President and chief executive Kim Graven-Nielsen said: We know that we cant be everything to everybody, but we have the best products in some areas. Its important that we can offer these as part of packages to suit customers needs.

Graven-Nielsen would not reveal which companies were being courted, but said Esko-Graphics was seeking alliances across all its sectors.

The UK arm of the company is split into four divisions packaging, newspapers, commercial printing and Apex Digital Graphics handling sales of its quickprint products. The UK division, which is located in Colnbrook and Redditch, has no managing director but is overseen by national sales manager Keith Davison and national service manager Nathan Chapman.

The company was formed in March with the merger of Purup-Eskofot and Barco Graphics. In September the investment arm of the Lego Group, Kirkbi, increased its share to 80%, with the remainder owned by Barco.

Graven-Nielsen said the merger had had its difficulties, but was essential to drive the business forward.

We are seeing the benefit of economies of scale. We believe that in the world of graphic arts there will be more consolidation. Theres no doubt that size matters, and will matter even more going forward, said Graven-Nielsen.

He expected this years turnover to be 10% to 15% less than 2001, putting it at around the 130m (EUR200m) mark.

We are privately held, which from a management point of view is an advantage. We are not driven on a quarterly basis, added Graven-Nielsen.

Story by John Davies

Picture: Graven-Nielsen - "size matters"