Queen rewards ‘Best of British’ businesses

According to Paragon Inks chairman, Gerry Merten, the company’s stringent business philosophies – partnerships with staff, customers, global distributors, suppliers and co-suppliers, combined with integrity and sound business strategies – have created this winning formula.   

‘Our business strategy for the last five years has placed emphasis on the continuous development of our people, processes and products to create an efficient and effective company in a highly-competitive marketplace,’ he comments. ‘Being honoured with the Queen’s Award confirms that we must continue this commitment in the challenging years ahead.’   

This thought is echoed by MD, Shaun Bennett, who adds: ‘I’m delighted and very proud that we have achieved such a high accolade as the Queen’s Award for Enterprise and massive thanks go to our staff, customers and suppliers.’   

Bespoke manufacturing

Since 1985, Paragon Inks has supplied its home market – the UK and Ireland – with quality UV products for web printing applications, not only based on its own formulation technology and bespoke manufacturing methods, but also supporting an ever-expanding customer base with an unrivalled customer service portfolio.   

Cultivated over 29 years, Paragon Inks’ twin focus on UV products and web printing applications has fostered its world-class expertise.   

As an independent, privately-owned company, the directors of Paragon Inks strongly believe that people are their business and, incidentally, have been ‘Investor in People’ accredited for many years. Its strong affiliation with Scottish Enterprise and the Royal Bank of Scotland has led to funding support for, among other things, the provision of manufacturing equipment, external and internal training courses for staff and web site development.    

Paragon’s sole manufacturing site based in Livingston (West Lothian) not only supplies the UK market, but also handles direct sales to European and global customers through its one-world distributor network covering 35 countries.   

Paragon in Africa

Since the creation of Paragon Inks almost three decades ago, the company has followed a strategic development plan, reacting to industry demands, and in the process becoming established as a global brand.   

Although still privately owned and manufacturing from one site in Scotland, the company now produces over 60% of its UV inks and coatings for the world’s unsupported webprinting market.   

And a significant part of this success has been in Africa, where the official establishment of Paragon Inks South Africa two year ago underlined the company’s commitment to this market and to global brand owners operating on this continent.   

The South African company offers a facility for local supply, payment and service, and mirrors Paragon Inks’ Australian operation.  

‘This is just another part of the equation in meeting global demand,’ comments Amanda Jones, the company’s international sales manager, who is a regular speaker – imparting her considerable expertise – at packaging and printing conferences in South Africa and, most recently, at the Propak East Africa conference held in Kenya (PPM, May 2013, p15).   

[Ed’s note: Congratulations to the management and staff at Paragon Inks from the PPM team!]