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 on 31 January, with all 59 employees made redundant.

According to filings at The Gazette, Huw Powell and Andrew Hook of Begbies Traynor (Central) were appointed as joint liquidators for both companies on 27 February 2025.

Managing director Simon Evers told Printweek shortly after the closure of the companies that, despite substantial investment in many areas, it had not been possible for Acorn or MPD to achieve the required sales volumes, while a weakening market in the last 12 months materially impacted business.

Acorn Press 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.

Begbies Traynor had not yet responded to a request for comment at the time of writing and there had been no update on what had happened to the company’s assets.

Acorn and MPD’s sites were based a stone’s throw away from each other in the Wiltshire town. Last year’s merger took the combined group’s sales to £10m.

Note: Acorn Press Swindon is entirely unconnected to Normanton, West Yorkshire-based printer Acorn Web Offset.