This year's Top 500 2005 is published today and shows the acceleration of consolidation across the sector.

Banknote printer De La Rue is still the industry's biggest firm, with a turnover of 643m in the year to 31 March 2005, while Chesapeake UK Holdings is number two with sales of 548m.

However, the importance of M&A activity in the sector, particularly among print management firms, is highlighted in the report.

Astron's purchase of Edotech in 2004 helped to almost double its sales to 246m in its last filed accounts, before its epoch-making $1bn acquisition by RR Donnelley earlier this year.

Meanwhile, HH Associates' European expansion drive brought dividends, with a 70% increase in turnover to 38m in the year to 31 March 2005.

The report also gives a run-down of the year's biggest movers and shakers, in a new 20 Most Talked About section, while Daniel Smith of PrintWeek partner Grant Thornton gives the financier's view of the sector.