RW Pierce
RW Pierce is a privately held UK and Ireland-based security printing and business communications company, founded in 1929, serving banking, government and SME clients with anti-copy paper, data processing, hybrid mail and fraud prevention services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1929
- HeadquartersBelfast, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RW Pierce does
RW Pierce is a privately held, Northern Ireland and Ireland-based security printing and business communications company founded in 1929. It manufactures and sells Copyresist branded anti-copy security paper under licence from Document Security Systems Inc. (patent EP2015940), which uses a pantograph background to reveal hidden warnings such as "VOID" or "COPY" when documents are photocopied or scanned. The paper is sold directly through a global e-commerce webstore in 90gsm and 100gsm A4 packs at unit prices of £64–£201 including VAT, and is compatible with both inkjet and laser printers.
Beyond physical security paper, the company provides a portfolio of managed services targeted at UK and Irish banking, government and SME clients: specialist data processing and document hosting acting as Data Processor under GDPR-compliant agreements, fraud prevention solutions, hybrid mail ("Smarter Business Communications") that centrally controls postal, electronic and SMS channels, and the Mailsync mailroom management system with one-year GDPR traceability retention. These services are delivered under an Information Security Management System certified to ISO 27001 since 2008 and ISO 9001, supporting eligibility for regulated procurement. The 2019 launch of Holmes Marketplace Analytics (holmescudata.com) extended the company into standalone business intelligence and marketplace analytics.
The business operates through two private limited companies, RW Pierce (NI) Limited (Belfast, Northern Ireland, registered NI029923) and RW Pierce (Ireland) Limited (Naas, registered 358648), with 11–50 employees overall. The go-to-market is hybrid: a sales-led enterprise motion using Calendly-scheduled discovery calls and demos for banking, government and SME clients, combined with direct-to-consumer e-commerce for security paper. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the company shows no external investors, funding rounds, acquisitions or public-company status, consistent with long-term independent (likely family or management) ownership across its near-century history.
RW Pierce firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RW Pierce
- Legal name
- RW Pierce
- Website
- https://rwpierce.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1929
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- RW Pierce is a privately held UK and Ireland-based security printing and business communications company, founded in 1929, serving banking, government and SME clients with anti-copy paper, data processing, hybrid mail and fraud prevention services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RW Pierce industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Security Printing Services
- NAICS
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills (3221), Document Preparation Services (56141)
- SIC
- Papers & Allied Products (2600), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Telegraph & Other Message Communications (4822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Secure Document & Media Transport (Checks, Securities, Data Media) (BPAKAIAG)
Keywords
Where RW Pierce is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Belfast
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
RW Pierce business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Security Paper Sales: Direct sales of Copyresist security paper products to end customers through e-commerce webstore. One-time purchase model with unit pricing per box or bulk pack.
- Data Processing Services: Specialist data processing, mail production and document hosting for banking, government and SME clients. Acting as Data Processor under GDPR-compliant Data Processing Agreements.
- Hybrid Mail Services: Smart business communications management enabling centralised control, delivery and storage of postal, electronic and SMS communications for enterprise clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 90gsm A4 Copyresist Security Paper (box 500 sheets) - £64.00 including VAT |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 90gsm A4 Copyresist Security Paper (bulk pack 2000 sheets) - £193.00 including VAT |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 100gsm A4 Copyresist Security Paper (box 500 sheets) - £68.00 including VAT |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 100gsm A4 Copyresist Security Paper (bulk pack 2000 sheets) - £201.00 including VAT |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
RW Pierce product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RW Pierce is a Northern Ireland- and Ireland-based document security and business communications company founded in 1929. It produces secure printed documents (cheques, payment cards, anti-copy paper using Copyresist technology), provides hybrid mail and smarter business communications services, and offers data management and marketplace analytics through the Holmes platform. It serves banks, government, and SMEs with ISO 27001- and ISO 9001-certified secure processing.
Product overview
RW Pierce operates as a diversified communications and security company offering a portfolio of products and services. The core product line includes Copyresist Security Paper, a patented anti-fraud document protection solution sold in various weights (90gsm, 100gsm) and pack sizes (500-sheet boxes, 2000-sheet bulk packs). Service offerings include Smarter Business Communications (managing postal, electronic, and SMS channels), Security Print services, Data Management, and Fraud Prevention. The company also provides the Holmes Marketplace Analytics platform and Mailsync mailroom management system. Founded as a general printer in 1929, the company has evolved to include data analytics capabilities (launched 2019) while maintaining its core security print and communications services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Holmes: Marketplace Analytics platform providing business intelligence services, accessible at holmescudata.com
Products and services
- Security Printing (Cheques, Payment Cards & Certificates) Tamper-evident, counterfeit-resistant printed documents including cheques, payment cards, and certificates using Copyresist anti-copy paper technology. Targeted at banks, government bodies, and organisations requiring secure document issuance.
