News

Newspaper printer Harms-worth Printing is aiming to launch itself as a contract printer as it moves to branch out from work for owner Associated Newspapers.

The firm has taken on its first two newspapers for other publishers after completing a £200m spend on a new flexo plant, opened by Tory leader David Cameron in March, in Didcot, Oxfordshire, and a major spend at its flagship London site, Harmsworth Quays.

It has started printing local titles the Oxford Journal and Basingstoke Observer,
published by Trimedia Publishing, the first non-Associated Newspapers titles to be printed at Didcot.

John Bird, managing director at Harmsworth Printing, which produces more than 15m newspapers every week, said the print group was now looking to heighten its profile elsewhere in the newspaper sector.

“I think people miss how big we really are. This company is turning over £420m a year,” he said.

“We are working hard to let people know we are here. The Daily Mail brand is so strong, but we want to get away from the fact that we are just the printers for the Daily Mail. We are a contract printer and the fact that we print a product such as the Mail shows we have the expertise to handle other contracts.

“We think we can satisfy customers’ needs, whatever they want. Being so large, we can accommodate anyone, whether it be long runs or very small runs and very specific products.”

Harmsworth’s move comes after rival newspaper printer Newsprinters, which is owned by News International, won a contract to print The Daily Telegraph at its three new press sites.

Trinity Mirror has also restructured its press sites and is planning to build its Trinity Mirror Printing brand with other publishers.