Lijnco

What Lijnco does

Lijnco (legal entity: Speciaaldrukkerij Lijnco Groningen B.V.) is a privately held specialty printing company founded in 1936 and headquartered in Groningen, the Netherlands. The company operates across three core pillars: Loyalty Print (scratch cards, savings stamps, peel-and-reveal and grow cards), Direct Mail (personalized DM cards, mailpacks, letters, and specials), and Security Printing (logistics documents, tickets, PIN mailers, government documents). It also offers integrated Data Management, Print Enhancement (cold/holographic foil, UV varnish, security perforations), European Fulfilment and distribution, and an Attentiezegels e-commerce channel; Podotrack, a CE-marked Class 1 medical foot-impression device, extends the portfolio into healthcare.

Underlying production technology centers on high-volume inkjet-rotational digital printing with variable data, proprietary gameplanning software for fraud-resistant prize distribution, a Popp Smartmail 3000 modular finishing line, and a one-of-a-kind custom-built sheet-laminating/die-cutting machine. Security printing combines watermarks, UV marks, holograms, magnetic strips, micro-text, thermo-ink, and unique numbering. Production is CO2-neutral since 1 January 2023, powered by 4,500+ rooftop solar panels generating ~1.2 million kWh/year and ClimateCalc-certified offsetting.

The business model is B2B project-based, multi-year contract and quote-driven, sold through dedicated regional field-sales teams across the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany, with named enterprise customers including Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Coop, Carrefour, Migros, Rewe, MediaMarkt Belgium, ABN AMRO, Payback, Certe, and SKL Glöckle. Revenue is generated per campaign/order, augmented by recurring enterprise relationships and a small SMB webshop channel; reported revenue is approximately €25 million (per a single press-source article, fiscal year unspecified) on a headcount of 125 employees.

Name

Lijnco

Legal name

Speciaaldrukkerij Lijnco Groningen B.V.

Website

https://lijnco.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lijnco is a Dutch specialty printing company (founded 1936, ~125 employees, €25M revenue) producing loyalty products, personalized direct mail, and security-printed documents for enterprise clients across the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialized Commercial Printing Services

NAICS

Direct Mail Advertising (541860), Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Printing (32311)

SIC

Services-Direct Mail Advertising Services (7331), Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate, Promotional & Custom Print Products Distribution (CRAOALAM)

Keywords

• Specialized commercial printing
• Direct mail production
• Loyalty print solutions
• Security document printing
• Personalized variable data printing

Headquarters

HQ city

Groningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Loyalty print products: Production and delivery of loyalty promotional items including scratch cards, peel-and-reveal cards, savings stamps, grow cards, and scratch coins. Revenue is generated per project/order, typically in large print runs for retail campaigns.
2. Direct Mail production: Full-service direct mail production from data processing to distribution, including personalized DM cards, mailpacks, letters, and specials. Revenue per campaign project.
3. Secure printing: Production of security-printed documents such as logistics documents, tickets, PIN mailers, and government documents. Revenue per project, often with long-term client relationships.
4. Fulfilment and handling services: Storage, handling, and distribution of printed materials across Europe. Often bundled with print orders as part of total solution offering.
5. Advisory and consulting services: Consultative services including campaign planning, gameplanning, data management, and security strategy. Typically bundled with product orders as part of full-service partnership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lijnco is a specialized commercial printing company that produces three integrated product families: loyalty print products (scratch cards, savings stamps, peel-and-reveal cards, growth cards), personalized direct mail (DM cards, mailpacks, letters, specials with variable data printing), and security printing (logistics documents, tickets, PIN mailers, government documents). The company delivers these as full-service campaigns from advisory and design through production, finishing, security features, storage, and pan-European fulfilment, serving enterprise clients across retail, banking, government, healthcare, lottery, and non-profit sectors.

