Ticket and label giant TMA Group has bought the catalogue and magazine division of independent heatset web printer Spotpress with aim of building it to a major second force in the market.

TMA’s print management business is understood to want to build a viable alternative to heatset giant Ive Group, which was formed from the merger of companies including Phil Taylor’s Franklin Web, for magazines, catalogues and other long run work.

Spotpress now has the only heatset web equipment outside Ive, with two Heidelberg presses at its Marrickville plant. The Goss coldset presses which print newspapers there are not part of the deal.

TMA Group executive chairman, Anthony Karam said his company would print for its clients and also the open market. “The acquisition of Spotpress provides greater opportunity to extend TMA’s print management capabilities,” he told Print21.

John and Dimitri Georgantzakos – who built the Spotpress business – are staying, along with current staff.

Pictured: Spotpress staff attracted attention when they took part in the Dance Boss TV show in 2018