Registerprint Machinery, Svecia Screen Printings UK distributor, said Svecia would continue to manufacture its presses and fulfil orders, with no change in production until new owners were in place.

As PrintWeek went to press Registerprint joint managing directors Jeff Turley and Paul Waterton were in discussions at Svecias headquarters in Sweden.

Svecia Screen Printing, which was bought by Traction AB in 1998, has subsidiaries in Germany, the US, Spain, Italy, France and Hong Kong. Peter Rosen, managing director of Walthamstow-based screen printer Bovince, said: "Svecia is a superb company, weve had a relationship with them for 30 years."