The Manchester-based firm won the contract mainly due to its recent 600,000 investment in digital kit, including a NUR Blueboard and a Vutek 2360.

The equipment allows Cestrian to print 100m2 an hour, meaning it had no problem keeping to the jobs six-week time frame.

The firm used more than 15,000m of paper for the sign production. Operations director Phil Reynolds said the job was the tightest deadline and most challenging project Cestrian had faced.

It was all thanks to our 70 staff, who worked 12-hour shifts to ensure all the signs were printed and delivered to the exacting schedule set by the Commonwealth Games Signage Division, he added.

The majority of the signs were used outside to direct spectators to the 36 separate sports venues. And the remaining 6,000 were used inside buildings for visitor and competitor information and advice.

Cestrian also printed posters for the World Cup, including Britains biggest billboard. The Adidas poster featuring David Beckham used 60 litres of ink and measured 132x24m.

Story by Rachel Barnes