NEWS OF THE MICROFILM INDUSTRY
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1988 No 11
Microgen continues to expand Finlay sells to Microgen Finlay Microfilm, the Amersham-based manufacturer and distributor of portable microfiche readers has been acquired by Microgen for £359,000. According to Andrew Browning of Microgen Equipment Limited, the purchase presents some exciting opportunities to the enlarged operation, ‘The products offered by Finlay complements the existing Microgen range and gives the combined organisation a dominant position within the ^kiipnjient market’. ^ s well as producing its own readers, Finlay has an exclusive arrangement with Saul Microfilm GmbH for the distribution of the German company’s readers. There is a well established client base for these products, with the company being the sole supplier to W H Smith. Finlay also distributes the Saul Data Centre Microfiche Retrieval System which, when coupled with Microgen’s existing MAP range, gives the group domination of the UK retrieval system market’. Andrew Browning states that the company also has the United Kingdom marketing and distribution rights for the Eyecom range of readers. This is the fastest growing range of low cost, value for money microfiche readers in the country. He continues, ‘With an increased direct equipment sales team, and Microgen’s strong COM sales force now being able to extend its portfolio, an unrivalled opportunity exists to expand our business. We expect an exciting new range of products to be announced shortly, and this will further advance our position as market leaders’. As part of the acquisition arrangement, Finlay Microfilm i^ n d e r, Maurice Finlay will remain with the company on a year basis. Microgen buys MPCS Bracknell-based importer and distributor of micrographic consumable products, MPCS Limited, has been bought by Microgen for an initial consideration of £1.5 million. The two companies have worked closely together since MPCS was set up in 1984. In particular, MPCS has been a core supplier to Microgen of duplicating film and other related micrographic products. Under the terms of the acquisition, MPCS will continue to operate under its own name as a wholly owned subsidiary of Microgen Equipment Limited, with co-founders Malcolm Palin and Clive Smith remaining as joint managing directors. Other board members will be chairman Douglas Lee and Microgen Equipment Division’s, Andrew Browning. Comments Andrew Browning, ‘MPCS will act as agent for all our consumable supplies within the group, the dealer network and end users. Those end users include prestigious names See Pages 4 - 8 for Product News The Micrographics Market Race
such as the British Library, HMSO, ICL, American Express, Abbey Life and Technical Indexes. With the signing of this deal, Microgen Equipment will transfer its silver halide business - including all stock and staff into the MPCS framework at Bracknell. This business, which is primarily based on supplying the group with silver film, is currently running at an annual rate in excess of £1 million and is complementary to the activities of MPCS’. As well as film, MPCS supplies a variety of micrographic consumables and equipment. These include microfilm jackets, aperture cards, cassettes, 16mm source film, cameras, processors, readers and reader printers. Andrew Browning points out that MPCS sells to the same equipment dealer base as Microgen, and has an established distribution network to all the company’s sites. This acquisition, together with the purchase of Finlay Microfilm, will mean that the Microgen supplies operation will grow from a £2 Vt million turnover to approaching £8 million within a matter of months. Contact: Microgen Ltd., Watling Street, Radlett, Herts. WD7 7HZ. Tel: (09276) 2233. Telex: 923040. Fax: (09276) 5075.
In September 1978 we started as the Original Independent microfilm company. This is our 10th Birthday. STILL ORIGINAL! STILL INDEPENDENT! Hammond Close, Attleborough Fields, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 6RY Tel. Nuneaton (0203) 383998/381196Telex311603 Genneg Fax. (0203) 382319
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