The alliance was unveiled at this week's London Book Fair.

Information Press managing director Roger Shepherd becomes group chairman, while Berforts managing director Gerald White becomes group managing director.

"This is a true merger, with a share swap," said White. "Information Press are in B1 litho and we are in digital, so it's a great fit."

£5.5m turnover Berforts has operations in Hastings and Stevenage, and employs 60 staff. Last summer it acquired Good News Digital Books as part of its expansion strategy.

Eynsham-based Information Press is a long-established journal and book printer. It has sales of £4m and employs 45 staff.

White said the enlarged business was still potentially acquisitive. "We have ambitions to grow to £12m turnover and are looking for one more acquisition," he stated.

He also said he was seeing signs of "green shoots" in demand for book printing: "There is a lot of work coming back to the UK. Run lengths are coming down and the economics of overseas production are not as compelling as they were."