Picon

What Picon does

Picon is a UK trade association (legally Picon Ltd, registered in England) representing manufacturers and suppliers serving the Printing, Papermaking and Paper Converting industries. Founded in 1968 and operating with 1–10 employees from Hitchin (mailing address) and Pewsey (registered office), it positions itself as the leading industry body in its sectors, serving members ranging from small SMEs to large multinationals. The British Paper Machinery Suppliers Association (BPMSA) operates as a wholly-owned division focused on UK paper and board machinery suppliers, with approximately 10 disclosed member firms and its own BPM News publication.

Picon's service portfolio is membership-based and spans six functional pillars: networking (Focus Group meetings, bi-annual Business Forum, social events including black tie dinners and an annual Golf Day); industry information (purchased market reports, Global Print Newsletter, BPM News published twice yearly with worldwide circulation to paper mills); representation and lobbying (through active membership of EAMA, Orgalime, GPMA, Export Partners UK, Global Print and Two Sides, providing UK Government and Brussels access); credit management (member access to a credit agency for checks, debt recovery and financial consultancy); business support (telephone helpline, Bite Size regulatory bulletins); and export/exhibition assistance (partnerships with the Department for International Trade and UK Export Finance).

The business model is a recurring subscription via membership fees; pricing is not publicly disclosed and total membership is not stated. The GTM motion is community-led and event-driven, anchored by Focus Group meetings, Business Forums, social events, and trade-show participation support. Distribution is through the Picon website, Twitter (@PiconUK), BPM News, and direct member engagement. Picon is led by CEO Bettine Pellant and Events & Administration Manager Cathy Haywood, with no disclosed external investment, parent company, or technology platform underpinning operations.

Name

Picon

Legal name

Picon Ltd

Website

https://picon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Picon is a UK trade association serving manufacturers and suppliers in the printing, papermaking, and paper converting industries, offering membership-based networking, lobbying, publications, credit management, and export services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hitchin

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Picon generates revenue through membership fees from manufacturers and suppliers in the printing, papermaking, and paper converting industries. Members pay to access networking opportunities, industry information, representation & lobbying services, credit management, business support, and exhibition assistance.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Picon is a UK trade association that delivers membership-based services to manufacturers and suppliers in the Printing, Papermaking and Paper Converting industries. Its core offerings include industry networking (Focus Group meetings, bi-annual Business Forum, social events), industry information (Global Print Newsletter, market reports), representation and lobbying through UK, European and international bodies, credit management via a partner credit agency, business support (telephone helpline, Bite Size Bulletins), export and exhibition assistance, and the BPMSA division which provides technical expertise for the papermaking process.

Product overview

Picon is a trade association (not a software product company) offering a portfolio of membership services to manufacturers and suppliers in the Printing, Papermaking, and Paper Converting industries. The core offering centers on networking opportunities through Focus Group meetings and bi-annual Business Forums, complemented by the British Paper Machinery News (BPM News) publication which is circulated to paper mills worldwide. The BPMSA (British Paper Machinery Suppliers Association) division, representing approximately 10 member companies, provides specialized technical expertise for the papermaking process. Additional services include representation and lobbying through memberships in EAMA, Orgalime, GPMA, Export Partners UK, and Global Print; credit management access; business support with telephone helpline and regulatory bulletins; and export/exhibition assistance for international trade shows.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• British Paper Machinery News (BPM News) The leading industry publication for the paper machinery sector, published twice per year and circulated to paper mills worldwide. It provides industry-leading thought leadership and serves as a cost-effective promotional route to market for suppliers and manufacturers in the paper machinery industry.
• British Paper Machinery Suppliers Association (BPMSA) A division of Picon providing the widest range of technical expertise relevant to the papermaking process. It represents approximately 10 UK-based member companies specializing in the design and manufacture of machinery and technological processes used in the manufacture of paper and board, creating a clearer independent voice for the sector.
• Focus Group Meetings Regular networking meetings held throughout the year that members identify as the most valuable part of belonging to Picon, facilitating industry connection and knowledge sharing among printing, papermaking and paper converting professionals.
• Bi-annual Business Forum Major networking events held twice per year that bring together Picon members for business development and industry discussions within the printing, papermaking and paper converting sectors.
• Credit Management Services Member access to a leading credit agency dedicated to helping members make informed credit decisions. Services include credit checks, debt recovery, and expert financial consultancy for printing and paper industry businesses.
• Business Support Services Member-only business support including a telephone helpline covering a variety of topics and regular Bite Size Bulletins that simplify regulatory information for members in the printing and paper industries.
• Export & Exhibition Assistance Experienced team assistance for Picon members wishing to exhibit at international trade shows, either as part of a group or as independents, helping expand multi-national reach in a supported industry environment. Includes connections to the Department for International Trade, UK Export Finance, and trade show directories.
• Representation & Lobbying Services Working on behalf of members to lobby against adverse legislation from Government and other regulatory bodies, protecting industry integrity. Delivered through active membership of UK, European (EAMA, Orgalime) and international (Global Print) bodies, making it simpler for suppliers and manufacturers to operate.

