The deal, which was announced in August, creates a £7m-turnover digital and litho print business with around 65 staff, which will be based at NCP's Drayton site.
Simon Tilbrook and Adrian Mann, managing directors of Crowes and NCP respectively, have been appointed joint managing directors for the transition phase.
Mann said: "The merger of our two former businesses is logistically quite a challenge. Once the new business is functioning fully at the Drayton site, I will step down as joint managing director and take up my role as sales director whilst continuing to maintain active involvement in the management of Swallowtail Print."
Tilbrook added: "The announcement of the merger has already attracted new business which is very positive. And with the planned investment in new technology, our commitment to quality and value, our professional and dedicated staff, we aim to be the best print company in the eastern region."
The merger has been backed up by an investment in a new B2 press, to replace two outgoing B2 presses. The company has ordered a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75-5+L with Prinect Inpress Control spectrophotometry and a Stahlfolder TH 82 buckle plate folding machine.
Tilbrook said: "Given the additional capacity of the B1 presses [at Norwich Colour Print] we have decided to trade in two B2 presses, a 10 and a five-colour, in favour of the Speedmaster XL 75 five-colour with coater. Combined with Prinect Inpress Control we will have enhanced performance, faster makeready and reduced waste."
Special colours and metallic inks are frequently specified by Swallowtail customers and with the spectrophotometric measuring device special colours will be controlled on every sheet.
The Speedmaster XL 75 will immediately move the company to a triple shift to give 24 hour, five-day-a-week cover, and the extra productivity of the company's upgraded press battery led it to replace an ageing folder with the highly automated Stahlfolder TH 82.
"This is the best folder on the market and with its automation and programmability we know it will simply crash through the work that we throw at it," said Tilbrook.
"We now have in place the best equipment that money can buy and that will attract interest and new business. We have masses of plans and ideas and are feeling very positive about our way forward."
