Bell, who was made redundant on the 22 December, has set up Digital Print Innovations to sell and support Meital, WP and Esko Kongsberg products, which were handled by Litho Supplies prior to its fall into administration.

Speaking about the new venture, Bell said he had had "the busiest Christmas" of his life.

The Derby-based business has taken on a number of technicians to provide support for the one Meital customer and three companies running SP Virtu machines in the UK.

"I will focus on these niche high-value high-end products," Bell said.

He added that, since the first Meital was installed at Screenprint Productions, there had been strong interest in the innovative Israeli machine with a number of businesses lining up to see it in action as soon as possible.

Litho Supplies fell into administration before Christmas (22 December 2009), but was sold to a new company headed up by former shareholder and group sales director Eddie Williams on 30 December.

It is believed that negotiations are still under way regarding a sale of Graphica Plus, which traded as Andersons.