Gemini Group’s two Bristol operations, Ambassador Litho and Managed Marketing, merged in March last year and now operate from the same site in Fishponds, Bristol.

After Gemini Group’s founder Nigel Holmes died in July 2011, Ambassador Litho was overseen by two directors, Lawrence Flavell and Bob Sydenham. Steve Cropper, former managing director of Gemini Press, was promoted to head Gemini Group as managing director in September 2011.

In June 2012, Cropper appointed Rob Page as managing director of Ambassador Litho, who will continue in his role at Gemini West.

He is flanked by Sydenham acting as an unofficial creative director and Flavell in a general prepress and reprographics capacity, according to Page.

Page has 12 years’ experience as a director at Bristolian print business Kingsdown, but said that the opportunity with Gemini Group was too good to miss.

He said: "I was aware of Gemini Group but not what they wanted to do with the business going forward.

"I saw Steve and what he was trying to do with the group – one of which was to have several companies under one name."

The business has recruited four new staff since Managed Marketing and Ambassador Litho merged, including three finishing personnel and one warehouse apprentice, who joined in September.

Page said: "We had a fantastic last quarter of 2012, both in terms of sales and profit.

"Our presses have been running 24 hours a day due to the increase in orders and we’ve even been working at the weekends, which is great news after the recent downturn in the print industry."

Indeed, the group has just reported a 150% boost in profits and Page added that Gemini West is on track to double its turnover, prompting a huge investment at the Bristol business and across the wider group.

In Q3 this year, Gemini West will be taking on a new Speedmaster XL 75 to join its two Heidelberg presses and a Xerox laser. The merger and combination of equipment means that the company is able to offer a "one-stop shop" for the full print process, from design through to printing, finishing and personalised direct mailing.

Gemini West is also expecting delivery of a Kodak Magnus platesetter and a Heidelberg folder at the end of the month.

Gemini Press is currently commissioning a XL 106-5, following the arrival of an XL 75-5 plus coater in September 2012.

Meanwhile, Gemini Digital, which changed its name from Beard Digital last year, replaced its managing director Julie Beard with Lynn Brazier in June, brought over from Brighton print shop One Digital.

Cropper said that the name changes were intended to spread the Gemini identity across the group. He added that Brighton-based Andus Print, the group's only division without the Gemini name as yet, will be rebranded in the next three to six months, but a name is yet to be decided.