Prime Label acquires Arti-Bau

Prime Label Group, one of the leading label manufacturers in Central and Eastern Europe, has finalized the acquisition of shares in Arti-Bau, a Polish digital label printing company based in Lower Silesia. The Group is controlled by the Innova/6 SCA SICAV private equity fund, part of the Innova Capital group, and this deal marks the eighth acquisition completed with Innova’s participation.

In recent years, Prime Label has focused on growth through M&A, widening its reach not only by diversifying its service portfolio but also through geographical expansion. As a result, the Group has strengthened its position in label production in Central and Eastern Europe, securing the opportunity to acquire new customers from the DACH region and Scandinavia.

Arti-Bau was founded in 2012, and quickly evolved from a local manufacturer into a recognized partner for the packaging industry throughout Poland. Arti-Bau responds to growing market needs for personalization and flexible customer service by offering high-quality, self-adhesive labels using inkjet technology. A breakthrough moment for Arti-Bau came with the implementation of Europe's first hybrid label printing machine with the ability to refine low-volume print runs. This gave the company a competitive advantage in the premium label segment. Today, Arti-Bau is expanding its operations in Poland and German-speaking markets, leveraging its experience and know-how.

'Since 2019, we have been consistently building our position as the leading manufacturer of a wide range of labels in Central and Eastern Europe, using various printing technologies, including digital, offset, and flexo. 2024 was a breakthrough year for us – our sales exceeded 100 million EUR, placing us among the largest label manufacturers in Europe. It is also worth mentioning that since the first acquisition of the Lublin-based company Embepress, the Group has grown more than sevenfold thanks to our consistent buy-and-build strategy, which we intend to pursue,' said Arkadiusz Sapiecha, Prime Label Group CEO. 'I am convinced that adding Arti-Bau to Prime Label will result in even faster growth for our digital printing division (DigiPrime). Our focus on the highest quality customer service – from label design to rapid delivery – gives us a decisive advantage over the competition. In addition, thanks to two dedicated digital printing locations, we ensure a secure supply for our clients. I believe that the exchange of experience and best practices, combined with the shared values that guide us in doing business, will translate into both the success of the company and the satisfaction of our employees,' he added.

The new acquisition strengthens Prime Label's position in the field of digital label production, a segment that is rapidly growing in popularity. This is primarily due to the ability to print short runs cost-effectively, respond quickly to customer needs, and personalize labels. Market data also shows that demand for digitally printed labels is growing faster than for those produced using conventional techniques such as flexography or offset.

'We have always sought to strengthen our position in the Polish and European packaging markets by boldly investing in innovative technologies. However, facing the demands of the market daily naturally led us to seek new directions for development. We want our clients to feel the real benefits of this change, and the entire team to receive a boost of new energy, ideas, and technology. Joining a dynamic, European-scale group like Prime Label opens new perspectives for us. Prime Label, like us, focuses on people and their advancement, as they are the reason we are growing faster than our competitors. We believe that combining our experiences will enable us to build a global brand, allowing the entire Group to achieve its common business goal. Joining Prime Label is a milestone in the history of Arti-Bau, opening a new, exciting chapter and providing a much greater sense of security,' said Monika Stefańska, Arti-Bau's president of the management board.

'The inclusion of Arti-Bau into Prime Label is a strategic step that strengthens the Group's expertise in digital printing technology. We see tremendous potential in combining the teams’ experience and technologies, increasing operational efficiency and accelerating expansion in German-speaking markets. This acquisition will enable the Group to offer clients a complementary product portfolio – from short label runs to comprehensive packaging alternatives, such as ready-made stand-up pouches printed using digital technology – even better tailored to their specific needs and expectations,' said Michał Wojdyła, Partner at Innova Capital.