This year's FESPA in London saw leading manufacturer of products for graphics finishing and display Drytac Europe formally shake on its new exclusive distribution deal, handing the reins for all UK and Ireland sales over to Antalis. The new supplier wasted no time; a week following the official announcement Antalis commenced delivery of Drytac's signage products around the country.
Despite the size of the new range hitting Antalis warehouse shelves – around 50 products each offered in three to six different widths – the transition has been very smooth, according to Mick Crook, Product Manager for Sign and Display at Antalis. "We now welcome the last of the new credit accounts on board, which once in place we will be very active in promoting the full Drytac range and Antalis product offering."
The Antalis sales team has also found a host of new opportunities to showcase Drytac's innovations to its existing customer base. "As part of a complete offering, we now have a full range of paper, packaging solutions and sign and display products for professionals, at every price point," says Crook.
Moreover, Drytac customers can benefit from the full range of Antalis' other product streams – including digital printing, packaging and office supplies – and receive all their regular consumables directly from the same supplier. So now, Drytac signage products like the new formulations of ViziPrint, WindowTac and Protac materials can be purchased and delivered alongside foamboard, ink-jet consumables, packaging products and office paper stock.
Combining deliveries has reduced Drytac's environmental footprint. Its products, all manufactured in the UK, now arrive at Antalis' Coalville headquarters ahead of shipping to regional branches from which they are added to Antalis' existing delivery routes. This cuts out the higher number of shorter trips formerly undertaken by Drytac to its customers. Antalis, an ISO 14001-accredited company and Carbon Trust Standard holder, also works continuously to improve its ecological impact.
The transition has allowed Drytac to concentrate on R&D. "There are numerous products to add to the mix," says Crook. "We know our markets, so Antalis is able to work with Drytac on developing new products we know there's call for, in particular the printable adhesive materials that Drytac specialises in."
Hayden Kelley, Managing Director of Drytac Europe, also emphasises this point. "With Antalis taking on the full distributorship of Drytac products, we can concentrate resources on making the best products we can. We are ploughing capital into developing new products to help our customers in the sign and display market achieve the best possible margins."
Kelley, who secured the Antalis partnership in his first year at the helm of Drytac Europe, says he has seen 'nothing but positive things' come out of the deal, from mitigating the use of transportation resources to become a greener company, to a achieving a greater international stature.
"A company the size and scale of Antalis has raised our profile internationally," explains Kelley. "We are now actively evaluating our distribution footprint by talking to fairly large organisations on an international scale."
While the results of these conversations are yet to be confirmed, it suggests Drytac has big plans for becoming a major 'Made in Britain' export success story. Recently launched and expanded ranges are likely to be just a hint of future innovations from Drytac Europe.
For more information on Drytac, please visit www.drytac.co.uk
For more information on Antalis, please visit www.antalis.co.uk
