The firms will establish customer service teams in each other's offices in a bid to grow their global reach and product ranges, including a push into the advertising agency market.

"Extending our group's strategy to the US has long been our goal," said Fresh joint managing director George Berg.

291 Digital is based in Manhattan and has digital and offset print production facilities in addition to its pre-press services.

The firm's clients include Cond Nast and Saatchi & Saatchi.

It needed a European presence to deal with agencies to compete in the market. Rivals such as Tag and Schawk (previously Seven Worldwide) have international offices already.

Fresh has been working hard over the past six months to extend its reach upstream with agencies and corporates with its Size division. It will now complete European work locally for 291 Digital.

"We're getting much more involved in upstream creative and creative management," said Berg. "We're adding what agencies don't fulfilment."

The two already have "some particular contracts" they are looking to pursue together.

Among 291 Digital's print arsenal are four sheetfed presses, two HP Indigos and Vutek Ultra-Vu super-wide format machines for the building wrap market.

There is also an opportunity for Fresh to move into sourcing POS and building wraps locally in the UK, although it ruled out acquiring a firm in that sector.

Story by Barney Cox