The West Yorkshire-based direct mail and point-of-sale specialist, the 79th largest printer in the UK according to the PrintWeek Top 500, reportedly made the cutbacks to combat failing prices in the sector.
A spokesman for the plant would only say that there had been "bad effects due to a downturn in business".
A leaked company memo to suppliers said: "You may be aware that we have found it necessary to take the sad step of making some of our excellent people redundant.
"It has been evident to us for some time now that our present manufacturing capacity has been out of step with our customers’ requirements. As a result, we are de-commissioning some of our older presses."
It is as yet unclear which presses will be decommissioned, but the document details plans to invest in digital print and finishing kit.
Steve Hart, Unite regional secretary based in Leeds, said he is currently working with the company to minimise the impact of the cuts.
He told PrintWeek: "I’ve had three meetings with the company so far. We have managed to save the jobs of two people on the shop floor today [Tuesday] and feel negotiations are going well.
"We’ve never had a chapel at the organisation, but we do have members there. So far, 23 jobs have gone from the shop floor."
He added that the company’s web division was the hardest hit, but 11 clerical staff and three managerial and technical staff are among those to go.
Waddington and Ledger’s kit list includes three 16pp Rotoman presses, four 8pp Octomans and a six-colour Heidelberg B1 sheetfed machine. It also has wide-format digital capabilities, including an EFI Vutek QS3200.
In addition to direct mail and commercial print, the company produces PoS, counter displays, floor graphics, vehicle wrapping and signage.
Waddington & Leger was established in 1884 by Solomon Waddington and Arthur Ledger. The company’s clients include Boots, Emap, Lloyds Bank, Open University, Royal Bank of Scotland, Procter & Gamble and Haymarket Publications. It holds FSC and ISO14001 accreditations.
The firm was unavailable for comment.
Factfile
Based West Yorkshire
Job cuts 37
Staff 145
Kit Includes three 16pp Rotoman presses, four 8pp Octomans and a six colour Heidelberg B1 sheetfed machine
Items produced Direct mail and items including PoS banners, FSDUs, floor graphics, and counter displays
Accreditations include FSC and ISO 14001
