The machine, which is also only the second 10-colour configuration of the machine in the world, represents the 32-staff company's foray into the B3 printing market.

Derby-based Colourstream is replacing one of its existing SM 74-10P machines with the new Anicolor, a press it anticipates will "fit in the middle ground" between its digital and high-volume litho kit.

John Greene, managing director at the company, said: "The calculations we have done suggest the breakpoint between our Indigo and the Anicolor is about 200 copies."

He added: "The breakpoint between the B2 and B3 long perfectors will be about 5-6,000 sheets across a wide spectrum of work."

The printer, which is looking to grow its £3.6m turnover past the £4m mark in the next 12-month period, anticipates the Anicolor's low start-up waste paper level will complement its ISO 14001 environmental standard.

"It ticks all the boxes because it needs less power with the quicker makereadies and uses less material," he added.

Richard Bradley, marketing manager for small format presses at Heidelberg, added: "Anicolor gives printers a profitable production tool, one that will enable them to provide top quality with minimal paper waste. The ability to get the same amount of work out in half the time is what our customers are reporting."