The magazine and catalogue printer is targeting the mail order, commercial and publishing sectors with its mailing operation, which it claims has the capacity to handle more than half a million items per day.

Its new set-up features five Sitma polywrapping lines, three of which came from failed direct mail house Blackburns DMS, an Océ VarioStream 7650, also from Blackburns, and three envelope-enclosing machines.

The company has also taken on 10 staff from the mailing house, including Andy Cowman, who was involved in pre-packing Blackburns DMS last year, as database marketing director.

Alexander said: "We are delighted to welcome on board some of the most experienced and talented people in the industry to run the new division.

"Andy is a very talented, skilled individual when it comes to data. He's one of, if not the best, in the country. He's very well respected by his customers and what he has done in the past is not for me to comment on."

According to the company, its facilities in Normanton, near Wakefield, and Rotherham, make it one of the largest mailing houses in the UK.

Alexander said: "Garnett Dickinson Mailing is a natural extension of the services we have provided for more than 20 years and we felt strategically that the time was right to expand our offering to the mail order and direct marketing industries."

He added that that the acquisition of Acorn Web Offset in September last year presented the company with "the ideal opportunity" to develop its Garnett Dickinson Mailing offering in 2010. Alexander said the company is now targeting a "landmark" £50m turnover this financial year.

As well as launching its new service offering, the mailing operation has also announced two new major contracts, including a £750,000 mail order deal and a mailing pack contract with a trade customer in Leeds.