The companies offer brand creative, packaging, print, branded environments, and content production.
They said that, following the merger, clients would benefit through “attentive local service in more markets, backed by a global delivery platform; by combined economies of scale; and through access to a larger, more diverse network of creative, production, and technology expertise”.
Propelis said combined investments in cloud-smart, AI-enabled content and packaging automation technology would accelerate scaled delivery capabilities to help clients meet the rapidly growing consumer demand for all kinds of content.
The two businesses have a joint history of over 150 years and Propelis starts its operations with 10,000 staff working across over 30 countries, nearly $1bn (£761m) in annual sales, and a client base of over 2,000 companies.
The group said the Propelis name symbolised “upward momentum, integration, and purposeful innovation”.
It will have specialist brands including SGX, which will offer packaging graphic production, flexo plate, rotogravure cylinder, and metal deco technology that combines the expertise of SGK – previously owned by Matthews International and known as Schawk – and SGS.
Also; Collide, an in-store signage and large-format, digital and sheetfed print specialist; Marks, and Equator, which will both deliver creative, strategy, digital commerce, experiential marketing, engineering, and creative content production; and 5Flow, which has unified, cloud-smart platforms that power content and packaging automation and workflows.
Gary Kohl, formerly president of SGK, has been appointed CEO of Propelis. Matt Gresge, previously CEO of SGS & Co, will serve as executive chairman of the board.
Kohl said: “This is a defining moment for our industry, our clients, and our people. I’m thrilled to be leading Propelis, the new entity created from the recently completed merger of SGK and SGS & Co.
“With exponentially greater resources, expanded global reach, and a world-class team united around a single vision, we are entering this next chapter with purpose and momentum.
“From day one, our focus is clear: to meet the evolving go-to-market needs of our clients faster, better, and more efficiently, while envisioning new, creative ways for their brands to build stronger consumer connections.”
Gresge added: “The formation of Propelis is a bold step into the future of our industry. We’re building something new: a unified, agile agency model that is uniquely equipped to solve our clients’ biggest challenges and drive meaningful change in how brands engage with their customers.
“With our combined capabilities, Propelis is poised to become the go-to global partner for brands that want to lead with creativity, move with precision, and grow with purpose.”
Headquartered in Chicago, US, Propelis will continue to serve clients across industries including food and beverage, personal care and beauty, retail and private label, technology, sports and entertainment, and travel and hospitality.
