Astron has won a multi-million pound contract with Siemens Business Services to provide it with print and fulfilment services for National Savings.


It is Astrons first major contract announcement since its merger with Tactica Solutions last year (PrintWeek, 15 December 2000).


The eight-year deal, which has the option to run for another five, will involve print management for all customer-facing literature and encompasses the process from scanning mail in to mail out.


As part of the alliance agreement, 50 staff will transfer to Astron from National Savings Durham print site, which Astron will "host".


It will also install IBM Infoprint software, two IBM print engines, ISIS Papyrus document composition software and Pitney Bowes mailing machines.


Astron will take over the management of National Savings repro and operational print facilities in Glasgow and Blackpool.


Chief executive David Mitchell said the deal was one of the biggest the group had secured: "It comes at a very exciting time for us and will help to underpin our growth ambitions."
In 1999 National Savings awarded Siemens the 10-year outsourcing contract to run all its operations, which involved the transfer of 4,000 staff to Siemens.


That deal included the production of all customer-facing documents so Siemens sent the print contract out to competitive tender last year.


Over a dozen companies, including Tactica Solutions, went for the contract but Astron triumphed because "it exhibited it could provide a broad range of services and was able to work in a partnership," said Siemens contract and relationship manager Dean James.


"To take up this size of service companies have to demonstrate skills other than traditional print," he added. "Organisations are looking for a comprehensive service from one supplier."


James said the Durham site would have "the potential to be used for third-party business".


He added that the Astron/Tactica merger was "advantageous".


Story by Gordon Carson