Web offset

Polestar has boosted its contractual business in France with a new contract win from Groupe Marie Claire.

York Mailing has appointed a new group finance director.

Chris Cowley has joined York Mailing as sales director at the group’s York site.

Polestar chief operating officer Peter Andreou has been in the States this week to review progress on the construction of the first tranche of its new web presses from Goss International.

Polestar has filed its first set of results since acquiring BGP and Stones, and chief executive Barry Hibbert has further joint ventures and acquisitions in his sights for this year.

The trading status of The Website (Leeds) is unclear, with speculation that a pre-pack of the business is imminent.

The Website Leeds is gearing up for growth and has strengthened its team with four new employees joining from the former St Ives Direct Bradford business.

Goss International has confirmed it is to cut its Lancashire-based UK workforce by 50% as part of its ongoing global restructure.

Heidelberg has announced it will phase out production of its Printmaster GTO 52 from March 2014 as it "realigns its small format-product portfolio".

Following its profit warning issued at the beginning of the month, the German press manufacturer has posted a pre tax loss of €16.3m for the first nine months of 2013 on revenues of €729.9m.

Speculation is mounting that York Mailing is close to confirming its first acquisition since securing 10m in new funding last month.

Bullish Polestar boss Barry Hibbert has urged the group's customers to continue to invest in "the golden nugget of printing".