An award-winning businessman whose company pioneered developments in security printing has died while on holiday.

Alan Ouzman, 68, spent 60 years living and working in Eastbourne.

He died peacefully in his sleep on June 6 in Portugal.

Born in Bexley, Kent, Mr Ouzman trained as an engineer and became involved with innovations in the printing world, helping to develop sophisticated machinery.

He helped set up Smith and Ouzman Limited, the independent security and commercial printing company in Brampton Road, which currently employs 100.

The company is now one of the main printing companies in Sussex and has the facilities to print cheques and gift vouchers as well as a variety of work, including election leaflets.

Through his guidance the company pursued a shift in traditional printing methods to more advanced approaches.

Ever since the transition from hot metal, Smith and Ouzman has remained at the forefront of technology.

The print industry benefited from Mr Ouzman's inventions. Some of his most notable achievements include helping to pioneer the use of security watermarking.

He pioneered magnetic tape applications and holograms in printing, similar to the processes now used on credit cards.

This technology has been rapidly and successfully received by markets as far as the Caribbean, Balkans, Middle East and more than 20 countries in Africa.

Mr Ouzman's work in steering Smith and Ouzman to the vanguard of security printing technology, earned the company a royal visit from Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, in 2004.

The company won a Queen's Awards for Enterprise for its work in promoting international trade in 2000 and 2005.

Mr Ouzman retired as joint managing director in 2001 but continued as company chairman.

He was a former committee member of Intergraf, organisers of the high security printing conference, and was for a time involved with Eastbourne Rotary Club.

He leaves a wife, Therese, son Philippe and daughter Nicole, and his mother, Win.

Chris Smith, managing director of Smith and Ouzman, said: "Alan was a pioneer, responsible for many inspired business ideas, but he was also a terrific friend. He will always be dearly remembered as a man of integrity and good nature."

The funeral will be at Eastbourne Crematorium's main chapel, Langney, on Monday at 11.30am.