The recent buyout of 27m-turnover Dataform (PrintWeek, 16 September) takes Communisis' revenues in print management to more than 150m. But while the group's future direction was firmly pointed towards print management, it would retain its manufacturing businesses, said Jones.

"Will we keep manufacturing? Yes definitely. Two years ago we weren't sure," said Jones.  "But as long as we benchmark and we can improve productivity [in manufacturing] and push it through to our [print management] customers then there's a benefit. So why wouldn't we offer it?"

Jones added that Newcastle-based Dataform was "a good fit" with print manager Centurion. "We've looked for some time to add operational print and logistics, which would complement Centurion's activity in marketing print. Dataform came along at the right time with a similar business culture to Communisis, which is not a soft issue for me."

Dataform would also provide a valuable route to market for Communisis' operational print production site Communisis BBF, Jones added.

The group is looking at how it will brand its business following the acquisition and will complete the process by the end of the year. Dataform will be "run alongside but separate to" Centurion and its structure will remain the same.

"Geographically it works all along the M1 corridor. In Leicester we have logistics, in Leeds we have a big DM plant (Communisis Chorleys) and in Newcastle we have operational print and logistics. It's very efficient. And in the South West we have BBF," said Jones.

Communisis also owns Broadprint in Altrincham and Security Products in Manchester.

Dataform itself had been acquisitive prior to its buy-out by Communisis; at the end of last year it bought the CCS business from Thomas Potts. Chief executive Brad Holbrook will stay with Communisis and help Jones with strategy while Chris Pygall will remain as managing director of Dataform.

Story by Lauretta Roberts