MACKINNON SLATER LIMITED

What MACKINNON SLATER LIMITED does

Mackinnon Slater Limited is an Edinburgh-based, privately held specialist in large format digital printing, signage and exhibition graphics, operating from a single workshop in Leith, Edinburgh. Founded around 2009 and active for over 15 years, the company serves cultural institutions (museums, galleries and visitor centres), retail and office operators, events and exhibition organisers, education-sector clients and film/TV productions across Scotland, the wider UK and Europe. Production capability centres on Latex and Eco-Solvent digital printers delivering an industry-leading colour gamut, a tangential-blade vinyl cutter for precision lettering, in-house mounting and laminating onto substrates including Foamex, Dibond, glass, acrylic, MDF and wallpaper, and a proprietary Eco-Board range of non-PVC and paper-based display boards supported by carbon offsetting through Forrest Carbon.

The product portfolio spans bespoke museum interpretation panels, wayfinding signage, custom wallpaper and wall vinyls, cut vinyl lettering and logos, roller banners and pop-up display systems, stretch-frame tension fabric banners, window graphics and tint film, vehicle livery, and an in-house multi-discipline installation service covering Scotland, the UK and Europe. Bespoke museum graphics — including the award-winning Aberdeen Art Gallery redevelopment across 3 floors and 22 galleries and recurring work for the National Galleries of Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and Edinburgh University Library — sit at the core of the mix, complemented by recurring festival/exhibition work (Edinburgh International Science Festival, Rangers Museum, Surgeons' Hall, Braemar Highland Games Centre) and one-off film/TV engagements (Netflix's Dept Q).

Revenue is generated almost entirely on a project / one-time-fee basis; pricing is predominantly quote-driven, with only a handful of standard display SKUs (roller banners £85–£195+vat) publicly listed. Go-to-market is sales-led but executed directly by the production and installation team rather than dedicated sales staff; prospective clients are invited to the Leith workshop for specification and material sampling. Customer acquisition relies on a project-portfolio website, an active Instagram feed, design-studio partnerships (Studio Arc, Nomad Exhibitions, Abound Design and Lucid Black) and earned media from cultural and broadcast project coverage.

Name

MACKINNON SLATER LIMITED

Legal name

Mackinnon Slater

Website

https://mackinnonslater.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mackinnon Slater Limited is an Edinburgh-based specialist in large format digital printing, custom signage and exhibition graphics, serving museums, galleries, visitor centres, retail operators, events organisers and film/TV productions across Scotland, the UK and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Signage & Large Format Printing

NAICS

Sign Manufacturing (339950), Sign Manufacturing (33995), Printing and Related Support Activities (3231)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Large-Format & Specialty Printing (Signage, Posters, Displays) (MPAJALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Signage, Props & Custom Installations (HSACAOAG), Custom Printing & Decoration Services (Screen Print, Embroidery, Laser) (BPAFAMAL)

Keywords

• Large format printing
• Custom signage production
• Exhibition graphics
• Cut vinyl lettering
• Museum interpretation panels

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Large Format Print & Signage Production: One-time project-based fees for custom large format printing, signage, exhibition displays, cut vinyl, custom wallpaper, and installation. Services range from single caption panels to complete museum gallery fit-outs. No recurring subscription component.
2. Display Systems Supply: Supply of display hardware such as roller banners (The Grasshopper £85+vat, The Atlantic £135+vat, The Orient £165+vat, Original Banner+ £195+vat), pop-up systems, and modular exhibition stands. One-time product purchase with optional repeat orders.
3. Artwork Preparation Services: Preparation of client artwork files into print-ready formats to ensure colour accuracy and production quality. Billed as part of the overall project or as a standalone service.
4. Installation Services: Multi-disciplined installation team provides on-site fitting of graphic elements, cut vinyl lettering, and stretch frame tension banner systems across Scotland, the UK, and Europe. Installation is a distinct service component alongside production.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mackinnon Slater Limited produces custom large-format printed signage, graphics, and display products for museums, galleries, visitor centres, retail, events, exhibitions, and film/TV production clients. Offerings include large-format digital print, cut vinyl lettering, custom wallpaper, window graphics and tint film, Eco-Board panels, stretch-frame banners, roller-banner display systems, exhibition displays, vehicle livery, artwork preparation, and on-site installation.

Product overview

Mackinnon Slater is a specialist signage, large format print, and display solutions company based in Edinburgh. The company operates as a single integrated offering combining design, production, and installation services across multiple product lines. Core products include Large Format Digital Print, Signage Solutions, Custom Wallpaper & Wall Coverings, Cut Vinyl Lettering, Exhibition & Event Displays, Banner Printing, Window Graphics & Tint Film, Museum/Gallery Graphics, Eco-Board eco-friendly displays, and Display Systems (roller banners, pop-up systems, stretch frames, modular displays). The company also offers Vehicle Livery, Stretch Frame Banners, Artwork Preparation, and Installation Services. All services are handled in-house from artwork prep through printing, production (mounting onto substrates including foamex, dibond, glass, acrylic, and MDF), and on-site installation across Scotland, the UK, and Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mackinnon Slater Eco-Board: Environmentally friendly signage solutions using non-PVC materials and paper-based alternatives, developed to lower carbon footprint while maintaining high print quality.

