The digital press will allow the firm to offer print-on-demand work in full colour. Paul Costello, sales and marketing director at 4edge, said: "The quality of the C7000VP is fantastic and will allow us to produce cost-effective backlist reprints."

In addition to the C7000VP, the company has purchased an iR125VP and an ImagePress C1 colour-proofing device. The 250,000 spend is intended to boost output. The firm estimates the iR125VP will raise capacity by 60%. The C1 will be installed at one of 4edge's clients, cutting proofing times to a couple of minutes.

Costello added: "As well as increasing capacity, the new Canon kit will give us the opportunity to enter new markets. Training manuals is one area that we feel we could use our existing expertise."

Further capacity increases are expected in six to 12 months' time, when the company plans to install a reelfed digital press. Costello said: "Web will give us the opportunity to compete on long-run work.

"Existing clients are starting to push more work our way and we've also won quite a few contracts with multi-national publishers. The 4edge deal was one of the 15 sales of C7000VPs that Canon secured at Ipex.