The wide-format eight-colour printer has four print heads and can print up to 1,118mmx1,676mm and bespoke smaller sizes.

Peter Wise, director of the Bristol-based company, said the six-staff business knew the demand for large-format poster printing was there.

He said: "Demand is at such a level now, it's really grown in the past four years and we felt that now was the right time to make the investment. We waited until the demand made sense.

"We've seen through the recession that some companies have been growing too early, but with this investment will are hitting the ground running with a number of key clients."

Wise added that the investment would offer customers great quality, fast turnaround products, and that it was the first in a series of planned investments in the large-format sector.

"We are pretty competitve online, and we are winning more projects on price and on lead time."

In October last year, the £360,000 turnover company also invested £11,100 in a Morgana FSN2.

Minuteman Press produces leaflets, business stationery, flyers, graphic design and website design.