The two Swindon businesses completed a merger in September 2024 that they had hoped would set the combined entity on a strong growth path.
But the companies ceased trading last Friday (31 January), with the loss of all jobs. Printweek understands work in progress was not completed.
Acorn Press Swindon was the bigger of the two businesses; Printweek understands it had employed around 45 staff.
Managing director Simon Evers told Printweek in a statement: “It is a difficult day for everyone involved with Acorn Press Swindon and MPD Offset.
“Despite substantial investment in many areas it has not been possible for Acorn or MPD to achieve the required sales volumes. A weakening market in the last 12 months materially impacted the business.
“It is therefore with great sadness we have reached the conclusion that there was no viable alternative to this action.”
He added the directors are taking steps to place the companies into liquidation.
Some Acorn staff have posted on LinkedIn that they are actively looking for work.
The B1 printer ran a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106 B1 five-colour plus coater and Ricoh wide-format kit. It also offered various digital printing services. MPD had B2 litho capabilities and operated digital kit from Xerox.
It was unclear at the time of writing what would happen to the company’s assets, although Printweek understands Acorn had leased its premises.
Last year’s merger took the combined group’s sales to £10m. Acorn and MPD’s sites were based a stone’s throw away from each other in the Wiltshire town.
Acorn served customers including the book market, charities, and the tool industry.
Acorn had also acquired mailing specialist APD (Another Perfect Delivery) in 2022, while Advanced Printing Services (APS), a promotional garments and wide-format printer, was acquired early in 2024. These two businesses have confirmed to Printweek today (6 February) that they are unaffected and continuing as normal.
Note: Acorn Press Swindon is entirely unconnected to Normanton, West Yorkshire-based printer Acorn Web Offset.
