"Since we installed the first FB7600 last March we have been much more competitive and it has opened up new doors for us, both with new clients and new work from existing ones," said managing director Will Skelchy.

"It gives us greater flexibility and has allowed us to shift a lot of short run work from litho to digital reducing the expense of platemaking and makeready waste sheets."

The 75-staff firm claims sales have risen by 40% on the back of the investment in digital printing, although Skelchy declined to provide the turnover.

Skelchy was impressed with the range of substrates that the FB7600 can handle including carpet, glass and rubber flooring.

The flatbeds have also enabled the firm to offer an improved prototyping service for all jobs whether produced digitally or for longer runs produced on its litho and screen process presses.

In total the firm has spent £1.5m in the past year on the two presses, its first digital flatbeds, and it has also invested in a Tharstern MIS.

Skelchy said that the firm differentiated itself with a focus on fulfilment and logistics, in particular ensuring the products it printed were securely packaged and delivered in a usable state in store.

"A lot of our rivals don’t value packaging and distribution," he said. "But there’s no point printing a great job if you wrap it up like fish & chips and it’s destroyed before it gets to be used."