The Kent-based label printer installed the seven-colour SurePress L-4033AW last week, alongside the six-colour SurePress L-4033A the company bought in 2012.

In addition to the seventh colour – a white ink for printing on clear film and metallic substrates – Superfast has opted for a full variable data Esko RIP to enable it to print short-run numbered labels in a single pass.

Managing director Andrew Miller said: "Previously we would have printed and die-cut the labels and then run them back through a thermal transfer printer to add the variable numbers, whereas now we can do it all on the one press.

"We're trying to move away from thermal transfer printing because while it's perfectly fine, it's not the most cost-effective way of doing things because it's a second process, which makes it more time-consuming."

He added: "Being able to print on a whole variety of substrates with no material pre-coating or varnish required during finishing combined with the amazing colour consistency and simplicity of use makes this a first-class buy."

The £280,000 spend is also set to include a second semi-rotary die-cutter, to sit alongside the firm's existing GM DC330 mini and Eclipse LF-350 digital label cutter; Miller said he was in the process of finalising the finishing investment with a view to expanding Superfast's short-run cutting capacity.

"With two digital presses you need one-and-a-half die-cutters, so we're looking to add a second as soon as possible," he added.

The result comes on the back of 12 consecutive months of growth that is expected to result in annual turnover rising 10% to around £1.5m in its current financial year (to end March 2015).

Miller said: "We're slowly swapping our flexo presses for digital – we sold a Nilpeter 2400 before installing the second SurePress and we've reorganised the whole factory to move the die-cutting station alongside the two digital presses."