Heidelberg has sold its UK desktop scanner operation Heidelberg CPS to its managing director Bill Johnstone.

The new venture will be renamed Creative Publishing Solutions (CPS), all staff at the 3m turnover firm will remain.

Now we can be 100% focused on sales and marketing as part of a large group we had certain shackles, said Johnstone.

It has been granted the status of Heidelberg Authorised Partner.

Following the deal, which went through in April, CPS is looking at adding other Heidelberg pre-press products to its range including the Nexscan high-end flatbed and the Quicksetter range of capstan imagesetters. It has already taken orders for the Nexscan and is gearing up to begin selling the Quicksetter range in the Autumn.

This will give Heidelberg an indirect channel to the UK market for its low-end pre-press products and will now focus in the pre-press market on selling higher-end products such as CTP and workflow. CPS resellers include Bousefield Heatons, SOS and Inkland Electronics.

CPS is also looking at adding other manufacturers products to its range. This is likely to include third-party RIP software for the Quicksetter.

Story by Barney Cox