The deal spells bad news for Cradley: the title, which has been produced by the West Midlands printer for over three years, represents around 10% of its annual turnover. However, Cradley will continue to print the BMJ Student Journal, a 15,000-run monthly, and will remain on its supplier list for new and existing products.
ET Heron sales and marketing manager Jon Hearnden said he was "absolutely delighted", adding: "The whole tender has been a team effort and our policy of investing in new and exciting kit has paid dividends. It’s one of our biggest contracts and very prestigious."
The BMJ comprises five editions. Pagination ranges from 96pp upwards, and its general practice and clinical research editions also feature careers supplements. The total weekly print run is 120,000 copies.
BMJ operations director Neil Poppmacher said ET Heron was "better equipped" to handle the changing needs of the BMJ, primarily for extra pagination.
"We have no axe to grind with Cradley and we have worked closely together on a number of projects," he added. BMJ had originally looked at 10-12 UK-based printers before carrying out a detailed assessment of five.
ET Heron will print the title on a combination of its three MAN Roland Rotoman N webs and will output plates on Agfa Galileo platesetters. FE Burman will continue as the repro supplier for editorial and some ads.
Witham-based The Finishing Company, co-owned by ET Heron production director Ray Lesnik, will invest in a fifth mailing line by Christmas to handle its increased workload from the new contract.
Story by Gordon Carson
