The XL 106 perfector arrived at the Scottish plant at the end of last year and has taken over three months to commission. It is expected to be running at full production in April and is currently going through its final stages of testing.

The 17 units include 10 printing towers, three coaters and four drying units. The coating towers are installed both before and after the printing and perfecting section to enable Chesapeake to apply matt, gloss and pearlescent finishes both inside and outside packaging.

Chesapeake marketing manager Bob Houghton said that the press had been chosen for the East Kilbride plant due to its primary work being for the alcoholic drinks and confectionary market.

He said: "East Kilbride produces really premium, top-end work and this press will make sure that those cartons truly stand out on the shelves."

He added that the XL 106 complemented the arsenal of flexographic presses in place at East Kilbride, ensuring that the facility was offering customers the "most advanced production routes".

Chesapeake branded packaging vice president Tim Whitfield added: "This significant investment will bring a number of processes inline, providing greater quality control.

"We will be able to provide multiple colour applications, foiling and an even greater range of finishes, including metallics, spot and solid applications for some of the world’s most prestigious brands."

The press is part of a long-term international upgrade plan at Chesapeake, which Houghton said had run into "tens of millions" of pounds worth of investment over the past three years.

Further investment included June 2011’s arrival of the UK’s first Heidelberg VLF packaging press - the XL 145 - at East Kilbride’s sister plant in Newcastle, a year after the plant installed an XL 105, and Europe's first Komori GLX 740RP as Chesapeake's Limerick plant.

Houghton added that the investment programme would continue into 2013 at the same level as previous years with a number of upcoming upgrades across Chesapeake’s numerous global locations.

Heidelberg  UK sales director Jim Todd said that Chesapeake’s XL 106 was a "huge step forward in technology".