As Soyang Europe celebrates its 20th year in business this month on 8th July, LFR sits down with Group CEO Mark Mashiter to discuss the company’s tremendous success over the past two decades and its roadmap for further growth.
When you pass through the doors of Soyang Europe’s impressive 70,000sq ft facility just off the M65 in Lancashire, it is hard to believe that the company was only established 20 years ago.
Despite a relatively short history, the company’s journey has been a busy and successful one. It is fair to say that Soyang Europe is best known for its diverse offering of media, and, when walking through the huge, on-site warehouse at its Accrington site, it is easy to see why. The shelves upon shelves of materials – approximately 1.5 million square metres worth – show that Soyang Europe is clearly well positioned to support customers across the UK with all manner of projects and applications.
But, as with every business, Soyang Europe has had to work its way from the ground up, as Group CEO Mark Mashiter explains. The company first tested the water with Soyang-manufactured materials in the mid-2000s.
“We started out in the UK in 2005 with the first three containers of material landing to test the market,” he said. “In fact, with these containers, the VAT and duty rates were paid for on my personal credit card to clear customs!”
Constant development
Going back to the first meeting with China-headquartered Soyang Group, then known as Daya, in 2000 at an industrial textile exhibition, Mark was seeking to partner with a producer of PVC banner materials. The DNA of Soyang is very much PVC production up to 5m wide, but as the market has evolved over the past two decades, the wider Soyang business has grown to cater for changing demands.
“We have worked together and developed Chinese materials and improved them to meet the requirements of the EU market,” Mark said, “The majority of investments have been made into textiles suitable for dye sublimation, latex and UV printing up to 5m wide.
“Add in that further materials are now being introduced to replace traditional PVC banners, again up to 5m wide, and this places us in a strong position to support customers with their evolving sustainable practices.”
Soyang has increased its manufacturing facility massively over the past 10 years, helped by the opening of its second purpose-built factory, which Mark said is vertically integrated in the company’s production processes. The factory is both OEKO-TEX and GRS approved with a fully qualified laboratory for testing.
“Soyang Europe continues to be at the forefront of development for the factory. We’re the eyes and ears of the business, ensuring new products and developments are made to meet our customers’ ever-evolving requirements,” he said.
Building blocks of success
However, the second factory is not the only highlight from Soyang Europe in recent years, with the company having made a series of other announcements linked to its ongoing and long-term growth plans.
First came the acquisition of specialist wide-format equipment dealer Josero, now known as Soyang Hardware, in May 2022. The purchase was a turning point for the business, with Soyang now equipped to support customers with their hardware needs alongside media supplies.
Soyang Hardware now counts Fujifilm, Mimaki, Ricoh, Jetrix and Vivid Laminating Technologies among its partners, with customers having access to a range of wide- and superwide-format solutions. To support this area of the business, Soyang has opened a demonstration facility at its primary Accrington site and also refurbished the existing Josero site in Cambridgeshire, allowing customers from around the UK to view live demonstrations of machines.
Of course, Soyang’s reach is not only limited to the UK. Earlier this year, the company opened a new branch in the Irish capital of Dublin to better serve customers in the country. Previously, Irish clients faced delayed delivery times on materials and media due to it having to be sent across from the UK and entering the EU zone. Now, the site is stocked with various options, offering easier and quicker access to Irish customers.
Change at the top
However, perhaps the most significant piece of news from Soyang this year is its new-look board. Mark Mashiter now leads the business as Group CEO, with support from a board of highly knowledgeable and experienced industry professionals.
Board members include Sales Director Oliver Mashiter, Operations Director Simon Mashiter, Finance Director Daniel Dimambro, Procurement Director Shane Furness, Company Secretary Catherine Mashiter, and Lauren Gawthorpe from the Accounts department – each reporting directly to Mark.
“The new-look board of directors is also part of the long-term plan,” Mark said. “This next generation will continue to drive us forward as a business by taking ownership of the day-to-day running of the company. They will implement new processes when required and will ensure the smooth running and continued growth of Soyang Europe.”
While the look and make-up of Soyang has changed dramatically over the past two decades, in its 20th year the goal of the business remains very much the same – supporting customers and helping them with their own growth and expansion goals.
“In the coming years, we’d like to see Soyang continuing to be pioneers within our market, bringing diverse new materials with added value to our customers for new applications,” Mark said.
“Our new, dynamic team now has the platform to take the business to another level, all with the support of our colleagues in China.”
To read additional recent news from Soyang, click here
