The firm, to trade as Prometheus Trade Print from the beginning of next year, is the brainchild of ex-MCI Trade Print shareholder and director Julian Marsh.

Kent-based MCI Trade Print went into administrative receivership in January this year, after suffering from considerable bad debts.

Marsh, who will hold the position of managing director at Prometheus, said the litho print firm would handle everything from business cards to full-colour brochures, with the emphasis on quality and service.

He had decided to come back into the trade after a period out of the industry.

Several print contracts had already been signed with unnamed clients, Marsh said, and several more were in negotiation.

Two presses, a Heidelberg Speedmaster 74 six-colour perfector with coater, and a Speedmaster 52 six-colour perfector will be installed at its sites over Christmas.

Heidelberg Printready PDF workflow and a Topsetter P74 thermal platesetter will also be installed, along with a Tharstern MIS system, two Polar guillotines and a Stahl folder.

So far 12 staff have been recruited, including Brian Hemsley as general manager, who was previously with St Ives Multimedia and East Sussex Press.

Story by Andy Scott