The press, a new addition to the firm’s plant list which was commissioned at its Leicester site in July, offers gloss spot or high build ‘emboss’ polymer finishes which can be used to enhance digital or litho print, with perfect registration.

The machine can produce 1,250 B2-plus size sheets an hour and can handle stock from 135 to 675gsm on thicknesses up to 700 microns.

The firm said it will now be able to offer a trade service with finishing options for digital printers and B2 litho printers who don’t have the required machinery in-house.

The trade service will see Celloglas offer the new gloss digital spot polymer, Spot 80, which is an option for short print runs where traditional screen varnish is uneconomic due to the makeready process and overs.

The finish, which Celloglas has beta tested, is also suitable for personalisation and can enhance a range of printed materials, including metallic substrates.

The firm will also offer Scodix’s standard high-build, high-definition ‘emboss’, which allows for multi-level varnish designs and personalisation in one pass, with a build as high as Braille if required.

Celloglas managing director Richard Gillgrass said: “We identified a gap in the rapidly expanding smaller run digital and litho print market for a superior ‘spot varnish’ finish.

“This is currently unavailable as a cost effective option as the traditional screen process and registration for digital print tends to be an issue.

“We have worked hard with Scodix to develop the right digital spot polymer to complement the spectacular high-build emboss polymer and can now offer both finishes to the wider market as a fast and convenient trade service. The digital technology also provides perfect precision, which is a great step forward.”

Marketing manager Jennifer Deacon added: “We’ll be launching the service properly in the next two weeks although we are running some jobs at the moment for customers we already have.”

Typical uses for the two finishes include business cards, tickets, short-run promotional print, greetings cards, menus, brochure covers and special edition packaging.

Celloglas has a turnover of around £11m and around 100 staff working at its three sites in Leicester, Leeds and Reading.

The business also operates a wide range of machinery that enables it to offer other finishing services including screen varnishing, lamination, foil blocking, high-speed coating and die-cutting.

Its customers include printers, brands, agencies, magazine publishers and print management companies.