While M&A activity has slowed down from its peak in 2021, there is still a rush of activity involving companies in the label and package printing space. Suppliers and converters alike have been strategic in looking at ways to bolster their operations and provide more coverage, both across the United States and globally. 

For example, LemuGroup recently added CEI to its growing portfolio. This move will enable LemuGroup to better service customers in North America, while it grows CEI’s profile globally. On the converter side, Labelink – after acquiring International Label & Printing at the tail end of 2024 – most recently acquired l’Empreinte to expand into new print markets. To learn more about these acquisitions, turn to page 10 of this issue’s Industry News section.

Hybrid Software grows

There have been other moves, as well. Hybrid Software utilized Labelexpo Europe, held September 16-19, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain, to announce another addition to its growing organization. During the show, the company announced the acquisition of Conics, a software and development and consultancy firm for the printing and packaging industry. Conics is based in Ypres, Belgium.

Conics specializes in partnering with customers to assist in the selection and implementation of graphic arts software and bridges gaps with custom development and integration services.

“Our strategy has always been to build from our core competency of high-end graphics software for labels and packaging, then strengthen that with targeted acquisitions of complementary technologies,” said Mike Rottenborn, CEO, Hybrid Software. “With the addition of Conics, we strengthen our position in project management and consultancy. Their experience in successfully delivering complex projects is a perfect complement to our existing expertise and is increasingly requested by printers and brands.

“In addition, Conics’ expertise in AI and, in particular, their products, are a perfect fit with our own offering for labels and packaging. We are planning to jointly develop even more innovative software solutions that will have a significant impact on the labels and packaging industry.”

Conics’ founders Dries Maerten and Frederic Vandelanotte confirm this. “We are excited to become part of the Hybrid Software family,” says Vandelanotte. “We know their software well, having executed many high-profile integrations of Hybrid’s CLOUDFLOW workflow over the last several years.”

“We will remain a separate business unit of Hybrid Software and will continue to operate out of our offices in Ypres,” adds Maerten. “We integrate software solutions from many industry vendors as required by our customers, and this will continue in the future.”

SMAG Graphique acquired

Also in Europe, X&llence announced the acquisition of SMAG Graphique. On September 8, the Évry Commercial Court approved the takeover of SMAG Graphique by X&llence, a French industrial holding company led by Alexandre Burgot-Dervin. The move secures all 15 jobs and preserves the company’s expertise, opening a new chapter in the graphics sector. This new venture will carry the name SMAG X.

Founded in 1980, SMAG Graphique is a supplier of screen printing presses and one of the very few French manufacturers of printing, finishing, and converting machines for labels and flexible packaging. Its modular machines cover the full range of processes: screen printing, flexography, hot stamping, embossing, laminating, flatbed or rotary cutting, allowing different printing and cutting processes to be freely combined. 

Designed and manufactured in France, the products have earned SMAG Graphique a reputation in France and recognized internationally, as well.

With extensive experience in the field of labels and flexible packaging, Burgot-Dervin intends to strengthen SMAG Graphique’s competitiveness with a new dynamic.

“Taking over SMAG Graphique is above all a commitment – to protect rare skills, maintain employment in France, and keep this industrial know-how alive and growing,” says Burgot-Dervin. “It means defending much more than just a company – it means supporting an entire French industrial sector. My ambition is clear: make SMAG Graphique a leading player once again, driven by service, innovation, and French operational excellence.”

Burgot-Dervin also heads several companies specializing in various fields. In particular, he chairs DB Groupe, a manufacturer of labels and identification solutions with more than 30 years of experience.

Duplo looks to BGM

Another M&A story making headlines at Labelexpo Europe was Duplo’s acquisition of Bar Graphic Machinery (BGM). BGM is a UK-based manufacturer of high-performance finishing equipment for the label and packaging industry. The leadership transition met with the industry in Barcelona to explain Duplo’s future goals.

This strategic move marks Duplo’s entry into the growing labels sector, further expanding its global capabilities across adjacent print markets. Importantly, Duplo and BGM will continue to operate as separate, independent businesses. Duplo remains fully committed to its core focus – delivering world-class digital print finishing solutions for the office and graphic arts sectors.

BGM will continue to serve the label market under its established brand, leadership, and operational structure. Now it boasts the added strength and backing of the Duplo Group.

Hideo Tanaka, president of Duplo Corporation, commented, “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.”

He added, “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.”

The BGM brand will remain unchanged and will operate as an autonomous division within the Duplo Group. Meanwhile, Adam James will take on the new role of managing director. In the near term, Duplo’s 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.

Annemarie Rhodes, current managing director, says, “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.”