Acquisition for expanding Leeds printing business

Family printing company ABS UK has snapped up a North Wales technology business.

ABS, based in Elland, has bought Sapphire Business Systems, which provides technology solutions including digital copier and printer services.

£4.5 turnover ABS employs 35 people, and the acquisition of Sapphire will expand its presence in North Wales and West England, as well as new partnerships with Develop and Samsung.

ABS UK Ltd provides document production and print and document management to a variety of SMEs, charities and schools across the U.K.

The firm was established in 1989 in Brighouse before spending 15 years in Bradford. In May 2015 ABS relocated to new premises in Elland which includes a purpose-built showroom with a full-range of products.

Brett Abson, sales director at ABS UK commented: “Acquiring Sapphire Business Systems has allowed us to further extend our geographic reach without additional recruitment.

“Several of our existing service clients have operations in Wales and/or the North West and therefore this merger will allow us to provide them with even better support while accessing a predominantly technologically-demanding commercial client base.”

Abson said: “The acquisition also strengthens the business moving forward, adding around £10,000 per month in service revenue alone as part of an overall £350k to £400k per annum increase in turnover.”

David Lees, ABS UK marketing director then summarised the plan for the next 18 months. “As a well-established firm, growth in the short and medium terms is at the heart of our plans. Acquiring Sapphire was the first of three planned purchases and fits our ambition to work with a client base exactly double its current size.

“So long as we continue to lead the market by providing the very best customer support, our commercial partners, the ABS Charitable Foundation and the ABS team itself will thrive and prosper. That is our long-term aim.”