Gavin Wells (pictured), a former regional sales manager for Screen, took the helm at the 900,000-turnover company in December following the purchase from founder Neil Bamford for an undisclosed sum.

He plans to develop a print group and is in discussions with a further four firms, which he declined to name, with a view to acquiring them within the next five years.

"I had looked at three other companies, and there are five or six more that would be worth buying because they're very profitable. There's a nucleus of printers out there that are doing very well," said Wells.

He plans to introduce online procurement, replace the current MIS and to expand the use of variable data at the 13-staff company, with the aim of increasing turnover by a third by the end of 2005.

"If I get my way, the company will be punching well above its weight and pushing out 1.2m by the end of the year. The margins you can attract with variable data in digital printing are a cherry on the cake," said Wells.

Foxprint runs two Komori presses, a 526 and a 226P, alongside a Xerox DocuColor 2045 digital press, Screen CTP and workflow and Horizon finishing kit. The firm mostly produces auction catalogues and corporate marketing materials.

Story by Josh Brooks