QLM Group

What QLM Group does

QLM Group (legal entity QLM Label Makers, ABN 46 009 710 614) is a privately held, family-owned Australian label and packaging manufacturer founded in 1973 in Brisbane by David and Del Pugh. The group operates eight factories across five Asia-Pacific countries — Australia (Brisbane HQ plus Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth offices), Vietnam (Hoang Ha Label Co., Ltd in Ho Chi Minh City), Malaysia (QLM Label Makers Sdn Bhd in Shah Alam), Cambodia (Phnom Penh), and Bangladesh (Bangla Label Makers in Dhaka) — producing custom labels, flexible packaging, and folded cartons for FMCG, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, logistics, retail, and pet-food customers. Core technology is anchored on HP Indigo digital presses (including Vietnam's first HP Indigo Digital Label press, installed 2014, and first HP 20000 PRESS for flexible packaging, installed 2023) and Gallus flexographic platforms, supplemented by variable-data personalisation via HP Smartstream software and premium embellishment on cartons.

QLM generates revenue through direct, quote-based sales to enterprise, mid-market, and emerging-brand customers, with minimum order quantities as low as 2,000 units for flexible packaging and scalability to millions of units via flexographic lines. Distribution is primarily direct (state-level sales managers in Australia, dedicated general managers per country), with a trade/wholesale channel for print brokers and an e-commerce hardware channel (Label Print Systems) reselling Epson, Toshiba, OKI, and HP printers and consumables. Design services are delivered via an exclusive creative partnership with Thirsty Fox. Quality and compliance posture is supported by ISO 9001:2015, HACCP, SMETA/Sedex, and GMP certifications.

Name

QLM Group

Legal name

QLM Label Makers

Website

https://qlmgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

QLM Group is a privately held Australian label and packaging manufacturer founded in 1973, operating eight factories across five Asia-Pacific countries. It produces custom labels, flexible packaging, and folded cartons on HP Indigo digital and flexographic presses for FMCG, food, pharma, and logistics customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Label & Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)

akta.pro primary industry

Labeling, Relabeling & Compliance Packaging (Barcode, Serialization, Regulatory) (TLAIAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Primary Packaging (Form-Fill-Seal, Blister, Sachet/Stick Pack, Bottling) (TLAIAGAA), Labeling, Coding & Marking Equipment (Labelers, Inkjet, Laser) (IMALAOAD)

Keywords

• Label manufacturing
• Flexible packaging
• Folded cartons
• Digital label printing
• Industrial label printing

Headquarters

HQ city

Berrinba, Queensland

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Labels Manufacturing: Custom label printing built to suit product, industry and production needs. From food and beverage to chemical, logistics, healthcare and more. Includes digital labels, variable data, and high-volume production.
2. Flexible Packaging: Digitally printed flexible packaging solutions including stand up pouches, box bottom bags, sachets, centre seal bags, and printed roll stock. Serves food, coffee, FMCG, and supplement markets from small to large scales.
3. Folded Cartons: Folded carton packaging solutions tailored around product, budget and retail requirements with premium materials, embellishments and print finishes.
4. Label Printers and Consumables: In-house printing equipment including thermal and colour label printers, labelling tools, ribbons, and consumables. Partner with world-leading brands including EPSON, Toshiba, and OKI.
5. Design Services: Strategic design support through creative partner Thirsty Fox for branding, packaging design, and FMCG marketing across APAC region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

QLM Group manufactures and supplies custom labels, flexible packaging, and folded cartons for brands across Asia Pacific, operating 8 factories in 5 countries (Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Bangladesh). The company uses HP Indigo digital and flexographic printing technology to produce runs from 2,000 units to millions, serving food & beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, logistics, and FMCG customers. QLM also distributes label printers and consumables from brands including Epson, HP, Toshiba, and OKI, and offers strategic branding and packaging design through its creative partner Thirsty Fox.

Product overview

QLM Group is a comprehensive label and packaging solutions provider operating across Asia Pacific with a portfolio of integrated products and services. The core offering consists of custom Labels (digital and thermal printing, specialty labels for food, chemical, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications), Flexible Packaging (stand-up pouches, box bottom bags, sachets, centre seal bags, and printed roll stock manufactured via HP Indigo digital and flexographic printing), and Folded Cartons (custom cartons with HP Indigo digital and offset printing, featuring premium embellishments). The company also distributes Label Printers and supplies consumables from world-leading brands, while offering strategic design services through exclusive partner Thirsty Fox. Recent expansion includes the acquisition of Roastar in July 2026 to strengthen flexible packaging capabilities. The product portfolio spans from 2,000 to 2 million unit production runs with manufacturing facilities across Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Bangladesh.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Label Print Systems: Label printer equipment, tools, and consumables division - providing colour and thermal label printers
• Thirsty Fox

