According to reports in the local newspaper Freiburger Nachrichten 11 staff have been made redundant as a result. In a letter that the firm sent out to customers dated 7th January, the firm said that while it would maintain a direct sales operation in the USA in Europe it would hand all sales responsibility to regional sales partners.UK representative Digital Print Innovations continues to sell, support and service the Virtu range of wide-format machines.

"We have been assured that there will be no issue with the supply of inks and spare parts," said director Stewart Bell. "We are responsible for the service and support ourselves anyway."

Bell said that there were a total of six machines operating in the UK. Firms that have bought the machines include ACT in South Wales, McKenzie Clark in London and Stylo in Watford.
According to the firm’s letter the decision to cease direct sales in Europe was taken due to the tough investment climate.

WPG had already taken steps to consolidate operations and cut costs back in 2010 when the WP Digital offices in Wittenbach were closed and operations transferred to a digital printing centre at its Fribourg site.

While the firm is reducing its focus on wide-format graphics, it is expanding its digital print developments in industrial printing markets. It has installed its first digital printer for covers and containers and is interested in other 3D container print markets including cups, tubes and bottles. Other industrial markets it is working on include décor and packaging, primarily on film and foil.

At the time of going to press no-one from WPG was available for comment.