BBC Magazines (BBCM) has confirmed plans to abandon its preferred suppliers to move its repro in-house.

Through the Smart Repro business model, the publishing division will phase-out its current repro suppliers Keene's, Icon Reproduction and Witham-based firm Wyndeham Kestrel over the next 15 months.

BBCM has appointed Michele Cohen as project manager and Paul Sherfield of The Missing Horse Consultancy as technical consultant.

BBCM production director Mal Skelton said Fresh Media Group had been appointed as the sole transitional partner.

Once the move is complete, six "repro specialists" will be devolved across the three divisions youth, lifestyle and motoring at the BBC's Wood Lane office.

BBCM is currently advertising for a repro manager.

"The repro team will work very closely with the design community. We'll also be raising the skill levels of the design teams with training and support," said Skelton.

He said he was "coy" about disclosing the "significant investment" of the project, but expected the move to return savings in excess of 500,000 by 2009.

Skelton said BBCM's suppliers were disappointed but he believed they would respond by adjusting their business models to meet changing demands.

A selection of pre-school titles and Top Gear will be among the first to be trialled under the in-house system.