11 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 264 - April | May 2026 BUSINESS | NEWS Garment decoration manufacturer, MiRiCal Emblems, has reached an agreement to acquire the heat transfer assets and goodwill of Birmingham-based garment product producer, Ikon EU. Under the deal with Ikon EU’s owners, Pre-Print, Ikon EU has ceased manufacture of its range of heat-applied transfers and badges from the end of February, with production now transferring to MiRiCal’s Blidworth, Nottinghamshire factory. MiRiCal has also acquired all of the artwork files created by Ikon for its customers, with the aim of enabling a seamless transition between suppliers for around 40 UK-based customers. MiRiCal’s managing director, Jonathan Dul, says: “I am delighted to have reached this agreement and look forward to welcoming Ikon’s loyal customers into the MiRiCal family. We have directly comparable products with similar performance and pricing levels, and I can guarantee that customers won’t be negatively impacted by the transition.” MiRiCal Emblems was founded in 1993 with a focus on the workwear and safetywear markets. It currently employs 45 staff from its 15,000sq ft Nottinghamshire headquarters. Both MiRiCaL and Ikon developed similar specialisms in the production of technical transfers, with products designed to meet the needs of both domestic and industrial wash resistance alongside dye-migration blocking capability, and the option of specialist reflective products. Hertfordshire-based signage specialist, FASTSIGNS St Albans, has officially relocated to a brand-new location, after what has been calculated to be its most successful year to date. The company, which recently marked its five-year anniversary as part of the FASTSIGNS UK network, has relocated its centre from Hearle Way in Hatfield to the Sphere Industrial Estate in St Albans, bringing its visual communications services closer to the city’s business community. The relocation to a new 3,100sq ft home comes off the back of a strong year of sales in 2025, which saw a reported 30% growth in turnover. 2025 also saw the company expand its team with the appointment of a new graphic designer. The new centre aims to provide space for the signage company to further expand its team and output. Its previous premises was a shared workspace, home to both FASTSIGNS St Albans and SIM Imaging, a producer of handmade photo products. The businesses, co-owned by managing director Lee Simpson, combined their services, working for brands including Universal and McLaren. Simpson has since sold SIM Imaging, now setting his sights on delivering an end-to-end service at FASTSIGNS by expanding into other markets. Commenting on the business’s relocation, Simpson says: “The growth we saw last year is a testament to the appetite for high-quality visual communications. Our new home, closer to St Albans’ business community, and larger to enable us to future-proof our operations, is designed to enable us to respond to that demand even quicker than we did before.” [Pictured] The FASTSIGNS St Albans team at the new company headquarters MiRiCal acquires assets of Ikon EU The Sussex Sign Company has become the first ‘Metamark approved’ vehicle wrapping centre in Sussex, following a full technical inspection by vehicle wrapping media manufacturer, Metamark UK. The accreditation confirms that The Sussex Sign Company meets Metamark’s required standards for vehicle wrapping environments, installation processes, workmanship, and quality control, placing the business among a select group of manufacturer-approved wrapping centres nationwide. The award was formally presented by Matthew Lewis, regional sales manager at Metamark UK, following the successful completion of the approval process. The assessment covered facility layout, workflow, surface preparation, application techniques, and the correct use of Metamark automotive films. The Sussex Sign Company has worked with Metamark for more than 25 years, dating back to the installation of the signage company’s first digital print equipment. FASTSIGNS St Albans relocates after ‘best ever year’ Sussex Sign Company awarded Metamark accreditation MiRiCal has also acquired all of the artwork files created for Ikon customers By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjM0NDIxOA==