After 40 years in business, MPH Limited has entered a new era since a buyout in 2020. We take a brief look back, before looking forward to the next 40 years.
A long history
Founded in 1982 by three former employees of Nor Systems (now Sato UK), MPH started out as a prepress artwork studio and plate making business. The company originally located itself in an old cow shed on a local farm, quickly moving almost next door to their former employer, before finding premises in old Harwich town.
MPH were one of the first prepress company’s to buy into the digital revolution, starting with a Purup system in the mid 80s, and continuing to invest in cutting edge prepress solutions ever since.
The introduction of rotary screen production 25 years ago added to the portfolio of specialist skills offered by MPH. The company continued to grow in narrow and medium web markets.
Further ventures into new production technology continued with the introduction of DuPont’s Cyrel Fast system, Fujifilm’s Flenex water-washed process, as well as Flint, Asahi and MacDermid solvent plates complimenting these solutions.
Fujifilm’s cutting edge Flenex FW water-wash system
In addition to conventional packaging, MPH started working with printed electronics sectors, initially with flexo plates, and subsequently rotary screen. The push into new markets was developed in partnerships with electronics companies who had seen the potential in their own markets.
In 2018 MPH became official and exclusive UK partner to the globally renowned market leader of rotary screen print solutions, SPGPrints (formerly Stork Prints). With the support of the Netherlands based company, the close relationship helps supply the UK with screens faster than was previously available. The relationship contuses to this day.
MPH Braille / Warning triangle coating equipment
Hank Guitjens, commercial manager label printing at SPGPrints, commented in the press:
“MPH has been instrumental in helping us maintain a high level of support to our UK rotary screen customers, thanks to their resources and industry expertise. The addition of screen preparation for tactile applications at MPH means our customers are even better placed to meet the demands of the market competitively.”
MPH rotary screen dept.
Prepress experts take over
Towards the end of 2019, plans were made for a management buyout of the business. The decision was made to move the company from its long standing home into a factory space along the Stour river in Manningtree, on the Essex/Suffolk Border.
The move, early in 2020, would put the new team under extraordinary pressure.
The move out of Anglia house begins
A fast move
A smooth moving process minimised lost production days. The cranes and HGVs moved in to extract the heavy equipment from the 70 year old office building, and put it in place and the new facility. Orders were being fulfilled from the new premises very quickly, while the clean-up of the old building continued.
COVID-19 strikes
No one predicted just how big an impact the COVID-19 pandemic would have on us all. After just one month of moving, the new team was struck by the disruption and reduction of work caused by the virus lock-downs.
Despite the slump the company weathered the storm, and after six months of the take-over, started to grow at the new MPH emerged into what everyone was calling ‘the new normal.’
Today, at the end of 2022, the business is thriving with continued investments into the company and a big re-brand earlier in the year. So we invite you to join us in our journey and benefit from a company owned by the prepress experts themselves, some of whom have worked at MPH since its inception 40 years ago.
