7 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 265 - June | July 2026 Soyang Europe becomes official LIYU distributor in UK CMYUK announces launch of new European arm Kornit Digital acquires PrintFactory Brother purchases Mutoh in £170m deal Innotech launches the Big Print Network BUSINESS | NEWS Soyang Europe, a provider of materials and technologies for wide-format and superwide-format print, has announced that it has become the official distributor for Platinum Technologies LIYU (LIYU) in Great Britain. As part of the new deal, which builds on a long-standing relationship between the two companies, Soyang Europe will have access to LIYU’s entire range of solutions. Print service providers (PSPs) in the region seeking further insight into LIYU technologies can now see several machines in action at Soyang’s professional demonstration facility in Accrington. Headquartered in China, LIYU is a manufacturer of wide-ranging solutions across the wide-format and industrial print markets. The new partnership will drive further growth of LIYU’s printers across England, Scotland, and Wales, aiming to offer users enhanced confidence, dependable performance, and comprehensive long-term production support. Among the solutions now offered by Soyang is the Liyu Signature H3340, a UV hybrid printer that can run at speeds of up to 350sq m/hr in high productivity mode, as well as the Liyu Platinum KCXL+ flatbed UV press, which has a top speed of 400sq m/hr. Mark Mashiter, chief executive officer of Soyang Europe, says: “We have been admirers of Platinum Technologies LIYU for some time, and we are delighted to be adding their printers to our portfolio of leading solutions. Our long-standing relationships and experience working directly with manufacturing partners in China have given us a strong understanding of what customers require in terms of quality, reliability, and support.” UK-based independent print machinery supplier, CMYUK Group, has announced the launch of CMYK Europe, a new company within the wider organisation that will serve European customers. CMYK Europe will replicate many of the resources, products, and services of the core CMYUK brand, which offers a variety of wideformat digital printers and finishing equipment for the UK and Ireland. The company will support customers throughout Europe from a planned Polish facility, backed by the group’s unrivalled experience in digital equipment, applications, customer service, sales, and marketing. CMYUK has significantly expanded in recent years as a key supplier in the digital printing production equipment sector, working with technology partners such as EFI, Canon, Mimaki, and JWEI. Kornit Digital has announced its acquisition of PrintFactory, a Netherlands-based producer of workflow, colour management, and production automation software. For Kornit, the acquisition represents a strategic step in its mission to accelerate the digital transformation of the global fashion and textile industry. By integrating PrintFactory’s automation capabilities into its platform, Kornit is aiming to strengthen its ability to connect demand generation, production workflow, and fulfilment into one continuous digital ecosystem. PrintFactory’s platform can enable unified production workflow management and consistent output across mixed technology environments. Japanese print hardware manufacturer, Brother Industries, has officially acquired manufacturer, Mutoh Holdings, as part of its plans for expansion into the industrial printing sector. Brother recently announced that its ¥35bn (£170m) tender offer had succeeded, with Mutoh now a consolidated subsidiary of Brother as of March 30th. At the time of the first announcement, Mutoh’s board of directors had already expressed its support of the offer and recommended the company’s shareholders to tender their shares. The board concluded that joining Brother would strengthen product competitiveness and expand market reach by leveraging Brother's broader sales and service networks. Innotech has launched the Big Print Network (TBPN), a new ambassador programme for wideand superwide-format printers, sign-makers, and display specialists. The network gives print businesses a ‘first sight’ of new Innotech products before they reach the wider market. The network also offers exclusive memberonly promotions and invitations to VIP events and open days. Membership is free, but each applicant must go through a vetting process to ensure the network provides genuine value to all its members. Members of the network will display the TBPN badge on their website, share a minimum of two Innotech-related social posts per month, tag Innotech in projects made with its materials, and provide honest feedback when asked. The new site will operate from a facility in Poland [L to R] Erdem Yavuz from LIYU; Mark Mashiter from Soyang Europe; and Oguz Dincer from LIYU Printfactory software is already being utilised by a range of Kornit customers The acquisition will result in Mutoh being delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange The network also connects to Innotech’s wider circle of allied suppliers By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert
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