Tecnograv has entered into a technical and marketing alliance with Belgian pre-press group De Schutter.


The partnership will allow the firms to offer a pan-European service to packaging firms. Both firms handle artwork creation, pre-press, cylinder engraving and digital platemaking.


Tecnograv has four sites in the UK and De Schutter operates from two sites in Belgium, one in Holland, one in Denmark and one in Thailand.


Tecnograv technical director Lister Cumming will head a joint technical team, while gravure sales and marketing director Barry Griffiths will work on standards.


"We have had dealings with De Schutter for a long time," said Tecnograv sales director David Ettie. "They are people we can work with."


The firms will remain commercially and financially independent.


Tecnograv is on course for 12m turnover this year, while De Schutter has sales of around 15m (E25m). "It is not far removed from our state of play," said Ettie. "It's a marriage of equals."


The firms will work together on a digital asset management system, including image archiving and workflows.


Ettie said they also had a "common link" with a US company. "We are in the throes of talking with them. If we could roll it out to a true global relationship that would add to our major client potential."


Story by Gordon Carson