The machine, which came with an online MB38 fold unit and deep file feeder, cost £45,000, according to managing director John Greene.

He said: "We were doing folding and creasing on a conventional folding machine and I wanted to greatly increase the speed of makeready, especially on shorter run work, but we use it for medium quantities as well.

"It has increased the speed of turnaround – in general we can turn a job around now in a day instead of perhaps going into a second day."

Colourstream, which has 32 employees, does mostly leaflet and promotional work for clients such as local authorities, publishers and print management companies in the Midlands and London.

Greene said the PitStop machine worked with both Colourstream's two 10-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster 74 litho presses and an Indigo 5500 press.

The investment marks a busy year for Colourstream following a number of previous buys, including a Heidelberg automatic folder and guillotine, and Morgana card cutter for business cards.