Quantifiable outcome

• Worldwide circulation of BPM News publication to paper mills
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EAMA (Engineering & Machinery Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAMA provides Picon with a direct line to the UK government. Through EAMA's membership of Orgalime (European organisation), Picon members gain conduit to Brussels for European regulatory matters.
• OrgalimecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean organisation providing Picon and its members access to Brussels through EAMA's membership. Orgalime represents the engineering industry interests at European level.
• GPMA (Graphics & Print Media Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPicon is a founder member of the GPMA, providing an alliance for graphics and print media industry representation and support.
• Export Partners UKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPicon is a member of Export Partners UK, providing export assistance and support for members seeking international reach.
• Global PrintcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorldwide collection of associations covering China, Japan, India, USA and Europe. Picon's membership ensures valuable information and representation nationally and internationally.
• Two SidesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization focused on promoting the sustainable attributes of print and paper. Picon is a member supporting industry advocacy.
• BPMSA (British Paper Machinery Suppliers Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBPMSA is a division of Picon representing UK-based suppliers specializing in design and manufacture of machinery for paper and board. Creates a clearer independent voice for the sector.
• Department for International TrademinorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK government department providing resources for exporters. Picon provides members access to DIT's free online service for global trade help and exporting country guides.
• UK Export FinanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK Export Finance helps UK exporters do business overseas by providing insurance and guarantees against payment risks. Picon connects members to these services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• PRINTING United Alliance: PRINTING United Alliance is a major US-based printing industry trade association serving printing professionals and suppliers. It is a direct peer because both function as umbrella trade bodies for the printing industry, providing education, networking events, publications, and industry representation to manufacturers and suppliers.
• Orgalime: Orgalime is the European federation representing the engineering industries including machinery manufacturers. It is directly comparable because Picon accesses Orgalime through EAMA for EU-level lobbying, and both serve as industry-wide representation bodies for machinery and engineering companies.
• Intergraf: Intergraf is the European federation for the printing industry, representing national printing associations across Europe. It is a direct peer because both Picon and Intergraf serve as trade bodies representing printing/paper-converting manufacturers and suppliers, providing lobbying, networking, and industry information services.
• Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI): CEPI is the European trade association representing the paper industry, including pulp and paper manufacturers. It is directly comparable to Picon's BPMSA division and broader mandate, as both serve as the industry voice for paper manufacturing, provide market intelligence, and lobby regulators on behalf of paper producers and machinery suppliers.
• FINAT: FINAT is the international trade association for the self-adhesive labeling industry. It is a direct peer because, like Picon, it serves as a membership-based trade body providing industry information, networking events, and representation for an adjacent print/paper-converting supplier segment.
• Two Sides: Two Sides is a global initiative promoting the sustainability of print and paper. It is directly comparable because Picon is an active member, and both organizations advocate for the print/paper industry with similar stakeholder audiences and messaging around print sustainability and counteracting digital substitution.
• Graphics & Print Media Alliance (GPMA): GPMA is a UK alliance for the graphics and print media industry of which Picon is a founder member. It is directly comparable because both serve overlapping UK-based print industry stakeholders with representation, lobbying, and cross-association coordination services.
• EAMA (Engineering & Machinery Alliance): EAMA is a UK engineering and machinery industry alliance of which Picon is a member. It is directly comparable because both serve as industry-wide trade bodies providing government lobbying access, EU policy representation, and cross-sector industry advocacy for machinery manufacturers.

Regional players

• Bundesverband Druck und Medien (bvdm): bvdm is the German printing and media industry trade association. It is a regional peer offering the same membership, lobbying, and representation services as Picon, but focused on the German market rather than the UK.

Others

• Smithers: Smithers is a research and consulting firm specializing in the printing, paper, and packaging industries. It is an adjacent peer because, like Picon, it supplies market intelligence, industry reports, and predictions to printing and paper industry participants, but operates as a commercial research provider rather than a membership association.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/piconuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Picon