Future Network is to close five of its UK-based technology titles and suspend publication of a further three with the loss of 90 jobs.


Cradley Print sales director Phil Webster said the news was another blow to a UK printing industry experiencing "probably the worst times I have seen in 30 years".


"I think we have seen the end of the boom of high-profile magazine launches."


Although unaffected by the closures, Cradley prints a number of Futures titles.


The group will close 20 titles worldwide with 350 jobs lost. The UK titles closing are WAP, Digital Camera User, DC UK, Quick and Easy Windows, and Your Imac, while Future is suspending Video Gamer, Best Games Ever and PlayStation Tips.


Southernprint, which prints Quick and Easy Windows, WAP, and Your Imac, had not been advised of the closures when contacted by PrintWeek.


"We have not been informed yet, but if the titles were to be lost it would not affect our future plans in any way," said managing director Chris Smith.


Southernprint plans to install two new 48pp Heidelberg M4000s, the first of which will be operational by July and increase capacity by 40%.


Future Network head of group development Dom Beaven said the games industry was in a lull awaiting the release of new games.


"We have seen a decline in our core market areas, and are not experiencing the strong growth that we had in the second quarter in previous years," said Beaven.


The cost-cutting measures will save the company around 5m this year, and follow a dramatic downturn in its ABC figures.


Story by Andy Scott