Service Business Forms has produced its 60 millionth piece of direct mail after three years operating in the dm sector.

The company added a 300m2 extension to its 2,500m2 factory in October 1998. The building houses IBM 4000 hot fusion lasering equipment and a Nipson 7000 cold fusion line, plus MB folder units. Total investment was 750,000.

"This means we can laser awkward jobs incorporating mounted cards, label materials, plastics and vinyls, and even lightweight NCR papers," said managing director Rod Trow.

The firm works purely for the trade, including print brokers and direct mail specialists. End users include charities, national newspapers and hotel groups. It is also accredited under the Data Protection Act.

The firm continues to operate in the business forms market. It employs 40 service staff and has a turnover of 2.5m.

Marketing executive Natalia Fisun said staff skills had been "easily re-applied" for direct mail: "Everybody in the company can be involved in direct mail based on the specifics of the job."

She said direct mail volumes were increasing and that future growth would come from small and medium-sized companies.

Story by Gordon Carson