- Copyresist Anti-Copy Security Paper Anti-copy security paper products sold online via the company website, leveraging Copyresist patented technology from Document Security Systems Inc. For organisations and individuals needing counterfeit-resistant paper stock.
- Smarter Business Communications (Hybrid Mail) Hybrid mail and mailroom management service using the Mailsync system, enabling organisations to outsource physical mail production and reduce print volume. Targeted at SMEs and mid-market enterprises seeking to lower mail processing costs.
- Securing Your Data (Data Management Services) Secure data management and processing services delivered under ISO 27001-certified infrastructure (held since 2008). For organisations requiring compliant handling of sensitive data.
- Holmes Marketplace Analytics Marketplace analytics platform providing pricing and competitor intelligence for online sellers and e-commerce operators.
Quantifiable outcome
- ISO 27001 certified since 2008
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use RW Pierce
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
RW Pierce technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
RW Pierce partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Document Security Systems Inc.coreDocument Security Systems Inc. licenses the patented Copyresist security paper technology (EP2015940) to RW Pierce for manufacturing and distribution. This intellectual property partnership enables RW Pierce to produce and sell security paper with proprietary anti-copy features.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RW Pierce competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SICPA: Swiss provider of security inks and integrated security solutions for banknotes, identity documents, and value documents. Directly comparable as an enabling supplier of anti-counterfeit technology that underpins security printing applications similar to RW Pierce's Copyresist platform.
- MBA Group: UK-based document and data processing services provider serving financial services, insurance, and public sector clients. Comparable to RW Pierce's specialist data processing, mail production, and document hosting service lines for banking and government buyers.
- Whistl: UK hybrid mail and managed communications provider serving enterprise clients with multi-channel document delivery. Direct competitor to RW Pierce's Mailsync and Smarter Business Communications hybrid mail propositions.
- De La Rue: Global security printer producing banknotes, identity documents, and secure print products including cheques and anti-counterfeit paper. Direct competitor to RW Pierce in the cheque and security paper category, though operating at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
- Paragon Group: European secure print, customer communications, and hybrid mail provider serving banking, government, and utility clients. Highly comparable to RW Pierce across the secure print plus customer communications management portfolio, and a likely head-to-head competitor for UK and Irish enterprise contracts.
- CCL Secure: Specialist producer of polymer substrate security documents including banknotes, passports, and other security print products. Comparable technology and customer base in security print, though focused on higher-volume government issuance rather than RW Pierce's cheque/anti-copy paper niche.
- Communisis: UK-based customer communications management and print services provider with banking and government exposure. Overlaps with RW Pierce's data processing, mail production, and hybrid mail offerings and competes for similar enterprise buyers in the UK market.
- Giesecke+Devrient (G+D): German-headquartered specialist in banknotes, security documents, and secure identity solutions. Competes with RW Pierce in security print and document authentication, and also offers adjacent payment and connectivity services overlapping with RW Pierce's hybrid mail and document hosting.
Others
- Document Security Systems Inc. (DSS): US-based anti-counterfeiting and security printing technology company that licenses the Copyresist patent (EP2015940) to RW Pierce. An enabling licensor and ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor; their technology underpins RW Pierce's marquee product.
Broad incumbents
- Thales DIS (Document & Identity Solutions): Division of Thales Group producing identity documents, smart cards, and digital identity solutions for governments and enterprises. Overlaps with RW Pierce's payment card and secure document offerings as part of a much broader digital security portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
RW Pierce compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
RW Pierce financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RW Pierce leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
RW Pierce funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RW Pierce M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RW Pierce
What does RW Pierce do?
RW Pierce is a Northern Ireland- and Ireland-based document security and business communications company founded in 1929. It produces secure printed documents (cheques, payment cards, anti-copy paper using Copyresist technology), provides hybrid mail and smarter business communications services, and offers data management and marketplace analytics through the Holmes platform. It serves banks, government, and SMEs with ISO 27001- and ISO 9001-certified secure processing.
Is RW Pierce a public or private company?
RW Pierce is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was RW Pierce founded?
RW Pierce was founded in 1929. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is RW Pierce based?
RW Pierce is headquartered in Belfast, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does RW Pierce make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Security Paper Sales are the primary driver. The others are data Processing Services and hybrid Mail Services.
Who are RW Pierce's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SICPA, MBA Group, Whistl, De La Rue, Paragon Group, CCL Secure, Communisis and Giesecke+Devrient (G+D). Document Security Systems Inc. (DSS) is listed as an others. Thales DIS (Document & Identity Solutions) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does RW Pierce have an API?
No public API is recorded for RW Pierce.
What industry is RW Pierce in?
RW Pierce's product category is Security Printing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKAIAG, Secure Document & Media Transport (Checks, Securities, Data Media). Its NAICS code is 3221 and its SIC code is 2600.