McGowans Print
McGowans Print is an Irish digital printing company founded in 1989 that operates 100,000 sq ft facilities in Dublin and Belfast, holding exclusive access to category-defining presses including the Landa S10 and EFI Nozomi. It serves enterprise retail brands, FMCG companies, and SMBs with packaging, POS displays, signage, and managed mail solutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What McGowans Print does
McGowans Print (M&J McGowans Ltd) is an Irish private limited digital printing company founded in 1989 by Mal McGowan, operating from a 100,000 sq ft headquarters in Dublin's IDA Industrial Park (Poppintree) and a secondary facility in Belfast (Heron Road), with over 150 employees working 24-hour shifts six days a week. The company invests continuously in high-end digital print hardware, holding exclusive or first-mover positions on the Landa S10 nanographic press (Ireland only), Scodix 6000+ B1 embellishment press (Ireland only), EFI Nozomi C18000 Plus (first commercial installation worldwide, 2017), and EFI Nozomi S14000d (first in Ireland, 2024), alongside HP Indigo, Durst, and finishing systems. This hardware base underpins eleven product categories spanning packaging, floor display units, point-of-sale, commercial print, out-of-home, mailing, exhibition graphics, interior branding (Printeriors), fabric printing, signage, and creative services, plus digital add-ons including the Digital Vault reprint service, Carbon Calculator, and a 2024-launched e-commerce self-serve channel for SMBs.
The company serves enterprise retail brands, FMCG companies, and multinationals through field-based direct sales supplemented by consultation, factory tours, and direct-to-store or direct-to-event fulfilment, while also serving SMBs through the e-commerce entry point and a Hybrid Mail Solutions subsidiary acquired in 2023 for transactional and regulated communications. Named clients span L'Oréal, Coca-Cola, IKEA, Tesco, Lidl, Dunnes Stores, Guinness, Jameson, Redbull, Meta, State Street, Allstate, and others; segment diversity across retail, beverages, beauty, technology, financial services, and healthcare is substantial. Pricing operates on a quote-based pay-as-you-go model with no minimum order quantity for digital print, with bulk discounts available and rush services offered.
McGowans monetizes primarily through project-based, one-time commercial engagements across eleven product categories, supplemented by professional services (creative consultation, substrate selection) and managed services through Hybrid Mail Solutions. Differentiation rests on capital-intensive technology exclusivity, sustainability credentials (EcoVadis Silver, top 15%; ISO 9001, ISO 14001, FSC-C017433; 25% of electricity from on-site solar reducing 192 metric tons CO2 annually), and integrated carbon reporting via the Carbon Quota partnership, rather than on subscription or recurring license economics. Marketing is content-led (blog, downloadable templates, newsletters) and event-driven (National Ploughing Championships, POPAI, Irish Print Awards), with distribution through direct enterprise sales and a newer e-commerce self-serve channel.
McGowans Print firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- McGowans Print
- Legal name
- M&J McGowans Ltd
- Website
- https://mcgowansprint.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- McGowans Print is an Irish digital printing company founded in 1989 that operates 100,000 sq ft facilities in Dublin and Belfast, holding exclusive access to category-defining presses including the Landa S10 and EFI Nozomi. It serves enterprise retail brands, FMCG companies, and SMBs with packaging, POS displays, signage, and managed mail solutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
McGowans Print industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Printing Services
- NAICS
- Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211)
- SIC
- Commercial Printing (2750)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Direct-to-Container & Digital Printing (Inkjet/Laser) (IMALAKAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corrugated & Case Printing (Preprint/Postprint) (IMALAKAI), Large-Format & Specialty Printing (Signage, Posters, Displays) (MPAJALAD)
Keywords
Where McGowans Print is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
McGowans Print business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Packaging Print: Folding cartons, sleeves, presentation boxes, and SRPs produced on the Landa S10 nanographic press with digital cutting and embellishment finishing.
- Floor Display Units and POS: Free-standing display units (FSDUs), counter display units (CDUs), aisle fins, fridge vinyl, and instore theatre solutions for retail environments.
- Commercial Print: Business cards, brochures, stationery, posters and general commercial print products from small to large format.
- Out of Home Advertising: Billboards, transport advertising, and building wraps for outdoor advertising campaigns.
- Exhibition Print: Pull-up banners, pop-up displays, backdrops, and fabric displays for exhibitions and events including the National Ploughing Championships.
- Mailing Services: Bulk mail, direct mail, and hybrid mail solutions for customer communications and marketing campaigns.
- Printeriors: Interior branding including wall graphics, frosted vinyl, foamex signage, and environmental graphics for offices, retail spaces, and brand environments.
- Signage: Semi-permanent and permanent signage, wayfinders, and custom signage solutions.
- Fabric Printing: Direct-to-fabric printing for awnings, flags, lightboxes, and branded fabric applications.
