The Glasgow-based printer, which specialises in business, educational, technical, scientific and medical publication printing, has bought a Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52 Anicolor with four-colour units and a coater.

Managing director Ian Walker said: "Anicolor can handle any of the short-run work we need to produce and we like the quick makeready and very small number of waste sheets it produces, combined with its 15,000sph speed.

"We did look at digital but having one machine that can handle everything is a big advantage."

Although the company has an existing platesetter for its other presses, at up to very large format, a Heidelberg Suprasetter 52 has also been installed to give a dedicated and focused supply of plates to the Anicolor.

Walker added: "We have books and journals that have to have a consistent colour and look, and for that the Anicolor is ideal. It's a very efficient piece of kit; we will get a return on investment within three years with this machine."

Coating was another important feature for the company because most of its work goes out for laminating and turnaround times dictate that work must be ready for finishing immediately.

The company is equipped up to very large-format press sizes. The new B3 press replaces an ageing B2 press and is producing in one shift what the previous press was producing in three, according to Walker.

In 2004 Bell & Bain installed Europe's first Sigma book finishing line from Muller Martini, which it runs alongside a digital press.