Family-owned Sil-Die moved to a new site in nearby Witham after the fire, believed to have been caused by a sanding machine, destroyed its 1,040sqm factory on Fullbridge Quay in Maldon.

Company directors Chris, James and Laurence Cook, and Andrew Reynolds, needed access to an imagesetter as they set about rebuilding the business, because film-based original images are still the most efficient way of creating dies.

Marlowe Graphics loaned Sil-Die a temporary machine until two refurbished ECRM Stingray 63 imagesetters with in-line film processor could be sourced. Both machines are driven by a StudioRIP front-end.

James Cook said: "It was certainly a tough time for us as a business, but with suppliers like Marlowe able to assist us with loan equipment, and then source a cost-effective final solution, we were able to re-establish the business."

Andy Hemmings, sales director at Marlowe Graphic Services, added: "We were delighted to be able to assist Sil-Die in providing a loan imagesetter unit just to get things started again while we sourced two Stingray machines for the company."

Sil-Die, which was founded in 1977, manufactures dies, duplicates and counterforces, in a variety of materials, for customers in the print and packaging industries.