- Creative Services: Consulting, design, and substrate selection services to help clients develop print strategies and artwork.
- Hybrid Mail Solutions: Specialist service for business-critical mail processing, handling transactional communications, customer correspondence, and regulated mail through digital submission and physical dispatch.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
McGowans Print product offering
Product offeringCore offering
McGowans Print is a full-service digital printing company that produces packaging, floor display units, point-of-sale materials, commercial print, out-of-home advertising, exhibition graphics, mailing, interior branding (Printeriors), fabric print, signage, and creative services for retail brands, FMCG companies, and multinationals. Operating from 100,000+ sq ft facilities in Dublin and Belfast with over a dozen high-end digital presses, it serves customers ranging from micro-enterprises to multinational brands with services including direct-to-store and direct-to-event delivery.
Product overview
McGowans Print is a full-service printing company offering a comprehensive portfolio of print products and services, from small format (business cards) to large format (billboards), serving micro-enterprises to multinationals. The core offering spans eleven main product categories: Packaging (folding cartons, sleeves, presentation boxes with embellishment via Landa S10, Highcon, and Scodix equipment), Floor Display Units, Point of Sale, Commercial Print, Out of Home, Mailing, Exhibition, Printeriors (interior branding), Fabric Printing, Signage, and Creative Services. Supporting the core print services are digital enablers including the Digital Vault (reprint-on-demand storage), Carbon Calculator (environmental impact assessment), and Digital Print On-Demand e-commerce. The company also operates Hybrid Mail Solutions as a specialist subsidiary for hybrid mail services. Key differentiators include advanced nanographic printing technology (Landa S10 - only one in Ireland), digital embellishment (Scodix 1200 - only one in Ireland), and a focus on sustainable print practices with FSC certification and solar energy usage.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hybrid Mail Solutions: A specialist service within McGowans for digital document management, printing, enveloping and posting of business-critical communications.
Products and services
- Packaging Print Folding cartons, sleeves, and presentation boxes for retail products, produced on the Landa S10 nanographic press with digital cutting and embellishment finishing.
- Floor Display Units and POS Free-standing display units (FSDUs), counter display units (CDUs), aisle fins, fridge vinyl, and instore theatre solutions for retail environments, produced on the EFI Nozomi C18000 Plus for high-volume corrugated work.
- Commercial Print Business cards, brochures, stationery, posters and general commercial print products from small to large format for business marketing needs.
- Out of Home Advertising Billboards, transport advertising, and building wraps for outdoor advertising campaigns.
- Exhibition Print Pull-up banners, pop-up displays, backdrops, and fabric displays for exhibitions and events including the National Ploughing Championships.
- Mailing Services Bulk mail, direct mail, and hybrid mail solutions for customer communications and marketing campaigns delivered through the door.
- Printeriors (Interior Branding) Interior branding including wall graphics, frosted vinyl, foamex signage, and environmental graphics for offices, retail spaces, and brand environments.
- Signage Semi-permanent and permanent signage solutions including wayfinders for various commercial and retail applications, including the EFI Nozomi S14000d (first in Ireland, 2024) for the sign and graphics market.
- Fabric Printing Direct-to-fabric printing for awnings, flags, lightboxes, and branded fabric applications, producing more durable results than paper transfer methods.
- Creative Services Consulting, design, and substrate selection services to help clients develop print strategies and artwork.
- Digital Print On-Demand (E-commerce) Self-serve e-commerce option for digital print on demand supporting start-up businesses with their low volume orders, with no minimum order quantity.
- Hybrid Mail Solutions Specialist hybrid mail service within the McGowans group for business-critical mail processing - converts digital communications into securely printed and dispatched physical mail through digital submission and physical dispatch.
Quantifiable outcome
- Top 15% ranking in EcoVadis sustainability assessment
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use McGowans Print
Customer profileNamed customers38 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
McGowans Print technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature8 records
McGowans Print partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Urban VoltcoreSolar energy partnership with Urban Volt for installation of rooftop solar panels at the Dublin facility. This partnership significantly contributes to McGowans' sustainability commitment by providing 25% of annual electricity needs and reducing 192 metric tons of CO2 annually.
- Carbon QuotacorePartnership for providing detailed carbon reporting and product life-cycle assessments to customers. Carbon Quota equips McGowans with precise carbon data across upstream transport, materials, production, consumables, downstream transport, and end-of-life stages. Enables McGowans to offer customers detailed carbon footprint data per job for scope-3 emissions reporting.
- Hewlett PackardcoreLong-time technology partner for digital print equipment. McGowans' journey towards dominance in digital print began with HP Indigo press investment and continues through ongoing HP technology partnerships.
- DurstcoreLong-time technology partner for digital print machinery. McGowans has consistently taken advantage of advances made by Durst alongside HP in their technology investment strategy.
