What Slater Harrison does

Slater Harrison & Co Ltd is a UK-based specialty paper and board manufacturer established in 1929 and headquartered at Lowerhouse Mills in Bollington, Cheshire. The company manufactures and converts coated papers and boards for six end-markets — education, picture framing, luxury packaging, art and craft, greetings and stationery, and functional packaging — under three primary brands: EduCraft (education), Centura Collection (luxury packaging), and ColourMount (framing mountboard), with the legacy DayGlo fluorescent brand now sold as CenturaNeon. The business has been owned by the L S Dixon Group since 1941 and operates alongside its wholly-owned subsidiary Webmaster Ltd, which produces self-adhesive products.

The company's core technology is water-based specialty pigment coatings applied to paper and board substrates, with proprietary non-metallic formulations (CenturaPearl, CenturaMetallic, CenturaReflect) that produce metallic, pearlescent and neon visual effects without using metal pigments, enabling full recyclability. The product portfolio spans CenturaPearl (28 colors), CenturaMetallic (10 colors), CenturaNeon (5 fluorescent colors), CenturaTexture (50+ bespoke embossed patterns), ColourMount (100+ finishes including Museum Boards and Monochrome), EduCraft educational papers (EN71-3 certified), DayGlo fluorescent papers, and Dakota Wrap for premium drinks tube packaging. In-house capabilities include coating, laminating, slitting, sheeting, embossing, and collating. All products carry FSC Chain of Custody certification, and ColourMount exceeds Fine Art Trade Guild mountboard standards.

Revenue is generated through two streams: branded product sales via direct sales for key accounts and bespoke work, UK distributor networks, educational wholesalers and local authority central stores for EduCraft, and international distributors (covering 80+ countries for ColourMount); and contract manufacturing services (coating, laminating, slitting, sheeting, embossing, collating) for third parties. Pricing is project-based with low minimum order quantities (from 10,000m²) and short lead times relative to large paper mills, targeting customers who need distinctive, sustainable, custom-specification paper products outside the scope of high-volume mill production. Customer evidence spans named enterprise logos including GHD and Ritual Works in luxury packaging, Ricoh's global customer base via digital-press media-pack approval, and long-standing framing partnerships such as the 40+ year D&J Simons relationship.

Name

Slater Harrison

Legal name

Slater Harrison & Co Ltd

Website

https://slater-harrison.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Slater Harrison & Co Ltd is a UK specialty paper and board manufacturer (est. 1929) producing sustainable, water-based coated papers under the EduCraft, Centura Collection, and ColourMount brands for education, framing, luxury packaging, and contract manufacturing customers across 80+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Paper and Board Manufacturing

NAICS

Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills (3221), Paperboard Mills (32213), Converted Paper Product Manufacturing (3222)

SIC

Paper Mills (2621), Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670)

akta.pro primary industry

Colored, Art & Premium Paper Manufacturing (IMAMAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paper Converting Services (slitting, sheeting, coating, laminating, rewinding) (IMAMAHAJ), Paperboard Sheet & Roll Converting (Slitting/Sheeting/Rewinding) (IMAMAFAM), Specialty & Technical Paperboard (Barrier/Release/Greaseproof) Manufacturing (IMAMAFAK)

Keywords

• Specialty paper manufacturing
• Coated paperboard products
• Mountboard manufacturing
• Luxury packaging papers
• Contract converting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Macclesfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Paper and Board Products: Manufacturing and sale of specialty papers and boards including Centura Collection (pearlescent, metallic, neon, textured), ColourMount mountboards, and EduCraft education products. Revenue generated through direct sales and distributor/wholesale channels.
2. Contract Manufacturing Services: Providing coating, laminating, slitting, sheeting, embossing, and collating services to third parties. Services offered include bespoke coatings, contract slitting (3mm-1600mm), and reel-to-sheet conversion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Slater Harrison manufactures and converts specialty papers and boards at its mill in Bollington, Cheshire, UK. The portfolio includes the Centura Collection of water-based, non-metallic coated papers (CenturaPearl, CenturaMetallic, CenturaNeon, CenturaTexture, CenturaReflect), the ColourMount mountboard range for picture framing, and the EduCraft coloured paper and card range for education markets, plus contract laminating, coating, slitting, embossing and collating services for third parties.

