The Northern-Irish print company, formerly Nicholson & Bass, is launching six direct mail campaigns during 2012, targeting the arts and publishing sectors. The company is focusing on reinforcing its status in its existing markets, Scotland and Ireland.

Productivity and sales have increased 30% and 20% respectively since the company invested £1.5m in a 10-colour KBA press, folding machine and Palamides attachment last year and the company plans to invest in a further digital press in Q2 of this year.

The company has expanded its staffing over the past year, adding marketing manager Jan Todd to oversee the latest commercial collateral, as well as operations director, Brian Gillespie.

Gillespie offers 18 years of lean manufacturing practice within the print industry, a technique which the company said has enabled it to "compete in more demanding and price sensitive markets".

All staff are being upskilled to offer a multitude of disciplines within the trade and have been enrolled on Nicholson Bass’ three-year Business Improvement Training programme.

Nicholson Bass is also looking to external markets, targeting mainland UK with newly-recruited sales agents and wider reach of current staff.

Jan Todd said: "The recession has been the catalyst for change, but we are now in a much stronger position than we ever were. We are entering a new era with a fresh look as the company turns 75."

Managing director Jonathan McGarry added: "Digital design and the computer age have been blamed for negatively affecting print media; however, I feel it has only made it stronger.

"We have come a long way from our early days using letterpress but it is not the technology that makes us different – it is our people and the investment in skill and care. We adhere to the traditional values, which have been passed from my grandfather’s generation, but have a modern ethos that has allowed us to adapt to an ever-changing market."

Nicholson Bass says it is the only Irish printer to win 22 category awards over 21 years, including the Investor in People in 1999.