"The Talisman move is a vital part of the foundations required for DSI Group's planned growth in the next five years," said DSI managing director Andy Young.

DSI shareholders bought the outstanding 55% stake in 10m turnover Talisman from its managing director Dave Reynolds in exchange for DSI shares.

The deal also means that ownership of DSI Digital, in which Reynolds had a 25% stake, and his 50% stake in 4.5m turnover Limehouse-based B1 printer The Colour Works (TCW) moves to DSI. The firm has no plans at present to buy the remaining stake in TCW.

DSI has been at the forefront of high-end digital printing and personalisation, and the move is part of the firm's ambitious plans for growth. This includes moving both the Talisman and DSI operations onto one 13,000sqm site. Negotiations on purchasing an "ear-marked" site in Rainham, Essex, where both firms are based, are underway.

"Given the level of expenditure on the new site, we will present a far stronger picture as a united front, making it far easier to deal with the bodies involved in purchasing that amount of land, and the banks," said Reynolds, who will remain managing director of re-branded DSI Talisman with a place on the main group's board.

The group's purpose-built factory should come on stream in December 2006.

Story by Darryl Danielli