COLOP e-mark Marking a new era

History of COLOP UK

COLOP Austria was founded in 1980 and has become one of the leading innovators in the field of self-inking stamps. Their Headquarters and main production plant is in Wels, Austria, employing 220 people. As a group of companies they employ in excess of 400 people.  

COLOP Austria wanted to increase their presence in the UK and in 2006 purchased Mark C Brown, the rubber stamp manufacturer based in Hull. MCB was a long standing, successful company in its own right but wanted to take the next step into the wholesale market which would lead to increased business with contract stationers, larger independents and dealer groups.

Building on this success, COLOP purchased Birmingham based stamp maker William Jones Clifton in 2009 which cemented their position in the UK with two successful stamp manufacturers under the COLOP umbrella. In May 2012 the two businesses were consolidated into the one site in Birmingham where 20 people are employed.

In June 2012, the UK distributor for both COLOP and Reiner products, Ludwig Ltd also became part of the COLOP family when owner, Chris Ludwig decided to close his St. Albans based business.
A close working relationship had been built up over a number of yeas between the two businesses which allowed for a seamless transfer of the distribution for both COLOP and Reiner products into the Birmingham premises.
In April 2013 the final part of the transition was completed by the renaming and incorporation of the new business under a single entity of COLOP UK Ltd.