Irish distributor Millers has applied for voluntary liquidation, which is set to be confirmed later this month.

Gerard Heanue, Heidelberg senior vice president for finance, said: "Firstly, we want to stabilise service and spare parts and we will do that from our Northern Ireland base, as well as Scotland and England.

"But long-term, we will be devising a further strategy for the Republic of Ireland and we will look to build a base there."

Initially, Heidelberg engineers working out of Northern Ireland will respond directly to calls in the Republic, backed up by the UK’s 180-strong technical services team.

Sales and service coordination will be provided by Heidelberg UK’s division in Tamworth, Staffordshire, while spare parts can be ordered through the Brentford, London, headquarters.

Heidelberg managing director George Clarke said: "Millers was Heidelberg’s agent in Ireland for a number of years and we are sorry that they have not survived the difficult market conditions.

"We have decided not to service Ireland through an agency in future because we believe that today printers require an even more comprehensive and responsive service and that customers will benefit by working more directly with the supplier."