Product overview

Slater Harrison is a UK-based paper and board manufacturer established in 1929, producing beautifully crafted papers and boards at their mill in Bollington, Cheshire. The company operates as a multi-brand portfolio under a unified manufacturing operation. The core product lines include the Centura Collection (luxury coated papers and boards comprising CenturaPearl, CenturaMetallic, CenturaNeon, CenturaReflect, and CenturaTexture), ColourMount (mountboard for picture framing in over 100 finishes), and Educraft (coloured paper and card for education markets). Additional products include DayGlo fluorescent papers, Dakota Wrap for premium drinks packaging, and Ticket Board. The company also provides contract services including laminating, coating, slitting, sheeting and guillotining, embossing, and collating. All products use water-based, non-toxic coatings with FSC certified raw materials. The sister company Webmaster produces self-adhesive products for the label and tape industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Centura Collection A comprehensive range of papers and boards including CenturaPearl (28 pearlescent colours), CenturaMetallic (10 metallic-effect colours), CenturaNeon (5 fluorescent colours), CenturaReflect (4 high gloss metal effect), and CenturaTexture (50+ embossed textures). Water-based, non-toxic, recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable coatings with no metallic pigments. Designed for luxury packaging, digital print, greetings and stationery, art and craft, and point of sale displays.
• CenturaPearl Pearlescent coated paper and card available in 28 colours. Acid-free, contains no metallic pigments, does not tarnish or fingerprint when handled. Suitable for all forms of printing and foil blocking. Ideal for retail packaging, greetings cards, art and craft, envelopes, gift-wrap, and stationery.
• CenturaMetallic Metallic-effect coated product range available in 10 colours (Platinum, Old Gold, White Gold, Solar Gold, Rose Gold, Pale Silver, Pale Gold, Green Gold, Copper, Bronze). Does not use metallic pigments, making it environmentally friendly. FSC certified. Designed for luxury packaging applications.
• CenturaNeon Fluorescent coated range available in 5 striking colours (Neon Yellow, Neon Orange, Neon Red, Neon Pink, Neon Green). 100% recyclable, acid free, contains no metallic pigments or plastic. FSC certified. Suitable for luxury cartons, promotional advertising, greeting cards, envelopes, gift wrap, and point of sale display.
• CenturaNeon Copier Bright fluorescent coated range designed specifically with heat resistant pigments for problem-free laser printer and photocopier printing. Back coated to balance the product and stop curl. Available as HP Indigo quality upon request.
• CenturaTexture Tactile collection of embossed patterns available in over 50 patterns including Buckram, Linen, Hammer, Sandgrain, Stucco, and animal patterns. Can be applied to any product range or a stock of choice. Perfect for premium embossing effects for luxury packaging, greeting cards, envelopes, and art and crafts.
• ColourMount Well established global brand of mountboard available in over 100 finishes and many colours. Includes Conservation White Core, Standard White Core, Standard Cream Core, Black Core, Museum Boards, Monochrome, Lustre, Linen, and backing boards. Sold through wide distributor network in the picture framing market and manufactured to exceed Fine Art Trade Guild standards.
• Museum Boards Premium product manufactured from non-acid 100% cotton fibre, lignin free, and 100% Conservation standard. Available in four colourways. When bevelled, the colour remains consistent throughout. Micron Thickness 1500 (1.5mm). Suitable for framing original artwork, fine prints, and precious documents.
• Monochrome Mountboard Unique range of Black and White Mountboard giving a stunning effect when bevelled. Available in three different thicknesses (2.3mm, 2.8mm, 3.4mm). Ideal for framing Black and White photography, pencil drawings, and charcoals. Fine Art Trade Guild Commended standard.
• Lustre Mountboard Eight beautiful lustre colours upon a standard white core. 1400 micron thickness, mountboard size 815mm x 1020mm. Fine Art Trade Guild Standard level.
• Linen Mountboard Four linen fabrics laminated to cream core mountboard providing a natural textured finish. 1500 micron thickness, mountboard size 800 x 1020mm. Fine Art Trade Guild Conservation standard.
• Educraft Range of coloured paper and card products for use in nurseries, schools, colleges and universities. Made using sustainable materials including recycled paper where possible. EN71-3 certified (non-toxic). Products include poster paper, colourcard, border rolls, foil, Durafrieze, and assorted packs.
• EduCraft Poster Paper Poster paper collection consisting of 28 colours supplied in rolls, sheets, border rolls and assorted coloured packs in both A4 and A3. Conforms to EN71 toy safety (non-toxic) with excellent non-fade properties. Perfect for classroom displays, posters, and mounting artwork.
• EduCraft Colourcard Colourcard with excellent non-fade properties made using sustainable resources. Available in full size sheets and assorted size and colour packs. Available in 17 colours. Ideal choice for card requirements.
• EduCraft Border Rolls Border rolls manufactured using poster paper, colourcard, corrugated paper, and self-adhesive paper. Available as straight, scalloped, and self-adhesive rolls. Perfect for enhancing classroom displays and art and craft uses.
• EduCraft Durafrieze High quality product with durable, subtly embossed wipe clean surface. Available in 18 attractive colours with matching borders. Designed for prolonged usage for displays. Available in jumbo roll (1020mm x 25mts) or border roll size (48mm x 100mts).
• EduCraft Metallic Paper & Card Pearl metallic paper and card perfect for all types of craft work. Assorted packs of 4 pearl metallic colours: Gold, Silver, Old Gold and White Gold. Available in paper and card formats in various sizes.
• EduCraft Foil Foil lined card ideal for display, model making and stage props. Available in 5 attractive colours: Metallic red, Metallic green, Metallic blue, Metallic silver, Metallic gold. Card size 500 x 760mm in packs of 25 at 280 micron.
