The seven-figure investment includes a Ferag six-section Unidrum rotary gatherer/stitcher, an SNT420 rotary trimmer, a RollSert inserting drum with RollStream precollector and six JetFeeder hoppers, plus two Segbert compensating stackers, as well as Affeldt wrapping and shrink tunnel equipment with a SmartStrap unit and Segbert palletiser.

According to Liverpool-based Prinovis the saddlestitching line, which is the fifth to be installed at the plant, is one of the "most sophisticated post-press lines in the country".

Installation of the machine is already under way and is expected to be completed by the end of this month. Testing of the machine will start in February, with full production planned for March.

Managing director Richard Gray said: "Our need for this machine was two-fold. We have won an increased amount of contracts over the last six to 12 months and much of that needs to be saddlestitched, while we are now starting to see better output from our presses.

"Our dependency on trade binders has been lessened, which removes a lot of the logistical issues connected with sending work out and, of course, increases the value of the work we produce."

The machine joins the UK’s first Ferag PolyStream polybagging line, which went into full production at the plant in October.