Duplo has acquired Bar Graphic Machinery (BGM), a UK-based manufacturer of high-performance finishing equipment for the labels and packaging industry.
Duplo said the strategic move marks its entry into the fast-growing labels sector, further expanding its global capabilities across adjacent print markets.
Based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, BGM specialises in the design and manufacture of narrow web label slitter rewinders, inspection slitter rewinders, rotary die cutting rewinders, digital label converting finishing systems, and flexible packaging finishing equipment for the label and packaging industries.
The deal was completed on 31 July, with Duplo’s first day of ownership of BGM occurring the next day on 1 August.
BGM and Duplo will continue to operate as separate, independent businesses, with the BGM brand remaining unchanged – it will operate as an autonomous division within the Duplo Group.
Duplo International chief innovation officer Peter Jolly will act as temporary BGM managing director for the next few weeks, with a new managing director for the business set to be appointed in due course.
In the near term, Duplo said its focus will be on working closely with the BGM team to listen, learn, and understand the business from within – setting the stage for a collaborative long-term strategy.
“Duplo remains fully committed to its core focus: delivering world-class digital print finishing solutions for the office and graphic arts sectors,” Duplo stated.
“BGM will continue to serve the labels market under its established brand, leadership, and operational structure – now with the added strength and backing of the Duplo Group.”
Hideo Tanaka, president of Duplo Corporation, said: “We are delighted to welcome BGM into the Duplo family. Their reputation for engineering excellence and deep customer commitment aligns perfectly with our values.
“Our role will be to support BGM’s next phase of growth – offering investment, strategic guidance, and access to our global expertise in sales, marketing, R&D, and manufacturing.
“Both Duplo and BGM share a belief in the power of people and the beauty of print. With these shared foundations, we look forward to what we can achieve together.”
BGM managing director Annemarie Rhodes added: “Since we formed BGM more than 30 years ago, we have worked hard to develop innovative products and provide excellent customer service, while retaining our family business ethos.
“As we now look at our future development, we are confident that Duplo will continue with these aims, we are really excited for the opportunities that lay ahead.”
Annemarie Rhodes will continue with the business for six months, to enable ample time to pass over the business processes in a managed way, while BGM chairman Bill Rhodes will stay on for two years, to transfer technical and engineering knowledge.
Duplo said the deal reflected its broader ambition to invest in complementary sectors and partner with businesses that share its commitment to quality, innovation, and long-term customer value.
Jolly told Printweek: “This gives us a new market to step into – labels is a slightly smaller market than commercial print but in other ways it is more resilient, as times of Covid proved for example.
“BGM is a fantastic brand with very happy customers and a great reputation in the marketplace and for us it’s about bringing BGM to the next level, which is why we will keep the brand as it is.”
BGM’s 13 staff will continue to work from their base in Bradford, where they generate a turnover of around £2m.
“They expanded in Covid to a second building and we’ve got capacity to bring more sales in and to produce more, which we’re excited about,” Jolly added.
Last week, Duplo UK took on the UK agency for CP Bourg’s range of perfect binders, bookletmakers, stackers and trimmers, following a similar arrangement in France that was announced in March.