Products and services

• Large Format Digital Print Custom large-format digital printing on a project basis for museums, galleries, retail, exhibitions, events, and film/TV production clients, using HP Latex and Eco-Solvent presses to deliver signage, panels, and graphics.
• Cut Vinyl Lettering Precision cut vinyl lettering produced on a tangential-blade vinyl cutter for signage, branding, vehicle livery, window graphics, and bespoke lettering projects.
• Window Graphics and Tint Film Custom printed window graphics and applied tint film for retail, venue, and commercial clients requiring branded glazing graphics and solar/privacy tinting.
• Custom Wallpaper and Wall Coverings Bespoke digitally printed wallpaper and wall coverings for retail, hospitality, and venue interiors, supplied to order on a project basis.
• Exhibition Displays Custom printed exhibition display panels and graphics for museums, visitor centres, and touring exhibitions, with artwork preparation, finishing, and installation handled in-house.
• Eco-Board Display Panels Eco-friendly rigid Eco-Board display panels supplied as a standardized product for exhibitions, events, and display applications where a lightweight sustainable substrate is required.
• Display Systems (Roller Banners) Roller-banner display systems sold as standardized units with tiered pricing (single, double, and triple-banner configurations) for exhibitions, events, and retail promotions.
• Stretch Frame Banners Stretch-frame banner systems combining printed fabric/graphic panels with fabricated frames, supplied as a finished product for fixed and temporary displays.
• Artwork Preparation Pre-press artwork preparation including file checks, resizing, and colour management for clients supplying their own artwork for large-format print and signage production.
• Installation Service On-site installation service covering fitting of signage, wall coverings, window graphics, displays, and stretch-frame banners at client premises and venues.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aberdeen Art Gallery received a commendation at the Scottish Design Awards 2020 for the complete interpretation graphic and signage contract delivered by Mackinnon Slater.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Abound Design and Lucid BlackcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Design studios that Mackinnon Slater worked closely with on the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, providing wall graphics, interactive elements, external signage, and custom lightbox solutions that uncover hidden elements when a button is pressed.
• Studio ArccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Exhibition designers who collaborated closely with Mackinnon Slater on the complete Aberdeen Art Gallery redevelopment, working with gallery curators to deliver wayfinding signage, interpretation panels, wallpaper backdrops, fabric banners, and screen-printed panels across 3 floors and 22 galleries. Also designed the Rangers Museum project.
• Nomad ExhibitionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibition designers that Mackinnon Slater collaborates with to produce graphics for Edinburgh University Library's temporary exhibition spaces. A longstanding working relationship producing exhibitions showcasing rarer items from the library's collection.
• Forrest CarbonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based organisation specialising in the creation of UK woodlands for carbon capture at their Adare site near Penrith. Mackinnon Slater supports Forrest Carbon to offset 100% of their production material footprint, reflecting their commitment to environmental sustainability.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cimpress / Vistaprint: Global mass-customization printing platform. Indirect overlap with Mackinnon Slater in signage and large-format print through acquired brands (e.g., National Pen, BuildASign), representing the at-scale, lower-touch end of the market.
• Hollywood Monster: One of the UK's largest large-format digital printers, producing signage, banners, and exhibition graphics nationally. Directly comparable in print capabilities and customer base (events, retail, exhibitions) but at significantly greater scale than Mackinnon Slater.
• Focus Print Group: Large UK-wide commercial and large-format printing group with broader service portfolio. Competes in similar retail, event, and exhibition print segments but at materially greater scale and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Signbox: UK manufacturer of bespoke signage, wayfinding, and architectural graphics for corporate, retail, and cultural environments. Overlaps directly with Mackinnon Slater's signage and wayfinding offering for museums and commercial clients.
• PressOn: UK-based large-format printing specialist serving retail, events, and exhibition clients with similar digital print and display solutions. Comparable in product offering and B2B project-based model, though operating at larger national scale.
• Cestrian (formerly GHM Communications): UK signage and large-format graphics provider serving retail, events, and exhibitions. Comparable in service mix and project-based delivery model.
• Imageco: Leeds-based signage, large-format print, and event graphics provider offering end-to-end design, production, and installation. Closely comparable to Mackinnon Slater in services and vertical segmentation across retail, events, and exhibitions.
• Marqetspace: UK-based exhibition, event, and retail display graphics producer offering large-format printing and modular display systems. Comparable in product offering and B2B customer base.

Others

• Spandex UK: UK distributor of sign-making, digital printing, and signage materials serving sign manufacturers and printers. Adjacent as a supplier ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but useful comparable for the signage supply chain.

Emerging players

• Vehicle signage and vinyl wrap shops (e.g., Inchcape Vinyl Wraps / Wrap UK): UK vehicle livery and vinyl wrap specialists with overlap to Mackinnon Slater's vehicle branding service line. Partial peer — competes only on a narrow product line rather than full-service signage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/mackinnonslater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mackinnon-slater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 MACKINNON SLATER LIMITED