The 27-staff business has invested in a Konica Minolta bizhub Pro 6501e and an Autobond Mini 52 laminating line in a bid to broaden its client range and to provide existing customers with additional services.

ABC's digital facility was officially opened at the end of January at an open day attended by the Countess of Darnley, the Mayor of Hereford and George Clarke, managing director of Heidelberg UK, along with ABC Print directors including managing director Mike Greene.

According to Glenn Walker, head of sales at ABC Print, the company had been analysing the digital print market for 12 months before taking the plunge.

He said: "As we already have a Heidelberg Anicolor, we took our time to make the decision as our digital demands were different to most.

"We can handle jobs from around 150 copies upwards so we needed a machine that would cater for runs even shorter than that."

The Konica Minolta has allowed the printer to diversify into personalisation, although Walker expects the demand to increase with time as the company informs potential clients of its variable data offering.

"We've noticed a considerable take-up of digital print from existing and new clients alike, and it has truly exceeded our expectations. We're now producing work for more end users now, often short-run multiple page booklets," he said.

In addition to the bizhub Pro digital press, ABC has installed an Autobond Mini 52 laminating line that can handle digitally printed stock, as well as finishing offset-printed work.

"If things continue in this vein, we will look to invest further in both equipment and staff later in the year. We now have a full complement of services and digital is definitely a growth area for us," he said.