ACA
ACA is a privately held UK print finishing and packaging subcontractor near Glasgow, offering 70+ finishing processes including foiling, embossing, die cutting, and BRCGS AA-certified food-contact packaging for enterprise print houses, manufacturers, and design agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersInchinnan, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ACA does
ACA Print Finishing & Packaging Solutions Ltd. is a UK-based, privately held print finishing and packaging subcontractor headquartered in Inchinnan near Glasgow Airport, operating from a 40,000 sq ft facility behind Glasgow Airport that houses over 70 finishing processes plus a 5,000 sq ft BRCGS AA-certified clean room. Founded in the 1980s and transformed via a 2016 management buy-in led by Dara Changizi with RBS investment, ACA offers an integrated service portfolio covering foiling, embossing, die cutting, UV varnishing, lamination (including antibacterial and soft-touch), carton gluing, nesting, wire-O binding, table work, and special-effect finishes (fragrance burst, scratch-off silver latex, glitter varnish). The company is differentiated by being the only UK finishing house with internal laser cut flatbed and rotary die forme manufacturing alongside brass and magnesium CNC and acid etched die-making, and the sole blocking die producer in Scotland.
ACA serves enterprise customers across the UK and Europe, with named accounts spanning print houses (J Thomson, APS Group, Eurostampa UK Gilmour and Dean, Thornton Print, Bell-Bain, Bootyman, Zenith) and packaging manufacturers (Saica Pack), and addresses the Scottish food and drinks vertical through BRCGS AA-certified primary and secondary food-contact packaging. The business sells via direct enterprise sales with dedicated account management, quote-based project pricing (with 60-day credit terms), and an in-house logistics fleet supplemented by a pallet network for UK-wide collection and delivery. Sister company PAC Scotland extends ACA's reach into FSC-certified compostable and recyclable food packaging. No revenue is publicly disclosed; the company is privately held under the Changizi-led ownership group with no institutional private equity investors identified.
ACA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ACA
- Legal name
- ACA Print Finishing & Packaging Solutions Ltd.
- Website
- https://aca.ltd
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ACA is a privately held UK print finishing and packaging subcontractor near Glasgow, offering 70+ finishing processes including foiling, embossing, die cutting, and BRCGS AA-certified food-contact packaging for enterprise print houses, manufacturers, and design agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ACA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Print Finishing & Packaging Services
- NAICS
- Paper Manufacturing (322), Paperboard Mills (32213)
- SIC
- Papers & Allied Products (2600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solid Unbleached Sulfate (SUS) Paperboard Manufacturing (IMAMAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Coated Recycled Board (CRB) Manufacturing (IMAMAFAE)
Keywords
Where ACA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Inchinnan
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ACA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Print Finishing Services: ACA provides print finishing services including foiling, embossing, die cutting, UV varnishing, lamination, binding, gluing, nesting, and wire-O binding. Services are priced per job/project with quotes provided based on specifications.
- Packaging Manufacturing: Manufacture of food-grade packaging including folded cartons, thick kraft, nested trays, and specialty packaging. Services include carton erecting, gluing, and BRCGS-certified food packaging production.
- Die Manufacturing: Production of blocking dies (brass and magnesium), laser formes, cutting formes, and stripping units for both in-house use and external customers. Die production services include standard lead times and next-day service for complex designs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quotation based on job specifications |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
ACA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ACA is a print finishing and packaging manufacturing house operating a 40,000 sq ft facility in Inchinnan, Scotland. It delivers over 70 finishing processes including foiling, embossing, die cutting, UV varnishing, lamination, carton gluing, nesting, wire-O binding, plus in-house manufacturing of brass and magnesium blocking dies and laser-cut formes. Its AA BRCGS certified clean room produces primary and secondary food contact packaging for the Scottish food and drinks industry.
Product overview
ACA is a print finishing and packaging solutions provider offering over 70 different finishing processes. The core service portfolio includes foiling, die cutting, UV varnishing, lamination, carton gluing, embossing, nesting, Wire-O binding, table work, blocking dies, laser formes, and special effect finishes. Their services are delivered through dedicated departments: the Die Room (producing brass and magnesium blocking dies), Laser Formes (cutting formes and dies), and specialized finishing areas for lamination, gluing, UV varnishing, and nesting. They operate a BRCGS-certified clean room for food-grade packaging. ACA also manages logistics operations and offers end-to-end project management. Their sister company PAC Scotland handles local sustainable food packaging.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Foiling Foil blocking (hot foil stamping) service applying metallic or pigment foil to paper or card using heated dies. Available in metallic and pigment foil options for eye-catching packaging and prestige finishes. Serves manufacturers, print houses, design agencies, and packaging consultants.
