BGP, part of the Goodhead Group, has been producing 20m directories a year for the telecoms group since 1997, when it took over the contract from RR Donnelley.
BT has just served the Essex firm three months' notice that the 171 local directories will be transferred to Spanish directories specialist Einsa Print International, based near Madrid.
Goodhead Group managing director John Cooling said it was too early to say how many jobs may be lost at the plant, which employs 180 staff.
"The real issue for us is the lack of notice," he said. "When you take on a contract like this, the customer and we recognise the strategic importance [of it]. If it's going to change one would expect the customer to recognise the implications."
BGP Colchester runs two Goss Uniset coldset webs and a 72pp MAN Roland Lithoman, which Cooling said were all "bought and paid for". He said the group was working on various options to put more work through the plant, but admitted there was little demand for coldset capacity.
"We will safeguard some [jobs] but with three months' notice there's no way we can save them all," he said.
A BT spokesman confirmed that the manufacturing of The Phone Book would move to Einsa in March and it is understood the Spanish printer won the contract on price.
Einsa's 57,000sqm premises in As Pontes houses a large line-up of KBA webs.
Since 1999 it has bought six 48pp KBA Compacta 618 twin-web presses and in 2004 commissioned the world's first 64pp twin-web 818 Compacta.
It prints a range of directories, magazines and catalogues for the domestic and international market including Spain's Paginas Amarillas (Yellow Pages).
About The Phone Book
- The first known telephone directory was published by The Telephone Company in Jan 1880 and contained 250 names
- Its second edition appeared in April 1880 and contained 350 names
- The British Telecom brand was created 100 years later, at which time it was still part of the Post Office. It became a distinct corporation in 1981
- Today The Phone Book is published in 171 editions, with a total print run of 20m
Benhamgoodheadprint hit as BT takes <i>Phone Book</i> abroad
BT is to move production of <i>The Phone Book</i> overseas for the first time in its history, placing a number of jobs at risk at its printer Benhamgoodheadprint (BGP) in Colchester.
