Printing company Multigraphics has just been awarded Printweek's Printing Company of the Year - the highest accolade in the printing industry. T&A reporter MARK CASCI paid a visit to the company to take a closer look at the work they did to earn the title.

You may not have heard of Multigraphics but you will certainly be familiar with its work.

The seemingly innocuous printing firm, based on Bradford's Euroway trading estate, manufactures banners, posters, displays and friezes which can be seen all over the country.

When thousands marched through Edinburgh in protest at world poverty after last year's Live 8 concerts, the Make Poverty History banner hung from the walls of the city's castle was made by Multigraphics.

Posters advertising the latest special offers in all four of the UK's top supermarkets were made by Multigraphics.

And displays in a high street clothing stores across the country, featuring supermodel Kate Moss, were made by Multigraphics.

To those in the printing industry, Multigraphics is one of the most highly regarded companies, a pointmanifested when Printweek named the firm Printing Company of the Year for 2006.

Managing director Gary Lasham said: "Winning this award is a great tribute to the hard work and enthusiasm of our staff who are always prepared to go the extra yard to ensure our customers get what they want, on time and to the highest quality."

Tucked away at the edge of the Euroway, the company has come on leaps and bounds since a management buy-out in 2004.

Previously based in Halifax, Multigraphics began life as a screen printer, but following the buyout - by Mr Lasham and finance director Martin Hargreaves - the decision was taken to take the company to the next level. The new facility in Bradford was sourced and developed to the company's own specification and work was transferred from Halifax soon afterwards.

Walking around the vast warehouse where the actual printing is done, one sees the posters and banners that will be hanging in the nations supermarkets and stores over Christmas. Despite the size of the shop floor, you get a sense of the definite sections of the business. In one area, digital prints are transferred to posters while in another large scale banners on cloth are being rolled out.

In another area the screen printing that the company made its name in is still being carried out.

Machines around the warehouse are printing on to material as diverse as canvas, cloth and even sheet metal.

Some of the machines are calibrated to print on to materials up to five centimetres thick and even a toilet seat has been printed on at one stage.

The new building has been a large factor in the company's sterling progression. An average of two million units a year leave the warehouse - bound for stores all over the UK.

"It is a clean, professional and modern manufacturing environment," Mr Hargreaves said.

"It really has been instrumental in helping us move forward and provides a nice working environment for our staff - meaning they will stay loyal to us."

The knock-on effect is that Multigraphics is now turning over £10million and employs more than 120 people. And with new ventures and ideas popping up all the time it seems like an uphill trajectory for the firm.

However it is not just the retail sector which is making regular use of its wares.

The company recently set up a side venture via the internet called The Banner People.

This allows the consumer to design their own banner, import their own artwork and chose the colour scheme.

Multigraphics then produces the banner and delivers it to homes within 72 hours.

The venture is proving popular already as people develop banners for birthday parties and homecomings.

It is perhaps given the nature of the firm's business that Multigraphics remain so understated.

It is the products their wares advertise that are noticed - not the posters themselves.

However with recognition from industry peers and a blooming business it is unlikely it will be too concerned.