What CILS does

CILS International (legal entity: Computer Imprintable Label Systems Limited) is a UK-based specialty manufacturer of durable, computer-printable labels, founded in 1987 and headquartered in a purpose-built production facility in Worthing, West Sussex. The company serves two end-markets: industrial sectors (aerospace, automotive, electronics, oil and gas, military/defence, construction, transportation) and laboratory/life sciences (clinical, biotech, pharma R&D, hospitals, animal health). Its core offering is custom label manufacturing engineered to survive harsh conditions including abrasion, chemicals, autoclave sterilization, cryogenic storage, fire-retardant environments, and outdoor/marine exposure. The product portfolio spans approximately 25 specialized label SKUs across asset ID, barcode/serial, cable, calibration, compliance (UL, GHS), component, PCB, rating plate, tamper-evident, warning/safety, cryogenic, clinical trial, labware, microscope slide, sterilization indicator, and cap/tube labels, complemented by four grades of thermal transfer ribbon, printer accessories, professional printing services, and printer consultation support.

The company operates a sales-led, direct go-to-market: customers configure label specifications via the website or contact account managers, receive free samples for qualification testing, and place custom orders with quote-based pricing valid for 30 days. CILS maintains archived customer specifications to streamline repeat orders and offers video-call-based printer and software setup assistance. Its partnership with SQ Labels extends the offering into cloud-based and on-premise label design software with unlimited printer licensing and no annual fees, available in SMB, mid-market, and enterprise tiers. The company is privately held with no disclosed external investment, holds ISO 9001 certification alongside UL, GxP, GHS, CE, RoHS, REACH, UKCA, HSE, BSI, and ULC compliance, reports a 98% customer satisfaction rating across more than 15,000 customers worldwide, and operates with a 101–250 employee base.

Name

CILS

Legal name

Computer Imprintable Label Systems Limited

Website

https://cils-international.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CILS International is a UK-based specialty manufacturer of durable, computer-printable labels engineered to withstand chemicals, extreme temperatures, cryogenic storage, and abrasion. The company serves over 15,000 industrial and laboratory customers worldwide with custom labels, thermal transfer ribbons, printing services, and label design software.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial and Laboratory Label Manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Functional Labels (Linerless, RFID/NFC, Braille, Smart) (IMALAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pressure-Sensitive Labels (PSL) (IMALAKAA), Pharmaceutical Labels & Patient Information Packaging (Labels, IFUs, Booklets) (IMALAIAK), Labels & Pressure-Sensitive Materials (labelstock, PSA labels, liners) (IMAMAHAE), Sterile & Aseptic Medical Packaging (Pouches, Wraps, Sterile Barriers) (IMALAIAB)

Keywords

• Durable industrial labels
• Laboratory identification labels
• Thermal transfer ribbons
• Custom label printing services
• Cryogenic laboratory labels

Headquarters

HQ city

Worthing

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Durable Labels: Bespoke manufacturing of durable computer-printable labels tailored to customer specifications. Orders are quote-based with specifications agreed in writing before manufacturing commences. Pricing is fixed per Order Confirmation and excludes packaging, insurance and transport costs.
2. Printing Services: Professional printing service using latest print and press technology for customers who may not have in-house printing resources or equipment.
3. Thermal Transfer Ribbons and Accessories: Sale of resin ribbons, electric rewinders, external roll holders, replacement print heads, print head cleaning kits, and label applicators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CILS International manufactures and supplies custom durable computer-printable labels engineered to withstand harsh conditions including extreme temperatures, chemicals, abrasion, cryogenic storage, and autoclave sterilization. The company operates two main product divisions: Industrial Labels (asset ID, barcode, cable identification, calibration, compliance, PCB, rating plate, tamper-evident, UL, and warning labels) and Laboratory Labels (cryogenic, GHS, clinical trial, labware, microscope slide, sample ID, sterilization indicator, and cap/tube labels). Supporting offerings include thermal transfer ribbons, professional printing services, SQ Label Software, and printer accessories.

Product overview

CILS International (Computer Imprintable Label Systems Limited) is a durable label manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of computer printable labels organized into two main divisions: Industrial Labels (including asset ID, barcode, cable identification, calibration, compliance, component, PCB, rating plate, sign/seal, tamper-evident security, temporary removable, UL, and warning labels) and Laboratory Labels (including cryogenic, GHS warning, clinical study sets, labware, microscope slide, quality control, sample identification, sterilization indicator, cap/tube, and blockout masking labels). The company also provides SQ Label Software (a cloud-based label design solution for businesses of all sizes), thermal transfer ribbons, professional printing services, and printer accessories. All products are designed to withstand demanding environmental conditions and comply with regulatory standards including UL, GHS, and ISO certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SQ Label Software: Cloud-based label design and printing software solution offered in partnership with SQ Labels, available for single-site small businesses, mid-size and growing businesses, and global enterprises.

Products and services

• Asset ID and Inventory Labels

Quantifiable outcome

• Trusted by over 15,000 customers worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SQ LabelscoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to offer SQ Label software solution to customers. SQ Labels provides an intuitive and powerful label design solution with a simple user-friendly interface, unlimited printer licensing, on-site software (no reliance on the cloud), and zero annual fees. Available as a 30-day free trial.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Graphic Products: Graphic Products supplies industrial labels, signs, and label printers for safety and identification applications, with comparable durability requirements to CILS's industrial label customers.
• Brady Corporation: Brady is a global leader in identification solutions including durable industrial labels, label printers, and safety/identification consumables — directly comparable to CILS's industrial label portfolio across asset ID, cable marking, and warning labels.
• HellermannTyton: HellermannTyton specializes in cable identification, wire marking, and durable industrial identification products — directly comparable to CILS's cable ID and harsh-environment labeling categories.
• Camcode (Horizon Group): Camcode specializes in durable asset tags, barcode labels, and custom identification labels designed for harsh industrial environments — a very close functional peer to CILS's industrial label offering.
• DYMO (Newell Brands): DYMO manufactures label printers and label consumables for industrial, asset, and identification use cases, directly competing with CILS's label-printer-integrated durable label portfolio.
• Metalcraft: Metalcraft produces durable nameplates, rating plates, and asset identification labels for industrial equipment — directly overlapping with CILS's rating plate and harsh-environment label categories.
• ID Label Inc. ID Label manufactures durable custom labels for asset tracking, barcode, and harsh-environment industrial applications, serving overlapping customer segments with CILS.

Broad incumbents

• Avery Dennison: Avery Dennison is the largest label materials manufacturer globally, producing pressure-sensitive labelstock and specialty labels for industrial applications — overlapping with CILS's labelstock base but at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• 3M: 3M's identification and safety portfolio includes durable label tapes, warning labels, and specialty industrial identification products used in similar industrial and regulated environments to CILS's offerings.

Emerging players

• Labelmaster: Labelmaster specializes in hazmat, GHS, and dangerous-goods labeling — overlapping with CILS's compliance and GHS warning label categories in regulated industrial customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CILS