The firm, which employs around 250 staff, is to commission a second 30-station Corona perfect binder, and a reconditioned 12-station SF perfect binder, in July. Their installation follows the commissioning of a high-speed Muller Martini Tempo saddle stitcher in February.

Artisan Press managing director Stephen Denbigh said that the investment was needed "to service our clients in long-term contracts for customers such as Argos."

A 20-station Normbinder perfect binding line will be decommissioned.

The investment has led Artisan to cut up to 19 jobs in its finishing department, which employs around 90 staff.

Denbigh said that the redundancies were due to the higher automation of the new bindery kit, but insisted: "We look after people."

Dave Roome, Leicester branch officer of Amicus GPMS, said that the firm had dealt with the redundancies fairly and had consulted with the union throughout the process.

"It's been done completely by the book. Obviously no-one likes losing their job, but the redundancy terms are well above the statutory minimum," said Roome.

Artisan's bindery spend follows major investment in recent years in its web firepower. A four-unit 48pp Heidelberg Sunday 4000 was installed in 2003, while two Heidelberg M600 presses came on-stream in 2000 and 2001.

Story by Josh Brooks