tomlinson as a manufacturer of SEG/TFD frames and lightboxes. In previous years, DPI worked closely with EFKA, a company headquartered in the Netherlands, which would supply DPI with aluminium profiles for its products.

The close relationship eventually led to EFKA strategically acquiring DPI in October 2023 in order to strengthen its UK presence and increase turnover in the region.

Selling products exclusively to the print and signage industries, EKFA Frame Solutions is able to produce frames and lightboxes with printed fabrics so that the end-user is able to receive a final product from the supplier.

Paul Tomlinson, sales director at EKFA Frame Solutions, says: “We have the largest range of tensioned fabric systems (TFS) in the UK which can be wall-mounted, freestanding, integrated into retail designs, or used in exhibitions. We also produce 3D canopies that hang over exhibition stands. All products are available with or without internal LED illumination.”

Tomlinson describes the company’s growth as being “steady and purposeful”, two words that could also describe the company’s products. Since the company’s inception, Tomlinson has clearly been focused on building the very best team possible.

Currently the team comprises of 12 employees both new and old to the company with varying degrees of experience. In 2025, EKFA Frame Solutions hopes to further expand its team, ensuring it chooses employees that are positive and productive in order to fit with the existing team’s dynamic.

Speaking about EFKA’s values, Tomlinson adds: “We avoid clichéd corporate straplines and instead demonstrate our values through our work. Our team’s shared purpose drives us to deliver the best solutions for our trade partners, helping them maintain thriving businesses. EFKA Frame Solutions is a close-knit team that socialise together, take pride in our work with an infectious enthusiasm, which we then pass on to our clients.”

Our team’s shared purpose drives us to deliver the best solutions for our trade partners, helping them maintain thriving businesses

When it comes to EFKA’s facility, the company is located in Castle Donington at a 450sq m site positioned at the junction of the M1 and A50, meaning it has great transport links from Nottingham, Derby, and East Midlands Airport.

When it comes to future investments, Tomlinson says: “Following the successful acquisition by EFKA in the Netherlands we launched our online webshop and now have plans to expand into a similar-sized building next door. This will provide space for pre-builds, additional profile stock, and extra cutting facilities. Planned investments also include a large mitre saw, a profile bending machine, and drilling machinery to enhance our capabilities.”

What’s New?

When it comes to supplying the trade with signage solutions, EFKA has been keen to demonstrate its unique offerings as seen with its impressive stand at FESPA, its 350,000m of aluminium stock, and its new webshop.

The company says that it works exclusively with large-format printers, retail designers, exhibition stand builders, and other trade professionals to integrate its range of products into designs or be used as standalone displays.

“Tensioned fabric systems are a vibrant and versatile way to deliver high-quality imagery for exhibition stands, offices, and retail spaces,” says Tomlinson, adding: “They’re easy to ship, fit, and update, often without the need for specialist skills.

“Not only are we specialists in fabric frame and lightbox solutions but we offer the UK’s largest range of TFS profiles.”

Speaking about how customers can interact with EFKA Frame Solutions, and be assured by its service, Tomlinson says: “Our online web calculator allows trade partners to quickly access pricing and product information. For those who prefer a personal touch, our production and estimating team brings over 100 years of combined expertise to the table. We also provide high-quality LED systems to ensure lasting performance.”

Despite its recent growth and expansion plans, EFKA isn’t stopping there. The company has a variety of solutions and initiatives that it believes will help its customers and sustainability goals in the process.
“Our PopUp LEDbox is a game-changer: a portable, tool-free lightbox perfect for salespeople attending one-day shows or presentations. It comes in a handy carry case and assembles in under five minutes,” explains Tomlinson who also says: “In 2025 we’ll also be launching our versatile 3D frames in L-, U-, and O-shapes, directly from our webshop.”

Speaking about EFKA’s environmental focus, Tomlinson comments: “Sustainability is a key driver in business decisions, as customers want materials that are recyclable and biodegradable. By continuously innovating and listening to our clients' needs, we stay ahead of industry trends.”

To help its own environmental impact EFKA has embraced LED technology to reduce power consumption and has ensured that non-visible support profiles are now supplied in “mill finish” in order to eliminate anodization. It is also introducing a recyclable substrate for LED backboards, replacing ACM panels.

EFKA Frame Solution’s parent company is also sourcing aluminium locally in Europe to reduce shipping costs and fuel consumption.

Since forming DPI UK in 2012, Tomlinson has expanded his team and his knowledge and has clearly seen a lot of the ebbs and flows that the signage industry has faced over the years. EFKA’s productive attitude and focus on trust and reliability are what many businesses are looking for today in a supplier, especially as timescales get shorter, and many big corporations become impossible to speak to.

“Every day brings new challenges and learning opportunities,” says Tomlinson, who concludes: “While we build a lot of standard squares and rectangles, it’s the complex, custom projects that push us to innovate and excel — and we thrive on that.”

Statistics

2013 - DPI UK founded in 2013
2023 - EFKA acquired DPI UK in 2023
12 - UK business comprised of 12 team members
450 - 450sq m facility located in Castle Donington