EXPANSION plans at a York company are expected to bring 15 new jobs to the city.

Design and print company Maxiprint, based at Kettlestring Lane, in Clifton Moor, is hoping a new state-of-the-art machine will more than double its annual turnover from £2.4 million to £5 million in the next 18 months.

The firm also plans to increase its workforce from 45 to 60 within the next year.

Maxiprint was bought out by PDQ, which had two bases in York, last May. Since then, £1.3 million has been invested in the firm to boost production, including buying York's only mini web press, a high-tech machine which can handle printing runs of up to one million.

The company now plans to relaunch itself with a new image and a different name. The name, which is currently top secret, will be unveiled on Thursday.

Managing director Nick Ivel said there were plans to move the existing machinery from Clifton Moor to the company's site in Avenue Road, Clifton, and dedicating the Kettlestring Lane site to the mini web press, which will deal with large orders.

The company had intended to close the Avenue Road site along with its other base in Compton Street. But after receiving £800,000 worth of orders for the mini web press, which will be up and running in ten weeks, the firm has reviewed the situation.

There are now plans to move the photography suite from Compton Street and build a new purpose-built photography suite in Avenue Road.

Maxiprint has already experienced a massive expansion. In January 2001, the firm had 4,000 sq ft in York, now it takes up 17,000 sq ft.

Mr Ivel said: "The printing industry is one of the toughest industries around, but we are a success story because we have invested in the future."

Director Darren Avey said that all staff at the company would be given the option to be trained on bigger machines, which would effectively see all staff being promoted.

"We are moving everyone up on to the next machine and training everyone. It's a costly and difficult task for us but from the employees' point of view it is better," he said.

"They will get trained and a better salary and the new people we bring in will come in at the bottom end of the company."

Updated: 11:30 Monday, March 08, 2004