Seven Worldwide, the digital imaging firm, is to shed jobs because of the dotcom and industry downturn.

David Foster-Lyons, European marketing director, said numbers were to be finalised, but insiders said 20 jobs would go.

He couldnt say whether losses would spread across Europe or further afield. Applied Graphics Technologies bought Seven Worldwide in 1999 and the latter operates in 28 locations, also in the USA and Australia.

The downturn in dotcoms and turmoil between agencies and clients have caused the losses, he said.

We have to look not only at costs but the way we produce work. A lot of activity is being automated and that will take its toll in the long run.

Parent AGT recently reported a 19.4% fall in half-year sales to 161m ($235m), and is taking a number of cost-cutting measures.

But Seven recently notched up around 400,000 of business after winning a three-year pre-press contract from Bass Brewers for packaging and PoS work (PrintWeek, 7 September).

We will help them get the product to the market faster to give them a competitive edge, he said.

Story by Jez Abbott