Our History
Our Company History
1992
Metamark is founded
Metamark is founded and its journey begins, supplying plotter cut graphics films. Our business was created with a clear and simple purpose. That was to put the customer centre stage and build a business around the customer. It has remained the core pillar in everything we do and shaped the business today.
1995
A growing brand
Metamark’s self-adhesive materials product portfolio grows. The company attracts yet more customers who then benefit from the extensive and attractive material range offered, and elevated service standards which allow them to rely on Metamark’s inventory and ability to supply.
1998
An international outlook
Metamark’s strength as a brand and the quality of its materials reaches specialist distribution businesses in fast developing international regions. Metamark appoints its first distributor partners in the Netherlands and Chile.
1999
Investing in the core. Strengthening manufacturing
Investment in manufacturing sees Metamark’s production facilities increasing capacity and capability. The facility delivers products that fully reflect the expectations set by the Metamark brands and production efficiencies that optimise the use of resources.
2000
Innovating into Digital Print Technology
Metamark responds to the emerging influence of digital production technologies with MD-Class products such as MD5 that are ‘Digital By Design.’ The portfolio is rapidly and widely adopted for its reference-standard quality, durability and the value it offers producers and specifiers.
2012
Managing growth. Defining strategy.
Now selling more products, to more customers and partners, in more markets than at any time since its founding, Metamark on-boards a strengthened management team company’s growth trajectory and defining succession planning and strategic initiatives.
2013
Metamark Everywhere. Metamark accelerates international growth
International growth accelerates as Metamark’s strategic initiatives grow its markets and partner network. Now among the UK’s market leading manufacturers and suppliers to the sign and allied industries, Metamark’s products are in establishing growth in over fifty countries around the world.
2015
Trust and Performance
With its brand a noted player and growing in key markets, Metamark eyes diversification to leverage its key competencies. The initiative sees specialist products introduces for the production of advertising specialities, transit livery and graphics, and glazing manifestation.
2017
MBO and Private Equity drives growth
Metamark’s succession is confirmed when its management team in partnership with Primary Capital undertakes a successful MBO. The team commits to a programme of continuing share growth, further international expansion, specialist acquisitions and diversification into new markets.
2020
Metamark drives growth from the Global pandemic
As the world’s economic engine stalls against the global pandemic, Metamark pivots into helping create and satisfy a market for statutory and advisory graphics managing distancing regulations and working safety. The company bounces back into a new phase of growth as the pandemic eases.
2020
MetaStream® recycling introduced
Metamark scores an emphatic win launching ‘MetaStream,’ it’s initiative for recycling production waste and recovered promotional and branded liveries used in the vehicle fleet advertising and marking. The initiative is recognised as a game-changer and is widely adopted.
2021
New Application Sectors. New Customers.
Metamark’s diversification initiatives sees the company leverage its brand in new markets including architectural surface transformation and automotive paint protection. The programme and products are welcomed by industry specialists and help Metamark’s customer base grow.
2022
MD5 surpasses 40 million metres. Enough to wrap the world!
Sales of Metamark’s flagship MD-Class digital media, MD5, exceed 40 million linear metres. The product has proven Metamark’s ‘Digital By Design’ ethos and is establish as a technical quality reference by printer manufactures and prised by end users for the larger-than-life output it enables.
2023
Metamark strengthen our accreditations
Metamark strengthens its accreditations base in quality and sustainability to cover ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO 45001, and ISO50001. We proudly achieve Ecovadis accreditation for sustainability and go on achieve the Platinum Award. and we invest in solar electricity generation and heat reclamation at our HQ and plant.
2025
Metamark is acquired by UPM Group
Metamark is acquired by Finnish multinational UPM. Metamark will anchor the branding and contribute to the growth of its Specialist Adhesive Materials Division, continuing our journey as a globally recognised and respected specialist materials brand, reflecting UPM’s values.
ISO Accreditation & Awards
Metamark is a subsidiary company of Finnish multinational UPM and part of its UPM Adhesive Materials division. Metamark maintains a range of environmental, quality and management accreditations including Platinum Ecovadis recognition under the aegis of UPM. Metamark itself contributes with recent initiatives including the installation of a solar electricity generation plant which serves approximately 40% of Metamark manufacturing’s energy needs in the United Kingdom.
Metamark Manufacturing
Metamark’s manufacturing HQ is co-located in the UK with the company’s laboratory and product test centre, and with its warehousing and conversion facilities. Metamark converts the products it manufacturers from mill-length bulk rolls into smaller packaged formats under the same roof. Converted products are warehoused in the same facility from where they’re despatched as needed to the company’s customers in the UK, or to its network of distribution partners in other countries around the world.