The two firms first discussed coming together at the start of last year and the deal, the cost of which was not disclosed, was completed in January.
Harrogate Printing’s operations and all 20 of its staff have now moved three miles across to join Platinum Print on the other side of town.
Platinum Print, which has 30 staff and a turnover of £3.5m, has taken on an adjoining building to extend its premises to 2,230sqm.
This has enabled the firm to accommodate £2.5m-turnover Harrogate Printing’s machinery, which includes Heidelberg equipment - though a Speedmaster SX 74 has been sold on - as well as a range of finishing and collating machinery.
Platinum Print chief executive David Wyvill said: “We started talking about the merger at the start of last year and there was a lot of talking and thinking about how we could make it work.
“As well as having 20 experienced, quality people, Harrogate Printing has also got a customer base that don’t buy products that we sell, like direct mail and large-format.”
He added: “The intention is to grow the company so hopefully that will open up the door for additional employees.”
Platinum Print’s building, which it owns, has also been rebranded to reflect the venture, with both Harrogate Printing and Platinum Print’s logos now visible on the outside.
“We’re definitely keeping both brands for the foreseeable future but will probably merge the two brands together ultimately,” said Wyvill.
“We want to make sure that all of the customers are comfortable with what’s happened before we start changing names. It will probably be a mixture of both names as both companies have an excellent reputation.”
Harrogate Printing directors Colin Wilding and Philip Hall will remain within the merged company while Mark Plummer, the managing director of Platinum Print, will also head up the merged company.
Wilding said: “The consolidation of all our equipment, staff and skills will take the company into the future as one of the foremost providers of quality print in the north of England. It is a very positive and exciting move.”
Late last year Platinum Print invested in a Ricoh Pro C9100 digital press and a KAS Mailmaster 465HS mail inserter to boost its digital turnover and help it with complex mailing work.
The company’s other equipment includes Komori litho presses, Konica Minolta and additional Ricoh digital kit and Mimaki and Canon Océ wide-format machinery.
