The company will cease operating the majority of its binding equipment and its Timpson T32 press. A consultation period has started and the firm hopes that the majority of redundancies will be voluntary.

Sheetfed colour printing and digital facilities will remain at the division which produces catalogues and directories.

"We've made the move because volumes are in general decline, there is increased competition from the UK and overseas and binding of this type is not part of our strategic focus," said BemroseBooth Derby managing director Andy Blundell. "It was time that we had to address the issue."

He stressed that the move was not part of a wider restructure at BemroseBooth and that the company was in "dialogue with customers".

"We are reassuring them that it is business as usual," said Blundell. "This represents only part of the Information Products division. Our focus is mainly on the transactional mail side."

BemroseBooth also produces transactional print including tickets, vouchers, phone cards and direct mail. The company is part of US papermaker Appleton.

BB Factfile
- Part of US papermaker Appleton, which bought BemroseBooth in a 34m deal in 2003
- Focuses on transactional mail and logistics
- Sites in Derby, Hull and Teesside

Story by Philip Chadwick