The firm, which runs an array of large format digital and litho print equipment, including Roland XXL and Heidelberg eight-colour B1 presses, has invested around £2.3m in the past year.

Included in the spend are two new large format flatbeds, the HP Scitex FB10000 installed this month (January) and an HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press that was installed in April 2013, which complement the firm's existing Inca Onset S20 (purchased in 2010).

On the finishing front SPS has installed two new guillotines - a Polar and a Guowang - as well as a Lamina FA Blackline fully-automatic sheet laminator, which was installed around the middle of last year, and the new Redline RL2100 semi-automatic.

SPS Group managing director James Martin said of the flatbed die-cutter, which can handle sheets up to 1,500x2,120mm at 2,600sph, that it was "the next logical step after large format litho print and automated mounting".

The firm has also recently installed a Xerox iGen 150 V2, which it took delivery of just before Christmas, and taken out one of its two Thieme two-colour screen presses, while retaining the other for "some spot colour and UV varnish work" and for printing the white back-up required for window graphics.

Martin said: "We're tracking about 35% sales growth at the moment, which is why we're having to make the investment to keep up with that demand."

SPS's clients include L'Oreal, Specsavers, Tesco, Vodafone and Wickes.

The firm's Redline RL2100 was installed by Preston-based distributor Diecut UK, which said it was its 19th installation of the machine in the past three years.

"This installation is particularly welcome as I have been talking to the SPS Group for many years now so it is nice to see the machine in full production in their factory," said Diecut UK managing director Steve Waterhouse.