He called on manufacturers to appoint dealers that could combine scale with strong electronics sales, after a week when Graphics & Offset Plates (GOP) UK fell into administrative receivership and doubts were expressed over the trading status of fellow dealer Wavetown.

GOPs woes came after it lost the UK deal to supply Pressteks Dimension platesetters to AB Dick. KPMG was appointed to the Castle Donington-based firm on 2 October and has made 17 of its 28 staff redundant, but will trade the business as normal while seeking a buyer.

GOP UKs last filed accounts, to 31 March 2000, showed a pre-tax loss of 8,358, but sales were not disclosed.

Phones at Wavetowns Bristol office were going unanswered this week.