The machine, launched at Drupa 2012 and installed at the book printer’s Croydon facility last month, applies varnish digitally using inkjet with varying levels.

The varnish can be adjusted in depth across the sheet creating a 3D embossed effect, and opens up opportunities in packaging and POS, book jacket printing, promotional print and brochures.

Additionally as part of the investment the book printer is to invest in a new high speed B1 litho press at its Croydon site to add to its existing suite. Further details of the new press, which is to be commissioned later this year, were not confirmed although CPI is currently an all-Heidelberg house.

Announcing the plans last night CPI UK group sales director Alison Kaye said: "We are combining the expertise of our people with the very latest press technology so we can keep pushing the boundaries, so we can stay at the forefront of lithographic printing."

Kaye stressed that although print remained at the core of the business, the company's "overarching strategy" was to support clients through the entire supply chain from content creation to consumer delivery.

As such, as part of the £20m plan, the company intends to develop its existing digital media capability such as content-rich app delivery and its management information system, CPI Highway, with digital asset management functionality.

Kaye added: "Investing in our growing IT resource is vital so that we can engage electronically with our clients via EDI and XML workflows to drive efficiencies, improve workflow and help reduce administrative costs."

The latest investment strategy follows the completion last year of a £22m, three-year spending strategy in its UK businesses that included the installation of its first UK-based HP T350 "Quantum" colour inkjet webpress for short run colour books and catalogues.

The company also installed two HP Indigos in Croydon along with a raft of digital finishing equipment, following the relocation of its Bookmarque paperback manufacturing operation to Mackays in Chatham, Kent.

The latest round of spending comes on the back of the year-long restructuring and consolidation of CPI UK’s commercial printing operation in Croydon.

It saw the consolidation of four separate operating businesses – Fulmar Colour, Royle Print, Quadracolour and Pegasus – into one and rebranded as CPI Colour.

The business now employs 130 of the 900-strong workforce that make up CPI UK.