The machine can be fixed to presses to perforate, crease and cut inline at full press speed.

Technical sales manager Howard Mead said that after 27 recent installations he was unsure which client would be the 100th buyer, although it had installed one of the devices into a commercial printer this week.

Cito has sold around 450 RSP systems worldwide since its launch in 2000, with the biggest markets in Germany, the US and the UK.

Since its exclusive contract with Heidelberg formally ended there has been growing speculation that RSP systems will be available with presses from other companies, with Komori a front-runner, but Mead declined to comment.

In April general manager Jurgen Marien told the Ipex Daily the relationship would continue with Heidelberg as it markets the RSP systems for Cito, even if the company opted to forge new contracts with competitors.

Story by Anna Clarke