Carson said that he had made the move because "most printers now have CTP and PDF pre-press workflows, but there's a lot to do in the press hall".

The new company, which is working in partnership with Carson's former employer NCS for several clients, offers a range of pre-press and press hall services and upgrades.

These include CIP4 and JDF integration, ink optimisation and presetting systems, CTP, press and proof profiling, and colour management. Managing director Carson, who is aiming for a 1m turnover in his company's first year, said: "A specialist company that's attacking the press room as its first customer is pretty much unique in the UK."

"Our products are designed to speed up production, speed up makeready, reduce paper waste and have consistency of colour. No one company does the lot, so I'm setting my stall out to do it all."

The firm has offices in Wakefield and Newcastle, and Carson said that he hoped to establish a presence in the South in the coming year.

The firm's staff currently numbers two engineers and two troubleshooters. It has won exclusive UK reseller status for a number of products and suppliers including Swiss company Digital Information Systems, American firms Rutherford Graphics and Tobias Associates, and the Ink Optimiser product from the German GMG.

Story Josh Brooks