- Die Cutting Flatbed cutting and creasing using pre-designed cutting tools to create unique shapes. Includes kiss cutting, hand platen, perforating, and large format die cutting up to 1050 x 750mm. Serves manufacturers, print houses, design agencies, and packaging consultants.
- UV Varnishing UV varnish application service covering spot, overall, high build, textured, glitter varnishes, fragrance burst, rub removable, gumming, and screen printing finishes. Serves manufacturers, print houses, design agencies, and packaging consultants.
- Lamination
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 320 pieces per minute using HBJ-D1200 nesting machine
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use ACA
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ACA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
ACA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Taskforce (Edinburgh)coreACA has signed a joint venture with Edinburgh-based Taskforce that will see the two businesses pass certain jobs to the other with the aim of enhancing business for both companies.
- PAC ScotlandcorePAC Scotland is the sister company of ACA, sharing dedication for elite craftsmanship and efficiency. With comprehensive machinery and AA grade BRC certificate, PAC delivers best-in-class food packaging solutions. Founded with the mission to bring manufacturing back to Scotland.
- FoilcominorFoilco provided foil materials for ACA's branded carton production.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ACA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Celloglas: UK-based print finishing specialist offering lamination, foiling, embossing and similar value-added services to commercial print and packaging customers. Directly comparable in service mix and target customer base to ACA.
- Denny Bros Group (Fix-a-Form): UK print finishing and labelling specialist providing bespoke finishing, multi-page labels and on-product literature. Overlaps directly with ACA in finishing techniques and customer segments (print houses and brand owners).
- PFE International: Print finishing house offering foiling, embossing, die-cutting and related services to UK and European print and packaging customers. Closely comparable business model and service portfolio to ACA.
- Hackney Printers: UK-based print finishing company specialising in high-quality finishing services including foiling and embossing. Similar scale, customer base (print houses, designers) and service offering to ACA.
Broad incumbents
- Smurfit Kappa: Global paper-based packaging group with extensive converting and finishing operations across Europe. Comparable end markets (food and consumer packaging) but operates at vastly larger scale and integrates upstream into paperboard.
- DS Smith: Major European corrugated and paperboard packaging manufacturer serving FMCG, food and industrial customers. Operates in adjacent packaging value-chain stages and overlaps in customer base with ACA.
- Mondi: International paper and packaging group producing containerboard, kraft paper and converted packaging. Comparable in end-markets (food, consumer goods packaging) but operates at significantly larger scale and further upstream than ACA.
- Graphic Packaging: Global paperboard and folding carton manufacturer with major food and beverage customers. Comparable in finished paperboard packaging output but integrated upstream into paperboard mills, unlike ACA's converting-focused model.
- International Paper: World's largest pulp and paper producer with significant containerboard and packaging converting operations. Comparable only in broad industry context; significantly larger and more vertically integrated than ACA.
Others
- Heidelberg: Global printing and finishing equipment manufacturer whose machinery (including B1 die-cutters used by ACA) defines the technology stack of the print finishing industry. Not a competitor but a key ecosystem enabler for ACA's services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ACA social profiles
Digital presenceACA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
ACA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ACA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
ACA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
ACA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ACA 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 ACA
What does ACA do?
ACA is a print finishing and packaging manufacturing house operating a 40,000 sq ft facility in Inchinnan, Scotland. It delivers over 70 finishing processes including foiling, embossing, die cutting, UV varnishing, lamination, carton gluing, nesting, wire-O binding, plus in-house manufacturing of brass and magnesium blocking dies and laser-cut formes. Its AA BRCGS certified clean room produces primary and secondary food contact packaging for the Scottish food and drinks industry.
Is ACA a public or private company?
ACA is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was ACA founded?
ACA was founded in 1980. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ACA based?
ACA is headquartered in Inchinnan, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ACA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Print Finishing Services are the primary driver. The others are packaging Manufacturing and die Manufacturing.
Who are ACA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Celloglas, Denny Bros Group (Fix-a-Form), PFE International and Hackney Printers. Broad incumbents are Smurfit Kappa, DS Smith, Mondi, Graphic Packaging and International Paper. Heidelberg is listed as an others.
Does ACA have an API?
No public API is recorded for ACA.
What industry is ACA in?
ACA's product category is Print Finishing & Packaging Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAFAG, Solid Unbleached Sulfate (SUS) Paperboard Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMAMAFAE, Coated Recycled Board (CRB) Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 322 and its SIC code is 2600.