"By working with companies in a specific industry, it can help us to expand sales into that area," said Logitrans UK managing director Anthony Dollimore (pictured left).

The deal arose partly because both firms are Ipex Daily production partners. "[Friedheim technical manager] Bob Sugg and I were involved in the Daily," said Dollimore.

"We got chatting and I asked why they don't  sell our products."

The agreement is unusual as the bulk of the sales will be handled by Friedheim's 25-strong team of technical and service engineers, rather than purely by its traditional sales team, although they will still be marketing the products.

Friedheim International managing director Peter Morris said: "Our technical staff are in the field every day and can see what wants changing and how processes [at printers] can be improved. Customers trust their opinion.

"They are the the company's real eyes and ears," added financial director Mark Bristow. "They see what is going on all the time and what will work in an operation."

Friedheim will offer full technical support for its Logitrans sales. Several Friedheim staff will visit the Logitrans manufacturing headquarters in Denmark for full technical training.