A Printing Company With More Than 300 Years Of History
If you are looking for specialist printing equipment or consumables, it helps to deal with people who understand the machinery, the process and what you are trying to achieve. Caslon Limited is a family-owned printing company supplying commercial printers and specialist print businesses across the UK and internationally.
Today we supply print finishing machinery, foils, adhesives, inks and other specialist products, while continuing a connection with the printing industry that began more than 300 years ago.
The Caslon Story
In 1720, William Caslon, an engraver of firearms from the West Midlands, began his career in type design when he created a typeface for the New Testament in Arabic.
Caslon went on to become one of the best-known names in typography. In 1776, printer John Dunlap used Caslon Old Face when printing the American Declaration of Independence.
Caslon Egyptian Type, first cast in 1816, was the first sans-serif printing type to be sold commercially. The Caslon typeface later enjoyed a revival during the British Arts and Crafts movement, when printers and typesetters became familiar with the saying: “When in doubt, use Caslon.”
During the First World War, many Caslon type-casting machines were turned over to producing bullets for the British Army, while in 1949 a turbine steamer carrying newsprint from Scandinavia was named “TS Caslon”.
From Type And Thermography To Modern Print Finishing
- Caslon Limited has been involved with thermography since 1920, when we became agents for Virkotype, an American company producing thermographic machines and powders.
- In 1977, we began manufacturing our own thermographic powders in the UK at a new factory in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, under the SupaGloss Compounds brand. These products were sold worldwide through our network of distributors.
- In 1987, Caslon Limited purchased the Adana Company. As Adana also manufactured thermographic machines, the acquisition gave Caslon both its own thermographic powders and machinery, as well as bringing the company firmly back into letterpress machinery and supplies.
- In 2007, Caslon and Faust Thermographic Powder in the USA formed a joint venture called Powder Arts Thermography Warehouse to market and sell products from both companies worldwide outside the USA. Powder Arts is based and run from the Caslon offices in St Albans.
- In 2010, Powder Arts created WOW! Embossing Powder specifically for the craft market. Today, WOW! products are sold worldwide to crafters producing cards, jewellery and other keepsakes.
Adding Foiling To The Caslon Range
In 2022, Caslon acquired Profoil Systems Limited.
By this point, we already had our own range of toner foiling machines and were supplying Therm-O-Type high-speed foiling machines, so adding Profoil’s range of foiling supplies and consumables was a natural addition to the business.
From London To St Albans
Caslon spent 282 years in London’s EC1 district, occupying premises in Chiswell Street, Aylesbury Street and Bakers Row, before moving in 2002 to our current home in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
The company remains family owned today.
The People Behind Caslon Limited
Roy Caslon joined the company in 1957 and is our current Chairman. He also chaired Picon, the British trade association representing suppliers to the printing industry, from 2005 to 2007.
Richard Caslon joined the company in 1983 and is our current Managing Director.
Our years of experience and knowledge mean that when customers are considering specialist machinery, we take the time to understand what they want to produce and whether the equipment is genuinely suitable for the application.
Supporting Commercial Printers And Specialist Print Businesses
Today, Caslon Limited supplies machinery and consumables for a range of specialist printing and finishing processes, including foil stamping and die cutting, digital foiling from toner, thermography, glueing and adhesives, letterpress and other professional finishing applications.
Some customers know exactly what they need. Others come to us with a particular job or finish in mind and need help identifying the most appropriate equipment.
In either case, our approach is straightforward: understand the requirement, give practical advice and help the customer find a suitable solution.
Experience Built On Long-Term Relationships
Many of our customers have worked with Caslon for 10 years, 20 years or more, with some relationships stretching back around four decades.
We believe those relationships have lasted because specialist printing is built on knowledge, reliability and trust.
Our business may have changed considerably since the days of William Caslon, but the importance of understanding the craft has not.
Speak To Caslon Limited
Whether you are looking for a particular machine, sourcing print finishing consumables or trying to work out which process is right for a job, our team will be happy to discuss your requirements.