The Derby-based company has recently turned its hand to UV for the first time for a customer in South Africa, producing a bespoke, dual-purpose machine that can laminate film and UV roller coater.

Managing director John Gilmore said he would not be surprised if Autobond were making predominantly UV-based machines in a year's time.

Gilmore intends to fit the UV machines with LED lamps, which he says use 80% less power.

He said: "You can get completely biodegradable UV, and everybody is talking about going green. Now I don't know if the government will ban plastic laminates or the companies themselves will ban it, but people are looking for a more environmentally friendly alternative.

"A material that is completely biodegradable and a machine that uses a lot less power ticks a lot of boxes. I wouldn't be surprised if in a year's time we were manufacturing a lot of these machines."

Gilmore also said that the machine heading off to South Africa will appeal to a lot of companies because it can run at speeds of up to 10,000 sheets per hour and has a small footprint.

Gilmore added that two English companies were coming to see the dual purpose machine before it was sent to South Africa on 14 August.

He added: "We have a great feeder, a great stacker and our machines are well built. We don't really mind what we put in the middle."