Although its niche will remain in big, bulky books that are difficult to bind, it wants to compete in the mass area that has been the domain of big groups and publicly listed companies, such as St Ives Clays factory in nearby Bungay.

The firm is due to move into its new 10,100m2 factory early next year and complete its relocation by the summer (PrintWeek, 14 August). Last week it held a party for customers and suppliers at the Caf Royal in London for its bicentennial celebrations and revealed that progress on its new press hall was proceeding to plan.

Clowes can currently print and bind 1m books a week, but plans to expand capacity and increase staffing from 180 to 250 in the next two years in response to investment. It has earmarked more than 3m for a Timson press, has installed a DMX CTP line, and has plans for jacket and blocking machines, together with casing-in and case-binding lines.

Tesco bought the firms old site, which covered more than 30,000m2 in 28 different buildings. Chief executive Ian Foyster said the new factory would employ lean manufacturing techniques with line-of-site production.

The sale to Tesco had completely eradicated debt, financed the relocation and funded additional investments, he added.

William Clowes history
1803: Founded Villiers St, London. Charles Dickens employed as blacking boy
1851: Printed catalogues for Great Exhibition
1873: Mr Clowes partnered with William Moore to form William Clowes
1942: Joined McCorquodale & Company
1986: Norton Opax buys McCorquodale
1989: Bowater buys Norton Opax
1997: MBO takes Clowes private

Story by Tony Brown