Four Prontaprint outlets in London have joined forces to create the first on-demand centre to join the NexPress Early Participation Programme.
Digital Print Solutions will be based in Putney and linked via ISDN and the internet to parent Prontaprint companies St Pauls & The City, Barbican, Grays Inn Road and Wimpole Street.
Digital production from the centres, which currently averages between 150,000 and 200,000 pages a month, will be transferred to the NexPress site.
Prontaprint St Pauls managing director John Andrews said: "This is franchising at its best. Were not committed to buy, but will have the opportunity to do so in a few months time. If the venture works well, we will set up a separate company, with each of us holding a 25% stake."
Andrews said the NexPress would also be employed for shorter-run jobs usually handled by litho equipment.
Story by John Davies
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