Steven Law of Baker Tilly has been appointed as the company’s administrator, on the instructions of chairman Simon Fox.

Fox announced that he was planning an orderly administration process at the beginning of the month, and the £8m-turnover, 50-employee firm ceased printing last week.

“The administration process has been very well handled, and I now fully expect Sanderson Weatherall to be appointed to auction off all the equipment for the benefit of creditors,” Fox stated.

He said that three companies had contacted him about potentially leasing the Witham web offset site and its equipment, but none of the approaches had come to fruition.

Fox also said there was interest in the firm’s newest web press, a 10-year-old 48pp KBA Compacta C618, “from inside and outside the European Union”.

All the equipment is likely to be sold off by the year-end at which point the factory will be re-let.

Fox has received a number of messages of support since news of the impending closure became public. “I have had some very kind comments from people in the industry, and I am extremely grateful for all the messages,” he added.