The addition of the Newcastle-based firm takes the firm's total print management revenues to more than 150m.

It paid 22m for the specialist in operational print, business forms, corporate stationery and logistics, which made a profit of 1.6m on sales of 27m in 2003.

According to the firm Dataform is complementary to its other print management firm Centurion and also has "attractive synergies" with its Document Services and Logistics divisions.

"The acquisition of Dataform confirms our position as the leading print management services group in Europe," said Communisis chief executive David Jones.

Communisis also published its interim results for the first half of 2004 to the 2 July today (10 September).

Highlights of the period included an additional 20% of business from Barclays with the addition of operational and cheque printing. It also won 15m of print management business including Diageo, Gillette and Eurotunnel.

During the period turnover from continuing operations was 131m, a decline of 800,000 on last year. Pre-tax loss was 9.9m compared to a profit of 5.4m last year.

The firm had exceptional costs of 13m including a goodwill write-off of 5.1m for the reorganisation of Document Services and exiting Colour Solutions. 

Operating profit from ongoing operations was 8.5m, down 25%.

An exceptional charge of 700,000 related to the possible closure of its Gateshead label plant, was also included in the figures.

Jones said: "With the disposals and reorganisations announced and underway Communisis' transformation is nearing completion."

The firm expects to have completed its transformation, including the disposal of non-core activities by the end of 2004.