BD3 was based in Chessington, but the £600,000-turnover group moved into APG's Mitcham facility just before Christmas, where it merged with APG's digital business.

The acquisition, which was completed last Friday (19 February), creates a £1.5m-turnover digital arm, which will operate separately from APG and trade as BD3. The division runs a raft of Xerox and Epson kit.

The deal follows the retirement of BD3 managing director Dave Scott and means that APG now boasts a turnover of over £8.6m and 70 staff, following the transfer of BD3's workforce.

APG managing director Robert Aldridge said he bought the BD3 business, which was one of the early adopters of digital when it was formed in 2001, because he wanted to increase APG's cross-media services.

However, he added that the "heavy metal" side of the business was already benefiting from the cross-selling opportunities generated by the BD3 deal.

"We are able to take techniques from both businesses to offer a complete cross- media service. It moves us up the food chain; we are now a marketing service provider, not just a print provider," Aldridge said.

"A digital business warrants its own platform. Our customers do not expect a  printer to be accustomed to multiplatform marketing.

"People have expectations of a better service under a digital brand – we can now deliver that."