Wolverhampton printer Clark and Evans has gone into voluntary liquidation blaming a sharp fall in sales and the loss of several contracts after a 1m investment programme.


The family-run firm had been trading for nearly 100 years.


A two-stage re-equipment programme over the last few years involved replacing art-room kit and the installation of two new Heidelberg Speedmasters and a Quickmaster.


It was a gamble, said managing director Malcolm Meddings, but we were hoping that sales would improve, which they didnt.


He said the final nail in the coffin was the loss of a few accounts, including one for heating equipment rental firm Andrew Sykes.


As a result, the company had made losses over the last two years, admitted Meddings.


A skeleton staff is now tying up the loose ends and 24 staff have left.


Meddings told PrintWeek that he did not know how much money was owed, nor what he was going to do next.


I dont know what I will do but I will probably need to work, he added.


Birmingham-based Poppleton & Appleby is handling the liquidation. A creditors meeting takes place on 2 May.