Labelmakers Group has announced its intent to acquire Melbourne-based label printer, Rapid Labels, with the acquisition said to be implemented April.

According to Labelmakers, the move doesn’t affect Rapid’s customers as it will continue to operate with “business as usual”.

The only change in staffing is in management – Rapid Labels managing director David Power will continue on with Labelmakers as the general manager of Rapid Labels and be the key point of contact for all things Rapid, while its director Sean Kennon retires at the end of the month.

All staff members are said to continue on as normal.

Rapid Labels is a supplier and printer of self-adhesive label products, focused on the FMCG, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical segments. The business has been at the forefront of specialised label printing since its inception in 1982, managing a suite of digital printing equipment, including the only Gallus Labelfire in Australia and one of the first ever installed globally.

To this day, Rapid has remained a 100 per cent privately owned and managed business by Kennon and Power.

Labelmakers managing director Adam Bamford said the acquisition enables Labelmakers to move heavily into nutraceuticals, with a full suite of solutions spanning labels and folding cartons.

Furthermore, he said it will expand Labelmakers’ print technologies with digital UV inkjet, as well as a product offering that includes database integrated variable data management and multiple counterfeit technologies.

“Rapid is a highly complementary acquisition to our Victorian operations and we are excited to bring their capabilities into the Labelmakers’ network,” he said.

“The Rapid philosophy and its major point of differentiation has been to produce the highest quality labels in-market at industry leading lead times, allowing it to be so successful in its segments.  

“Some of the technologies they have adopted are world leading and very few have mastered the art like Rapid.”

Bamford added that the acquisition represents the biggest in the history of Labelmakers and cements its position as the largest industry leader across Australia and New Zealand.

“Sean and Dave have built a truly impressive business and we are pleased to welcome it into the Labelmakers Group,” Bamford mentioned.

“We look forward to presenting the suite of new opportunities and products available through the Labelmakers network.”