The new machine's higher image quality, heavier stock handling and spot colour option made the decision a "no brainer" according to managing director Lawrence Dalton.

It will replace the firm's B2 Xeikon DCP 50 D, which it installed in December 2000 as a stopgap until Indigo could deliver the two XB2 B2 machines it ordered at that year's Drupa. Delivery of the 5000 is expected to be in June.

"The quality is significantly better [than the 50]," said Dalton. "And there are two other reasons. The board weight is really impressive, it can handle 400micron, which is heavier than we can run on our Indigos and it can do spot colour. It's not as user friendly as on the Indigo but we have clients who could use corporate colours on the larger format."

New applications opened up by the press include short run test marketing of packaging materials. Dalton said he still considered 1st Byte to be an Indigo house following the decision to upgrade the Xeikon, despite having waited four years for the firm to deliver a B2 machine.

The XB2s, now renamed the HP Indigo b7000, were due to be installed in 2002, but the machine is still not ready and won't even be shown at this year's Drupa.

At the end of last year Dalton said he thought the market was "ready for a good B2 digital press". "I'm not unhappy with the Xeikon, but ideally I'd much rather have an Indigo," he said. At the time HP Indigo said it was planning to show the b7000 at Drupa, a statement it later withdrew.

Story by Barney Cox