The decision to purchase followed a site visit by UK printers to Adesa Labels in France last November.

Amberley specialises in the toiletries and cosmetics sector, numbering Boots, Debenhams and Este Lauder as customers.

It anticipates that 10% of its annual 4.2m turnover will come via the ws4000 during the next year. A single shift will be in operation by the end of August.

Were not pushing it with our customers until we really understand its strong points, said managing director Trevor Smith.

The total cost of the installation, including an offline DigiCom finishing system, was around 500,000.

The firm has taken on extra staff to replace two existing personnel who have been redeployed to man the new facility.

According to HP Indigo European sales manager Tim Carter, the UK is still lagging behind other countries in adopting the ws4000. During the third quarter, four installations have been completed in Germany and France, with another seven going to the US.

Story by Des King