News

Pre-press and digital distributor Turning Point Innovation (TPI) is up for sale as a going concern after it fell into administration when its bank pulled the plug last week.

TPI, which was formed through the merger of Newcastle Computer Services (NCS) and Turning Point Technologies (TPT) in February 2007, was placed in administration last Tuesday afternoon.

Administrator Joe McLean of Grant Thornton, who was forced to make 30 staff redundant on his appointment, said he was positive about the possibility of selling the firm as a going concern. He said: “We have had interest from a company in the same industry.”

Steve Emerson, who was managing director of TPT prior to its merger with NCS, confirmed that he is working with the administrator to find a backer for the former TPT business.

He said: “What was known as TPT is still a profitable business and I’m interested in staying with that business and keeping the team and the products together.
“Dalim and Xinet have been extremely supportive. It’s the goodwill and support of the client base and the suppliers that have been kept going through these dark days.”

Julie Huang, public relations manager at Xinet, said: “It is hard for us to comment right now, but we are working closely with the TPI management team.”

Meanwhile, representatives of Dalim Software have been visiting the company’s UK customer base this week to “talk with concerned clients and review our options moving forward”.

However, news from the former NCS side of the business was less positive, with supplier Lüscher confirming that it will no longer be dealing with its former UK partner.

Sales and marketing director Kurt Steidle said: “We consider the market in England as a very important market and Lüscher will be present for sure, [but] we will not continue with TPI as our agent.”

TPI and former NCS managing director Roger Stockdale was not available for comment.

NCS Supplies, which recently sold its offset division to Litho Supplies, was not included in the administration and continues to trade as a separate company.