David Want, joint owner of the business alongside David Meadham, said he had noticed Kool Kat was not investing in new kit, then heard through local knowledge that it was up for sale.
“We’ve been arranging the sale and acquisition for around a year and the deal was completed around a month ago,” said Want.
JR Print, which already employed six staff, has taken on Kool Kat’s only employee, acquired its Presstek DI offset press and rebranded the business under its own name.
Want said the firm's turnover will now be around £450,000, of which £150,000 has come from Kool Kat.
From September, all seven staff will be based at Kool Kat’s 372sqm rented premises, following a 0.2 mile move of business operations from JR Print’s current 139sqm premises.
“We will definitely be looking to increase our offerings. We already have a good reputation for quality and people know us as ‘the friendly local printer’,” said Want.
JR Print was established in Horsham in 1965. It was acquired by Want and Meadham, who had both previously worked for Kodak, 15 years ago.
The pair have since added a digital arm to the business and overhauled its press room.
Alongside the acquired Presstek machine the business runs a two-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster 52, a single-colour Heidelberg GTO and a Heidelberg platen.
It also operates a Xerox Color J75 and a Xerox 700 on its digital side while its in-house finishing services include laminating, bookletmaking with square-back binding and die-cutting.
The firm has recently invested in a Morgana DocuMaster Pro bookletmaker, which was installed two weeks ago.
It will also take delivery of a Xerox colour scanner with a black and white print engine next week and is planning to purchase an Epson 44in (1.1m) wide-format printer imminently.
JR Print produces items including letterheads, promotional products, folders, leaflets, booklets and business cards for customers including local councils, small businesses, charities and walk-in trade.
