Up to 60 jobs are thought to be at risk after directors of DRB Reprographics, which trades as SynRG, made preliminary moves to place the company into liquidation.


The Anton Group announced its merger with SynRG 18 months ago.


But, as PrintWeek went to press, Anton Group marketing director Jacqueline Bausch released a contradictory statement, saying: "There are shareholders within the Anton Group that made an investment into SynRG, but at no time were the companies merged. SynRG was, and remained, an independent business."


A spokesman for Begbies Traynor confirmed it had been asked by SynRG to deal with the company's affairs, but that it had not yet been formally appointed.


A source close to SynRG said that after Saturday night's shift, Anton Group drivers began to remove stock and printed work.
He added: "When the shift turned up on Monday [27 November] morning there were two security guys on the door. Staff were told they could only go in to empty their lockers."


PrintWeek's source said that an Agfa Galileo platesetter and ink and paper from the factory had been taken to the Anton Group in Hutton, near Brentwood.
He also said a Muller stitcher and a two-colour Heidelberg were in the process of being removed. Two leased Mitsubishi presses remain at the firm.


The source said that he believed the Anton Group owned the machinery, paper and consumables.


Anton Group chief executive John Knight, one of three directors common to both the Anton Group and SynRG, refused to comment.