The Merseyside-based company, which was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident in January 2009, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for failing to ensure the safety of workers. It was ordered to pay £12,549 towards the cost of the prosecution in addition to the fine.

The court heard that worker Cheryl Bridge was cleaning the machine while it was still in operation when the cloth became caught between the rollers and her hand was pulled in as she tried to retrieve it. Bridge suffered serious injuries to her right hand which resulted in her little finger being cut off, and her first and third fingers being severed below the second joint. A guard designed to fit between the rollers was not used and was left hanging down the side of the machine.

The HSE investigation found that the rollers were nearly always cleaned while the machine was still operating at full speed, rather than being stopped in stages, and that a spatula should have been used to remove dust and ink spots from the rollers rather than a cloth.

John McGrellis, HSE principal inspector, said: "The risk of fingers, hair or clothes being pulled in between rollers is well known in the manufacturing industry so it's vital that firms take the proper safety precautions."

Emboss (Europe) was not available for comment.