The Guildford-based company spent £11,000 on a large-format Fastbind Casematic H46Pro hard case binder, an Elite XT perfect binder, a Matrix Duo 650 single sided laminator and a GBC 4500 pouch laminator.

Careprint's purchase was the result of an enquiry from one of its largest customers for tribute books and folders.

Managing director Nick Winford said: "The Casematic offers modern technology, making it ideal for short run and one-off folders. With a relatively modest investment, we have been able to fulfill our customers' orders in-house and at short-notice.

"The emphasis now is to build on our digital print operation with added value applications for our customer base. 

"We were asked whether we could supply samples of tribute folders for loved ones to keep the floral tributes, service sheets and suchlike in a matching presentation box. We didn’t have the equipment in-house to produce the folders, leaving us too reliant on contracting out, with the inherent worries about timings."

Winford set the company up 20-years ago when, as a church organist, he realised that there was a niche market for supplying service sheets when he played at funerals.

Since then, the company has developed a client base of more than 350 funeral directors.

"It is not something that many printers want to do, because you need to be geared up to take on this type of work," said Winford.

"Turnaround is very tight, because it’s often the last thing that families think about when a loved one has died. It is not unusual for us to be given the job 48 hours before the funeral, which has to be delivered within 24 hours.

"Client expectations have broadened significantly over the past 20 years, from a simple cross to a full colour booklet. We are now looking at other ideas, which we can offer to other customers in the knowledge that we can grow this new area of our business."