Richard Ian Williamson of insolvency practitioner Campbell Crossley & Davis was appointed as Dixon Printing Company’s liquidator on 8 August.
According to its website, the Kendal, Cumbria-based business, which was founded by Harry Dixon, offered single through to full-colour printing with finishing capabilities including multi-folding, stitching and various binding methods.
It produced work including commercial catalogues, directories and books and also offered in-house mailing and distribution.
Manchester-based chartered surveyor Wignall Brownlow is overseeing the kit sale. Lots include four Heidelberg presses: a four-colour Speedmaster 72V, a single-colour SORD, an unconverted single-colour Cylinder SBG and a single-colour GTO 46.
Also up for sale is a Screen CTP line and various finishing equipment from Muller Martini, Stahl, Hunkeler and Ernst Pfäffle among others, plus a range of sundry equipment.
Viewings will be taking place by appointment on 4 September at Dixon's premises, with the auctions closing at staggered intervals from 1pm the following day.
Jeff Wignall, partner at Wignall Brownlow, told PrintWeek: “We anticipate strong interest in the machinery, which, although not recent machines, has low usage.
“Everything was fully operational and was properly decommissioned and we anticipate that anybody purchasing it will be able to install it and start running with it immediately.
“The company’s director got the four-colour press cleaned down properly and put to bed, and the rollers were washed and the inks cleaned out on the other smaller machines, which they finished using a couple of weeks ago.”
He added: “The machinery would suit small local jobbing printers; people who are looking to add to their existing machines and tack on a bit of additional business.”
Dixon Printing Company’s statement of affairs, which was filed at Companies House last Friday (23 August), stated that the firm’s estimated deficiency in regard to non-preferential creditors was £345,831. Creditor claims totalled £439,671.
Williamson said Campbell Crossley & Davis was not able to comment on the liquidation when approached by PrintWeek.
Dixon Printing Company’s phone number was answered by another Kendal printer, Titus Wilson, when called by PrintWeek. The respondent said there was “no connection” but that he could not comment further.
Dixon’s only listed director on Companies House, David Rigg, was also listed as Titus Wilson’s only director until 15 July, when he resigned from the position and two other directors were appointed.
Titus Wilson is also based at the same address as Dixon Printing was, according to Dixon’s website, which also lists Titus Wilson’s contact details.