- LandacoreLanda S10 sheet-fed nanographic printing press - the only one in Ireland. McGowans invested in this revolutionary game-changing equipment as part of their technology leadership strategy.
- HighconcoreHighcon Beam 2 digital cutting and creasing system for folding carton production without traditional die-making. Revolutionary game-changing equipment housed at McGowans headquarters.
- ScodixcoreScodix 1200 and Scodix 6000+ B1 digital embellishment presses for foil, spot UV, and texture effects. The only Scodix 6000+ B1 in Ireland, enabling digital embellishment without traditional tooling.
- EFI (Electronics For Imaging)coreEFI Nozomi C18000 Plus (first commercial installation worldwide in 2017) and EFI Nozomi S14000d (first in Ireland in 2024) for corrugated and sign/graphics printing.
- World Land TrustminorCarbon offset partnership through Carbon Balanced Paper initiative. McGowans uses World Land Trust to balance paper impact with protecting world's biodiversity through their Carbon Balanced Paper product.
- Hybrid Mail SolutionscoreSpecialist service within the McGowans group for business-critical mail processing. Supports organizations with high-volume print and fulfilment requirements through automated, secure mail production and dispatch.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
McGowans Print competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CPI Group: UK print and packaging group offering commercial print, folding cartons, and digital print services. Comparable to McGowans on packaging folding cartons and digital print capabilities.
- Harlow Printing: UK-based commercial and digital printer serving enterprise customers across packaging, POS, and commercial print. Comparable digital-first service model and enterprise customer profile.
- Pureprint Group: UK-based digital and commercial printing group with operations across commercial print, packaging, POS, and large format. Directly comparable digital-press-led service model and enterprise customer base to McGowans.
- W&G Baird: One of Ireland's largest commercial printers, offering digital and lithographic print, large-format, packaging and direct mail. Comparable as a direct competitor across McGowans' commercial print, packaging and mail service lines within the Irish and UK markets.
- Seahorse Print: Northern Ireland-based print and packaging company offering digital print, packaging, POS, and large-format services. Direct peer to McGowans' Belfast operation and comparable across digital print, packaging, and POS.
- Impress Print: Irish commercial and digital printer offering commercial print, large-format signage, packaging, and direct mail. Directly overlaps with McGowans' product mix and serves similar Irish enterprise and SME customers.
Broad incumbents
- Solopress: UK-based online print business offering digital print on demand across commercial print, signage, and packaging. Comparable on the digital print-on-demand e-commerce motion McGowans recently added, though Solopress is more commoditized.
- Wyndeham Group: Large UK commercial printer offering a broad portfolio of commercial print, digital, and direct mail services. Wider portfolio than McGowans but directly comparable on digital print and direct mail.
- Cimpress (Vistaprint): Global online printing platform including Vistaprint and several regional brands offering digital print on demand at massive scale. Adjacent incumbent competing on price for SMB/short-run work that overlaps with McGowans' new e-commerce channel.
Emerging players
- Tradeprint: UK online trade printer focused on short-run digital print for trade and SMB customers. Comparable to McGowans' e-commerce digital print-on-demand offering but with a narrower product portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
McGowans Print social profiles
Digital presenceMcGowans Print compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
McGowans Print financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
McGowans Print leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
McGowans Print subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
McGowans Print funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
McGowans Print 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 McGowans Print
What does McGowans Print do?
McGowans Print is a full-service digital printing company that produces packaging, floor display units, point-of-sale materials, commercial print, out-of-home advertising, exhibition graphics, mailing, interior branding (Printeriors), fabric print, signage, and creative services for retail brands, FMCG companies, and multinationals. Operating from 100,000+ sq ft facilities in Dublin and Belfast with over a dozen high-end digital presses, it serves customers ranging from micro-enterprises to multinational brands with services including direct-to-store and direct-to-event delivery.
Is McGowans Print a public or private company?
McGowans Print is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was McGowans Print founded?
McGowans Print was founded in 1989. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is McGowans Print based?
McGowans Print is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does McGowans Print make money?
Eleven revenue lines are on record. Packaging Print is the primary driver. The others are floor Display Units and POS, commercial Print, out of Home Advertising, exhibition Print, mailing Services, printeriors, signage, fabric Printing, creative Services and hybrid Mail Solutions.
Who are McGowans Print's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CPI Group, Harlow Printing, Pureprint Group, W&G Baird, Seahorse Print and Impress Print. Broad incumbents are Solopress, Wyndeham Group and Cimpress (Vistaprint). Tradeprint is listed as an emerging player.
Does McGowans Print have an API?
No public API is recorded for McGowans Print.
What industry is McGowans Print in?
McGowans Print's product category is Commercial Printing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAKAF, Direct-to-Container & Digital Printing (Inkjet/Laser), with a secondary code of IMALAKAI, Corrugated & Case Printing (Preprint/Postprint). Its NAICS code is 323111 and its SIC code is 2750.