The automated machine, bought from IFS, will work alongside Printworks’ Polar guillotine, which runs alongside a Presstek Dimension CTP system, a Xerox 2445, and a Horizon SPF/FC200A booklet production line, all bought since 2004.

The investment forms part of a plan to create a tailored approach to Falkirk Council’s workload, increase capacity and boost turnover.

A Xerox 700 digital press replaced the 2445 in 2008 to enable the company to deal more efficiently with short-run digital work.

Printworks manager John Watt said: "Our workload is a lot of short runs with some longer runs in between. With two guillotines, we are eliminating a major bottleneck. Now they can both be used efficiently on all work, be it long or short runs."

The in-house print plant has boosted turnover to in excess of £900,000 from £549,000 before the investment programme, £200,000 of which has been reinvested in council services since 2005. In addition, 95% of jobs are now produced in-house compared to 2004 when 50% were outsourced.

Printworks intends to explore wide-format and personalised mail opportunities to take advantage of public sector postal discounts, and has added a Canon 8800 and Presstek 52DI to venture into the market.

Watt said: "We tend to look at adding a new service for about six months, outsourcing what we can’t do. If it looks to be a longer term success, then we look at how we can bring it entirely in-house."

Printworks is entirely owned by Falkirk Council, creating all internal business stationery along with marketing leaflets and newsletters, and produces work for the public sector including the NHS and police and fire services.

Watt said: "The secret of our success is that we see ourselves as a commercial printing company that just happens to be owned by a council. We have changed to an organisation sat in the centre looking out from being on the outside looking in."