• EduCraft Assorted Packs Assorted packs including School mounting pack (A4 poster paper with instant mount), Creative paper pack (50% paper and 50% card), and Essential stock room pack in Classic, Warm, and Cool themes.
• DayGlo Fluorescent Papers Range of fluorescent paper and card products manufactured using world renowned DayGlo pigments. Available in both paper and card in rolls or sheets. Suitable for photocopiers and printers of all qualities. Five shades: Aurora Pink, Blaze, Flash Green, Sunset Orange, Saturn Yellow.
• Dakota Wrap 100% pure bleached cellulose specially designed for tube wrap applications. Specially adapted for automated packaging lines with high productivity. Suitable for full colour litho, aqueous coating, foil blocking, and embossing. Primarily for premium drinks including whisky, cognac, rum, bourbon, gin, vodka, champagne and sparkling wine.
• Contract Laminating Services Reel to sheet lamination up to 1300mm wide, thickness from 500 to 4500 microns. Lamination of self adhesive materials with ultra peelable to high tack options. Can laminate up to four reels at once.
• Contract Coating Services Bespoke environmentally friendly water-based coatings, colour matching to pantone references, specialist solvent and grease resistant coatings. Low MOQ from 10,000m2. Max width 1550mm. Can coat paper, card, polyester, and polypropylene substrates.
• Contract Slitting Services Slitting patterns from 3mm to 1600mm, straight or scalloped edge slitting. Bobbin winding available for narrow requirements. Core and coreless options available.
• Contract Sheeting & Guillotining Services Modern sheeting facility enabling wide range of precision cut sheet sizes. Maximum sheet size 1300 x 1525mm. Can guillotine finish to small sizes.
• Contract Embossing Services Reel to reel embossing with extensive pattern range. Embossing of own stock products and contract embossing of customer materials. Flat backed finish available. Pattern exclusivity available.
• Contract Collating Services Combining and mixing products to provide bespoke collections. Packs can be tailored to complement events, seasons, and fashions or to complement school curriculum activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products sold in over 80 countries worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FoilcominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2024Organiser of the inaugural Independent Paper Show (IPS) in London 2024. Slater Harrison participated as exhibitor at this event bringing together UK luxury paper and foil suppliers with designers and printers.
• D&J SimonsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2023ColourMount and D&J Simons have worked together in framing for over 40 years, developing mountboard grades and bringing ideas to reality for the trade. Exhibited together at Fine Art Trade Guild North West events.
• Webmaster LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Acquired in 2000, Webmaster Ltd operates as a standalone company within the L S Dixon group, sharing premises at Lowerhouse Mills. Produces self-adhesive, film coating and narrow-width slitting operations. Technical Manager Jayne Woosey oversees both Slater Harrison and Webmaster.
• Fine Art Trade GuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSlater Harrison is a long-standing member of the Fine Art Trade Guild. All ColourMount collections are manufactured to exceed Guild standards. Company sponsors the Art and Framing Industry Awards.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mohawk Fine Papers: North American specialty paper manufacturer producing premium coloured, textured, recycled and digital-print-certified papers for stationery, print and packaging — closely comparable in product positioning, sustainability credentials and custom finishing.
• Winter & Company: European manufacturer and converter of mountboard, framing and presentation boards including conservation grades — directly comparable to ColourMount in the picture-framing mountboard segment.
• Larson-Juhl (Nielsen Bainbridge): Global picture-framing supplier of mountboard, matboard and framing components — competes directly with ColourMount across the same distributor channels and framing trade customers.
• Crescent Cardboard Company: US-based specialty paperboard manufacturer of coloured, textured and metallic-effect boards for art, craft, education and packaging — closely comparable product mix to Centura and EduCraft ranges.
• James Cropper PLC: UK-based specialty paper and paperboard manufacturer with a long heritage, producing bespoke coloured, textured and laminated papers for luxury packaging, print and creative markets — directly comparable product mix, geographic base and customer segments to Slater Harrison.

Others

• Antalis: European paper and packaging distributor carrying a wide range of specialty and creative papers — functions as a channel competitor and partner for some of Slater Harrison's own customers rather than a manufacturer peer.

Broad incumbents

• Fedrigoni: Italian global specialty paper group producing premium coated, pearlescent, metallic and textured papers for luxury packaging, labels and creative applications — broader portfolio but directly competes with the Centura Collection in pearlescent/metallic packaging.
• Sappi Europe: Large integrated European paper and packaging group with specialty paperboard, coated and packaging board lines serving similar luxury packaging, label and print customers to Slater Harrison; broader scale but overlapping end markets.
• Neenah (Mativ): Specialty paper and packaging materials producer with premium coloured, metallic-effect and texture-rich paperboard ranges for packaging and print — broader portfolio but overlapping in luxury packaging and mountboard adjacencies.

Regional players

• Papierfabrik August Koehler: German specialty paper manufacturer producing coated, decor and technical papers including pearlescent and effect papers for European packaging markets — similar coated specialty positioning but primarily continental European rather than UK-distributed.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Slater Harrison