Celloglas owner Algroup Trade Finishing is finalising its acquisition of Protecta Print to create a finishing one-stop shop.


Once merged, the two firms will move to a 1,070m2 site at Royal Portbury Dock in Bristol in April.


Algroup, which specialises in magazine finishing, said it was still in discussions with the GPMU. It hasnt made any decisions about recruitment or redundancies yet.


"A merger seemed the most sensible long-term option and will allow us to offer our customers a wider portfolio of decorative print finishes," said Algroup director of sales and marketing Mike Favell.


Algroup specialises in UV varnishing and laminating, while Protecta Print concentrates on decorative print, finishing and laminating. "They had processes suitable for us and vice versa," said Favell.


Discussions started last November and Algroup recently received the all-clear from The Office of Fair Trading.


Algroups site in Lewes has now been re-equipped after extensive flooding six weeks ago, which caused damage running into seven figures. Algroup owns Celloglas, Five Star and Universal Coating, all of which will shortly be moving to larger sites.


Story by Jeremy Allen