Icon has retained eight of the firms staff and made the remaining 20 redundant.

"It was a good opportunity for us to strengthen our client base and continue our expansion plans," said Icon joint managing director Mark Bauer.

Colourpath invested 300,000 last year in workflow, asset management and proofing. At the time Edgley said: "Im doing all the things a repro house is supposed to do these days."

But this week he said: "Ive had it, repros dead. Theres no money in it unless youve got the volume it doesnt work."

Edgley bought out his partner Charles Stirrup at the end of 2000.