Products and services

• Labels Custom label printing solutions covering blank and printed labels, digital and thermal printing, premium prime labels, barcodes, variable data, and specialty labels for food, chemical, pharmaceutical, logistics, and other industries. Includes sub-ranges such as thermal labels and tags, GHS-compliant chemical labels, pharmaceutical and healthcare labels, and A4 laser sheets.
• Flexible Packaging Digitally printed flexible packaging solutions for food, supplements, and FMCG products, including stand-up pouches, box bottom bags, side gusset bags, sachets and 3-side seal bags, centre seal bags, and printed roll stock. MOQs start at 2,000 units with scalability to millions using flexographic printing.
• Folded Cartons Custom folded carton packaging solutions printed via HP Indigo digital and offset printing, featuring premium embellishments such as foil, emboss, and high-build varnish. Tailored around product, budget, and retail requirements for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and specialty applications.
• Label Printers Full range of colour and thermal label printers, labelling tools, consumables, and software from world-leading brands including EPSON ColourWorks, HP, Toshiba, and OKI, with technical support and cashback offers. Distributed through QLM's Label Print Systems division.
• Thirsty Fox Design Services Strategic branding and packaging design services offered through QLM Group's exclusive creative partner Thirsty Fox, providing award-winning design for FMCG brands across the APAC region.

Quantifiable outcome

• MOQ as low as 2,000 units enabling market entry for emerging brands
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Thirsty FoxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThirsty Fox is QLM Group's trusted creative partner for packaging design and strategic branding. With an award-winning creative team from backgrounds in branding, marketing and packaging, they help brands create packaging and visual systems that are commercially effective and built for real market impact. QLM has printed many of their packaging designs that consistently stand out on the shelf.
• HP (Hewlett-Packard)coreTechnology or IntegrationHP is a key technology partner providing HP Indigo digital presses for label and flexible packaging printing. QLM Vietnam installed Vietnam's first HP Indigo Digital Label press in 2014 and Vietnam's first HP 20000 PRESS for flexible packaging in 2023.
• EpsonmajorTechnology or IntegrationEpson provides colour and thermal label printers that QLM resells and supports. QLM offers EPSON ColourWorks label printers with cashback promotions up to $500.
• ToshibamajorTechnology or IntegrationToshiba provides industrial label printers that QLM resells through its distribution network across Australia.
• UPM RaflatacmajorOthersGlobal materials supplier providing label stocks and substrates for QLM's manufacturing operations.
• Avery DennisonmajorOthersMaterials supplier providing label materials and adhesive solutions for QLM's Australian operations.
• GallusmajorTechnology or IntegrationGallus provides flexographic press technology for QLM's label manufacturing operations.
• Flint GroupmajorOthersGlobal ink and coatings supplier for printing operations, serving QLM facilities including Bangladesh operations.
• TIPAminorOthersSustainable packaging materials supplier providing compostable packaging solutions.
• Pulse Roll Label ProductsminorOthersNarrow web ink and coating supplier for label printing applications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Constantia Flexibles: Constantia Flexibles is a global flexible packaging manufacturer with strong FMCG, pharma and food exposure. Directly comparable to QLM's HP Indigo-driven flexible packaging business (stand-up pouches, sachets, roll stock) for consumer brands.
• Coveris Holdings: Coveris is a pan-European flexible and rigid packaging manufacturer with strong food and FMCG exposure. Directly comparable to QLM's flexible packaging and label product lines for consumer-brand customers across multiple regions.
• All4Labels Group: All4Labels is one of Europe's largest label manufacturers with global operations across labels, shrink sleeves and flexible packaging — directly comparable to QLM's digital/flexo label and packaging offering for FMCG, food/beverage and industrial customers.
• Inland Label: Inland Label is a US-based cut-and-stack label converter serving consumer brands across food, beverage and household products. Comparable to QLM's label printing business for similar mid-market FMCG customers, though primarily North American in geography.
• CCL Industries: CCL Industries is the world's largest specialty label company (Healthcare, Consumer, Premium, CCL Design, CCL Secure), with a comparable product mix to QLM across labels, flexible packaging and folded cartons across multiple regions including Asia Pacific — the most directly comparable global competitor.
• Multi-Color Corporation: Multi-Color Corporation (now part of CCL Industries) was one of the largest global label converters serving premium beverage, food and consumer brands. Directly comparable to QLM's premium label and packaging printing capability, particularly for wine, spirits and beverage customers.

Broad incumbents

• Huhtamaki: Huhtamaki is a global food and consumer packaging group with significant flexible packaging and labelling operations across APAC. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving similar FMCG/food customers, though much larger and more diversified than QLM.
• Mondi Group: Mondi is a global packaging and paper group with significant flexible packaging, corrugated and label-adjacent operations serving FMCG and industrial customers. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the packaging value chain, though much larger and more paper-integrated than QLM.
• Avery Dennison: Avery Dennison is a global materials-science company dominant in pressure-sensitive label materials (and a QLM materials supplier via this partnership). Comparable as a broad incumbent in the label/packaging value chain, though much larger and more materials-focused than QLM's converter model.

Emerging players

• ePac Holdings: ePac is a digital-first flexible packaging converter using HP Indigo technology to serve small and mid-sized CPG brands with short runs and quick turnarounds — closely comparable to QLM's digital flexible-packaging strategy targeting emerging brands with 2,000-unit MOQs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@qlmlabelmakers
• Facebookfacebook.com/Qlmlabelmakers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qlm-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/qlmlabelmakers

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 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 QLM Group