Product overview

Lijnco is a specialized printing company offering a unified portfolio of communication solutions organized around three core pillars: Loyalty Print (scratch cards, savings stamps, peel-and-reveal cards, grow cards, hybrid cards, and buildable cards for customer retention programs), Direct Mail (personalized DM cards, mailpacks, letters, and specials with variable data printing capabilities), and Security Printing (logistics documents, tickets, PIN mailers, and government documents with authenticity features). These core products are supported by integrated services including Data Management, Print Enhancement (cold foil, holographic foil, UV varnish), Fulfilment (storage, handling, and European distribution), and authenticity/security features. Lijnco operates webshops for online ordering of stamps and labels, and produces specialized products like Podotrack medical devices. The company positions itself as a full-service partner from concept to production and fulfilment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Loyalty Print Program Comprehensive loyalty marketing solution encompassing scratch cards, savings stamps, peel-and-reveal cards, growth cards, hybrid cards, and buildable cards designed to attract and retain retail customers through promotional campaigns, prize games, and savings programs.
• Spaarzegels (Savings Stamps) Self-adhesive or gummed savings stamps for retail loyalty programs, available in various colors, shapes (round or rectangular), with or without perforations, customizable with logos or photos. Lijnco identifies as the EU market leader in this category, having supplied more than 1 billion stamps to Carrefour France and ongoing supply to Migros Switzerland.
• Direct Mail (DM V2.0) Full-service personalized direct mail solution covering DM cards, DM mailpacks, DM letters, and DM specials with variable data printing, embellishment (cold foil, holographic foil, UV varnish, scented inks), and pan-European fulfilment services.
• Security Printing (Beveiligd Drukwerk) Secure printing solutions for government documents, diplomas, certificates, exam papers, logistics documents, event tickets, and PIN mailers, incorporating multiple echtheidskenmerken (watermarks, UV light marks, magnetic strips, holograms, barcodes, unique numbering, thermo ink, security perforations, holographic foil, micro text) to prevent counterfeiting.
• Fulfilment Services Complete post-press fulfilment services including storage, handling, and distribution of printed materials across Europe, often bundled with print orders as part of a total solution offering.
• Data Management Services Customer database management and analysis services enabling personalized marketing campaigns and data-driven loyalty programs, including data preparation and customer segmentation support.
• Print Enhancement Services (Drukwerkveredeling) Advanced finishing and embellishment services including cold foil, hot foil, holographic foil, UV varnish, special perforations, unique numbering, security features, and specialty inks (such as chocolate-scented ink for the MediaMarkt Belgium campaign).
• Lijnco Webshops Online ordering platforms developed by Lijnco for automating print-related processes, including the PostNL stamp shop, DHL label ordering portal, and the Attentiezegels attention stamp ordering system for PartijenPost mailings.
• Podotrack Medical Device CE-certified Class 1 medical device (under EU MDR) for making static and dynamic footprint measurements, used by podologists, orthopedists, sports trainers, and manual therapists. Lijnco manufactures the product in-house.
• Authenticity Features Service (Echtheidskenmerken) Specialized security feature service offering watermarks, UV light marks, magnetic strips, holograms, barcodes, unique numbering, thermo ink, security perforations, holographic foil, and micro text, applied to printed materials to prevent counterfeiting and verify authenticity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 67% of Dutch consumers participate in savings stamp campaigns
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Snakeware New Media B.V.minorOthersSnakeware New Media B.V. (Veemarktplein 1, 8601 DA Sneek) provides website design, technical realization, and implementation services for Lijnco's digital presence, using the CMS Enterprise platform.
• Studio WingminorOthersStudio Wing provides visual concepts, photography/design, and corporate identity services for Lijnco's brand and marketing materials.
• SEP tekst/organisatieminorOthersSEP tekst/organisatie (Gildstraat 8a, 3572 EN Utrecht) provides copywriting and content writing services for Lijnco's marketing and communication materials.
• DekracoreOthersDekra is the independent certification body that conducts annual audits of Lijnco's Information Security Management System (ISMS) against ISO 27001:2022 standard.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Giesecke+Devrient: Global German security technology and printing company specializing in banknotes, ID documents, payment cards, and digital security. Directly comparable to Lijnco's security printing pillar and at much larger scale, representing both a peer and a potential competitor for high-end EU tenders.
• Veridos: German joint venture between Giesecke+Devrient and Bundesdruckerei producing passports, ID cards, and government security documents globally. Comparable to Lijnco's security and government document printing; significantly larger and government-focused, serving as an aspirational peer for high-end secure print.
• Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé: Historic Dutch printing house (est. 1703) based in Haarlem, producing banknotes, stamps, passports, and security documents. Direct comparable to Lijnco's security and loyalty print businesses, with overlapping European customer base and similar authentication-technology expertise.
• Graphius Group: Belgian commercial printing group producing books, magazines, direct mail, and security printing (including ViaZOO lottery tickets). Comparable to Lijnco across all three pillars and serves overlapping Benelux market; strong in lottery/security print similar to Lijnco's SKL Glöckle lottery and Grote Clubactie work.
• De La Rue: UK-headquartered global security printer producing banknotes, identity documents, tax stamps, and authentication solutions. Comparable to Lijnco's security printing pillar and shares authenticity-feature expertise; significantly larger but operating in the same niche categories.
• Roto Smeets Group: Major Dutch commercial printing group offering magazines, catalogs, direct mail, and books. Direct comparable to Lijnco's commercial printing and direct mail capabilities, with overlapping Dutch and Benelux customer base; broader product scope but less loyalty/security specialization.
• Bundesdruckerei: German federal printing house producing passports, ID cards, banknotes, and secure digital identities. Direct comparable to Lijnco's government documents and security printing sub-products; German national-champion status makes it a relevant peer for Lijnco's German market ambitions.

Broad incumbents

• Toppan Holdings: Japanese-headquartered global printing and security conglomerate with significant European operations producing passports, banknotes, and secure documents. Overlaps with Lijnco's security pillar at the high end; much larger scale and broader portfolio but competes for similar EU government and financial clients.

Regional players

• Wintermann (pre-acquisition) / Colorpak: German commercial printer Wintermann was acquired by Lijnco to form Wintermann Lijnco GmbH; Colorpak is a German packaging/label printer serving DACH. Relevant as regional comparables illustrating the competitive set Lijnco faces in the German market across commercial and packaging printing.

Emerging players

• Mühlbauer Group: German family-owned technology company providing secure document solutions including ID cards, passports, and RFID-based authentication. Adjacent to Lijnco's security printing business with stronger technology integration; smaller in print volume but more advanced in digital-physical convergence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgavhIW3aOaWZQ9XlUdJejw

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

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 Lijnco