The Artisan Press has made a major move into the magazine printing market by picking up the contract for WH Smiths 24-strong Life Guide magazine series.


Every two months John Brown Publishing will publish four single-issue magazines on behalf of WH Smith.


The Leicester-based printer used its 24pp Heidelberg M3000 webs to print 50,000 copies of each of the first four titles, New Home, Married, Fit + Healthy and Your Career.


Artisan said its new CreoScitex Lotem XL platesetters, installed last November, had helped it to win the contract.


John Brown production director Vic Lime said CTP wasnt a pre-condition for the contract, but added: Its certainly something we expect suppliers to install over the next year.


Artisan also installed a second 16pp Heidelberg M600 web at the end of last year.


At the time of the investment, Artisan managing director Stephen Denbigh said that he hoped the CTP system would help the company to increase its presence in the magazine market.


Artisan is John Browns largest UK web printing supplier, and also prints contract titles for clients such as Waitrose and Debenhams.The firm is approaching sales of 50m and employs 400 staff.


Story by Gordon Carson