Victory Lighting has 25 staff in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, and makes £5m turnover from infrared and UV lamps for kit including offset litho presses and wide-format digital machines.

Three-staff Blue UV, in Wokingham, Berkshire, has a turnover of around £150,000. The takeover was finalised in March and the two companies will keep their identities for at least 18 months.

Victory managing director Alan Penman said: “We approached Blue UV and were keen for a UK manufacturing base. We used to have one but economies forced us to use one in the Far East.

“But there is now demand for UK-manufactured products with short lead times and without the need to ship 6,000 miles, throwing up all the associated logistical problems.

“The deal means we can have equipment made and shipped out within a few days, and there's a premium for that kind of service. We'll use this to develop more manufacturing.”

Penman said Blue UV was a long-established company in need of investment in more modern equipment and staff to increase capacity and sales.

Exports account for 60% of Victory Lighting sales. Penman said the firm works with third-party retrofit suppliers and will target smaller OEMs.

“I want £500,000 of sales within 18 months and to work with some of the smaller OEMs. We won't focus on the Heidelbergs or Heidelberg suppliers market; we need to cut our cloth accordingly.”

Penman added: “We’ve established a strong reputation in the UV lamp market and with manufacturing in the UK as well as the Far East, we are building on that.

“It means our print customers can expect a much faster response, especially with urgent orders. Nobody wants machines lying idle, waiting for replacement parts.”

Blue UV co-founder Mike Piercy said: “Victory’s international sales and marketing resources, combined with our technical facilities, will mean the printing industry is now served by a business that can respond quickly with high-quality products.”