The new company, called Druckfarben BV, will supply lithographic offset printing inks and varnishes to the commercial printing and packaging sectors and will aim to build up an international client base.

The partnership launched today after the legal papers were signed in June.

Grant Penfield, group managing director of the Poole-based Druckfarben Group, which has a turnover of around £12m and which acquired ink manufacturer Shackell Edwards & Co in 2009, will be driving business development and procurement, while AtéCé Graphic Products, which has a turnover of around €40m, will be responsible for logistics, sales and administration.

Penfield said that having a presence in mainland Europe would enable Druckfarben to be more competitive as it would cut shipping costs to the continent and bring the company closer to the market.

He added: "AtéCé has a very strong presence in Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East and Africa. The partnership is an opportunity to link into their customer base with the Druckfarben products.  It will help us expand much more quickly into Europe and internationally. Our next step is to review the international customer base and worldwide dealers." 

Bert Schelhaas, managing director of AtéCé Graphic Products, said that the agreement would help AtéCé to become a global provider of ink and varnishes.