The XL 106 can run up 18,000 sheets an hour, features a coating system and also Prinect Inpress Control, which uses an internal spectrophotometer for automatic color control during each run.

In an interview with PrintWeek, Hopkins Printing chief executive Jim Hopkins, said: "We already have a Speedmaster for longer run work but hope to use this new press to increase our efficiencies in makeready.

"Like many people we are trying to get leaner and more cost effective, and we think this this will enable us to be more efficient on our short run work and also back up our other press."

Hopkins said his firm does a variety of printing work, including direct mail and some brochures. "Right now about 30% of what we print goes into the mail stream," he added, noting Hopkins serves healthcare, insurance and retail clients.

"Right now we are mostly in Columbus but we have talked about maybe becoming more of a regional printer by buying a small printer outside of our area," Hopkins said, noting the company has Konica Minolta black & white and color equipment for digital work.

As for the how the company has weathered the economic recession, Hopkins said: "We took a beating in 2009 - just like everybody - else but we’ve grown back our business to the point to where our sales are now about at their 2008 levels. We’re not sure about 2013 but we believe that only the good are going to survive and we hope to be one of them."