Copapharm Europe invited French company Rotanotice to join the alliance of companies, which includes the UK's Storey Evans. Joint managing director of the Bradford firm Dennis Marshall said the new recruit was a specialist in multi-page leaflets.

"Rotanotice is very big in France and at the moment we don't have that kind of specialist," he said. "It brings something new to the group."

Rotanotice's European sales director Christopher Barnes said "continued globalisation of pharmaceuticals" prompted his firm to join, and the welter of pan-European tenders demanded a "coherent approach".

The 10-member alliance was launched in 1997 to promote best practices in quality standards and tendering processes. Members learn from each other on issues like productivity and waste reduction.

Zannini in Ireland, Faller in Germany, Cartonplex, Icesa and Pans in Spain all belong to Copapharm as do firms in Italy, Belgium and Serbia.

Marshall said they pay around 20,000 to cover admin costs of the alliance, based in Mainz, Germany.