As a result of the move, some functions that were previously site-based have been taken over by central operations.

"We are automating processes and reducing management headcount and indirect headcount," explained chief executive Barry Hibbert. "Mar­­gins are very tough and we have to continually find ways of being leaner and fitter."

Local management changes at the £346m group involve the departure of Chromo­works managing director Peter Greaves, who has left the business.

His role has been taken over by Steve Mears, who previously ran Colchester. Chantry's Jim Algar has returned to Colchester after a gap of six years, and is replaced at the Wakefield plant by David Lightfoot, who has rejoined the group after a period at Garnett Dickinson.

In gravure, Andy Rey­noldson has become managing director of both Varnicoat and Sheffield, with Phil Boynes, formerly managing director at Varnicoat, taking on an over-arching role for web offset.

"We've changed the structure of gravure and offset into single businesses, rather than single sites," Hibbert added.

Since the end of last year, Polestar has also been taking a more co-ordinated approach to sales, with the appointment of Jon Hearnden as group sales director.

Hearnden was previously sales director for retail and commercial, but his role now covers newspaper and magazine teams.

"The cross-selling opportunities across the group are huge, and the team is empowered to sell that now," Hearnden said.