"It's a very positive move for us. It gives us the opportunity to harness some synergies and push the business forward," said Openshaw chief executive David Coltart.
Buying Bousfield, the biggest Fuji dealer in the UK, has brought Openshaw and Fuji Graphic Systems together again. Fuji terminated the companies' relationship following Openshaw's decision to sell Agfa plates (PrintWeek, 22 January 1999).
Coltart said: "It's a chance for us to re-establish our friendship with Fuji."
Fuji Graphic Systems UK dealer manager Jim Dale said that he looked forward to meeting Openshaw, but added that there was no automatic right for the dealership to transfer.
Coltart said that there would inevitably be some duplication between the two firms, but that redundancies would be minimised.
Openshaw director Tony Halker will oversee sales and distribution, while Bousfield managing director Andrew Christie will remain in charge of Bousfield's manufacturing business.
Gerry Mulvaney, joint managing director of the country's largest printing consumables firm, Litho Supplies, said: "People try to compare Litho Supplies to Openshaw, but it's not comparing like for like. Openshaw has a big manufacturing operation. This still leaves us as the biggest distributor in the UK."
Bousfield returned to the private sector after its then parent company, Amberley, sold it for £7.25m to Bousfield Holdings - a company set up by Runway Ventures last year.
Story by John Davies
Picture: Coltart - harnessing synergies
