David Collins, managing director and Terry Brady, chairman of the London-based printer, signed for the press on Kodak's stand, with Collins calling the decision a "key move" for the business.

He added: "This was a carefully thought-out move for the future of our company.

"There are huge commercial opportunities in the digital printing sector. Once we had made the decision, the Kodak Nexpress was the obvious choice."

The87-staffbusinesswillusethe new press, which will be delivered straight from Kodak's stand (9/ E320), to help it to move into variable-data work for applications such as personalised mailings.

According to Collins, it was the right time to move into the digital print sector with a technology that will play a big part in the future of the £10m turnover company.

He said: "We anticipate that in the future, all print will be personalised. In the magazine market, for example, there is demand for short runs with different covers.

"Our direct mail business is also witnessing demand for shorter runs of top-quality, highly targeted mailings."

Alito also runs three KBA105 B1 presses, printing in excess of 5m sheets per week.