The Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire-based company is using the new digital machine to handle jobs such as leaflets, flyers and folders ordered through its online web-to-print system.

The Konica Minolta machine joins a pair of Heidelberg Speedmasters and allows Azimuth to broaden the run lengths its can produce from a single copy upwards.

Managing director Tony Edmonds said the current climate represented the perfect opportunity to invest in capital equipment.

He said: "The bizhub Pro will handle all the jobs we've been running on our litho kit but in shorter runs from one up to 250.

"With the state of the economy, the cost was brilliant and the market demand was there for us to make the investment."

The new arrival coincides with the launch of a new company, Azimuth Creative Design, which Edmonds said will bolster the printer's variable data offering.

Customers can order personalised documents direct from the company's website with certain jobs delivered the same day.

"Our latest graphic design and variable data print services provides customers with a one-stop-shop for all their marketing communication needs," he added.

Azimuth Print was established in 1989. It employs 20 staff and has a turnover of £1.6m. Last year, it ordered its second Heidelberg Speedmaster.

The newly created business, Azimuth Creative Design will see an extra two staff brought on board.