To be known as NCS Integrated Solutions, the firm is planning to sell the complete product ranges of both NCS and PIS.

"The whole is greater than the sum of the parts," said NCS Group managing director Roger Stockdale. "Well have better purchasing, logistics and a better spread of resources."

Both firms are Creo resellers that also offer other complementery products and services. They have no overlap of customers as they target different parts of the country. NCS focused on the North and Premier on the Midlands and the South.

NCS sells Xerox digital presses and products including Xinet, Dalim and RTI. It also offers colour and asset management. To add to its colour expertise it bought Closed Loop Colour at the end of last year (PrintWeek, 20 December).

Premier sells Karat digital presses and NUR large-format printers.

NCS Groups consumables wing, Revolution, is being renamed as part of the deal and will be known as NCS Supplies. It will be able to supply plates and other consumables as part of the deals the new firm does.

"The consumables side is good, it gives us the flexibility and choice needed," said Premiers managing director Richard Bates.

As PrintWeek went to press the management of both firms were meeting to finalise the details of the deal.

There are no redundancies planned at either firm. The new company will employ 75 in total, of which 15 come from Premier.

As a combined operation it will have sales of around 17m.

Story by Barney Cox