P2H Services managing director Mick Blair has recruited former DP Direct operations director Jamie Adams to spearhead the finisher's move into DM, while investing in a raft of digital print equipment.

So far the company has already installed a Xerox Nuvera 120 EA and data processing and document creation software from GMC Software Technology. A Xerox 495 Continuous Feed Printer is due to be installed next week while a VideoJet offline inkjet printer is due to follow.

Adams, who has been appointed business development director of the fledgling DM business, said that P2H Direct Mail was aiming to take advantage of a niche for labour intensive DM packs.

"Where we differ from the big DM firms in terms of high-speed direct mail provision is that they tend to shy away from the more labour intensive hand fold and pack laser work," he explained.

Adams added that the combination of P2H Services specialist hand finishing capability with the new DM business would give the company more versatility.

"P2H Services has a lot of skilled staff for things like hand enclosing and we do a lot of specialist work in that field, offering out up to 120 staff on a facilities management basis to other print businesses," he said.

"A lot of people might get temps in for hand enclosing, but you might as well siphon your profits down the drain because unless your staff are experienced in dealing with that work day-in-day-out then you won't make any margin.

"Northampton is a fantastic base for DM work because there are a lot of skilled staff in the area, sadly as a result of all the DM and in-plant closures around here, places like The Print Factory, Barclaycard and British Gas."