Florida Marking Products, Orlando, FL, USA, has been acquired by The Kennedy Group, based in Willoughby, OH, USA. Florida Marking Products was founded in 1984 as a manufacturer of specialty and custom labels, durable identification products, commercial marking, promotional items, as well as signs to industrial and commercial customers.

“By putting together the best of both companies we gain expanded capacity and capabilities,” says Michael Kennedy, president of The Kennedy Group. “The addition of a Southern US operation is a key part of our three-pronged growth strategy.” Over the coming months, he adds, the company will integrate and leverage the combined forces of three production plants, the RFID Customer Solutions Center, sales offices in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Orlando and Atlanta, as well as affiliate offices. “The company is poised to grow business opportunities in the Southeast region, adding to our current base of over 3,000 clients in 40 states and seven countries,” he adds.

Jackie Abrams, president of Florida Marking Products, shares a revitalized outlook. “Our teams are energized by the growth initiatives under way. We’ve gained added strengths and new production capabilities that advance our objectives to introduce unique offerings valued by our customers.”

Michael Kennedy highlights the importance of the Florida expansion: “This Southeast footprint and base of operations solidify our efforts to expand our market reach and client base. Our collaborative structure can back up the other. The Orlando team and facility improves service to customers in the Southeast with shorter lead times and more regional support. Our combined organizations have the ability to bring knowledge, quality and a full offering of solutions to the marketplace.”

The Kennedy Group was established in 1974 as a privately held, family owned business. It has grown into a developer and manufacturer of branding, labeling, promotional, tracking and identification solutions for such diverse industries as consumerproducts, health and beauty products, private label, retail, entertainment, industrial, automotive, material handling, biomedical, healthcare, chemical, and agriculture.

Composed of four divisions, the Label and Packaging Products Division offers a variety of pressure sensitive, promotional and roll-fed/ROSO shrink film packaging products that utilize flexography, UV flexo, rotary screen, combination printing, variable data, digital printing, and proprietary materials and products. The Material Handling Identification Systems Division provides identification solutions, durable nameplates and bar codes, and patented label holders for reusable containers, racks and pallet storage areas. The RFID Solutions Division provides turnkey assistance in helping clients test, specify, install, service and support EPC-compliant, fully integrated systems. Through its RFID Customer Solution Center, The Kennedy Group helps customers verify that the technology will work in their application to assist them with furthering their efforts to meet EPC compliance. The Promotional Response Products Division offers front-page newspaper advertising programs with a variety of products.