Duplo International and Friedheim International have announced a new strategic print finishing alliance. Launched as 'The Finishing Alliance', the partnership is aimed at making 'all-in-one post-press solutions' more accessible for UK print businesses, with an emphasis on making the buying experience smoother and more convenient for end-users.

The agreement will see Duplo and Friedheim's portfolio of finishing products available from both companies, either as individual sales or as total 'package' solutions involving products from both suppliers. The alliance will broaden both company's market-reach and will initially be concentrating on digital print companies.

"We have been working with Freidheim over the years and we have natural synergy with our products and business ethos, so the decision to form an alliance was a simple one. Customers want the purchasing process to be as simple as possible. To combine multiple products on one finance package and purchase from a single source, can make the investment in plant machinery simpler and quicker, which is crucial when time is so sensitive." said Robin Greenhalgh, Chairman Duplo International.

"Digital print is all about on-demand, there is no point in investing in a top of the range digital print engine if you are then going to send your work out to be finished, the value to the customer will be totally lost. With this partnership we can ensure that we can offer tailored solutions that give printers the best chance of making a quick return on the investment they make."

Both companies have announced positive feedback from print vendors regarding this new announcement.

Peter Morris, Chairman Friedheim International comments "All that our vendor partners want is to be able to rely on us as finishing specialists to offer expert advice to them so they can offer their customers a total and bespoke solution that is right for them. Now that we are working hand in hand with Duplo it means that we can be more responsive and proactive and offer them more. This partnership just makes their and their customers' lives easier."

The company's are already working on enquiries involving both product ranges, Morris continues "We are already speaking to UK printers interested in particular at the combination of our Hunkeler roll to stack device coupled with Duplo's new PUR perfect binder. The conversations between customer and supplier are so much easier when there is a single source for all finishing."

Greenhalgh concludes "Our purpose is clear, make the customers life easier and jointly help printers find their way out of the current financial predicament by adding value to their bindery and saving unnecessary outsourced finishing costs".

For more information regarding the alliance contact pjolly@duplointernational.com and pmorris@friedheim.co.uk.