The Cumbria-based company also invested in a Screen PlateRite 4300E thermal CTP to replace its Presstek 52DI machine.

Jon Wallbank, managing director of £1m-turnover business, said: "Business is blooming and we needed to move to four-up production. The Ryobi 784E offers similar printing hardware to our previous Presstek DI, which is built around a Ryobi platform."

The six-minute makeready speeds of the Ryobi press were an important factor in the company's decision to buy the machine.

Wallbank said: "We have some large companies and some small, and we produce short-run, fast-turnaround work. There is a place for both digital and litho – some printers don't realise this.

"It is important for us to remain effective in the short-run, quick turnaround marketplace where we have carved our niche."

According to Wallbank, the Ryobi 784E compact B2 press has a small footprint and was manufactured to ISO 14001 standards, which he said sits well with the company's own environmental stance and ISO 14001 certification.

Absolute Digital Print has 12 staff and was founded in 2003. It also offers digital production to its customers through an HP Indigo press and other wide-format printing services.

The press and platemaker package was supplied by UK Ryobi distributor Apex Digital Graphics and the final sign-off on the equipment took place at Ipex last month.