The five-colour machine replaces an existing Heidelberg CD 102 press at the Derbyshire packaging printer, which is run by husband and wife team Brian and Jacky Sidebottom.

The new press, which was up-and-running in April, has enabled the 35-staff business to achieve print speeds of around 14,500sph, nearly double the previous 7,500sph rate of its older press.

In addition to doubling the company's capacity, the Mitsubishi machine, which was specified with UV coater and drying, has also cut the makeready time on the printer's jobs.

According to Brian Sidebottom, managing director of the company, the press is achieving impressive speeds on long runs down to smaller jobs of around 800 sheets.

"We have the mentality that no job is too small so the Mitsubishi is ideal for us. We're pushing the boat out with this latest investment but we're busy all the time," he said.

The printer has also benefited from the ability to print on a wide range of stock thicknesses from 0.2mm – 0.8mm, primarily on carton board.

Sidebottom said: "We want to go onwards and upwards. We knew investing was the right decision because you simply can't stand still but instead must go forward."

Now in its 28th year, Glossop Cartons counts a wide spread of clients among its customer base including blue chip companies across the UK.

Patrick Brennan, sales and marketing manager at Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses UK, said: "This is an excellent success story clearly shown by Glossop making such a major investment in a very difficult market."