The GUK FA43 comes equipped with a water-scoring system, making the Bradford-based company the first in the UK to have such a product.

Alpha's purchase follows hot on the heels of a new Heidelberg press. Both machines will be used to print and finish Z-Cards as part of the company's contract, which is estimated to be worth £25m.

Managing director Ian Whitfield said: "We are always looking to invest in equipment that will make our business more efficient and more productive.

"Our technical evaluation suggested that the GUK would increase our folding output, and drive the unit cost down."

Having tested the machine, Alpha has said that it was able to produce 8,000 copies per hour on the FA43, running the machine at just 60% capacity.

According to Alpha, the water-scoring system offers "substantial productivity and quality improvements" for complex folds, allowing the company to handle new kinds of work previously out of its reach.

Gary Fagan, production director at Alpha, added: "The water-scoring system means that we get sharp, flat folds on even the most complex piece of work. That is important to us because of the high volumes of complex Z-Cards that we produce.

"Currently we have to leave Z-Cards 24-hours to relax after the folding process – this makes them easier to handle during the final binding process. With the GUK we can save all of that time, potentially reducing our delivery times by a full day."

Alpha Media Solutions' finishing equipment includes die-cutting, high-speed folding and gluing, window patching, saddle-stitching, miniature folding, guillotining and personalisation.