The purchase comes following the installation of a Mako II earlier this year and brings to an end a five-month investment programme.

Mick Bedford, sales manager of the £1.3m-turnover, Leeds-based company, said the business had chosen to invest in kit despite much of its competition having downsized.

"All this is within the context of increasing credit issues both with customers dragging out payment terms and reluctance of banks to fund," he said.

Bedford added that the purchases have meant that the company is effectively self-sufficient in terms of what it can offer customers under one roof.

"We are not reliant on third-party suppliers for services that ultimately slow down our reaction time to ever increasing customer demands," he said.

The new four-colour machine is already running at full capacity and, according to Bedford, the company may look to purchase another Halm press at the start of next year.

He added that the biggest challenge for 2010 would be a continued consolidation through managed growth.

"I am convinced that there are opportunities for success for a business model with low costs," he said.

In addition to the investment, the 10-staff company has also appointed Brian Sissons as repro manager. Sissons was previous employed as graphics manager at Great Northern Envelopes.

In June, Carousel Envelopes brought all of its pre-press work in-house following a £25,000 investment in equipment and a new mezzanine floor at the Leeds factory.

Carousel was founded in 2007 and was recently awarded FSC certification.