The new six-colour plus coater press is expected to be installed at the firm’s Croydon premises early next year, ready for the report and accounts season, though exact dates have not yet been confirmed. The 18,000sph press will be specified with Inpress Control and Autoplate Pro.

CPI expects the new Speedmaster will increase sales at the company's commercial print division, CPI Colour, by 50% within the next two years.

The company did not reveal the cost of the investment but said it chose the Heidelberg press over alternatives because it considers the manufacturer to be the market leader.

The investment, a new addition to the firm’s existing plant list, follows the installation of the first XL 106 at the Croydon site 18 months ago, which the business said greatly improved its capacity and efficiency.

CPI Colour also operates a range of other litho machinery at its 8,360sqm Croydon manufacturing site. These include two six-colour B1 presses with coaters, a 12-colour B1 perfector and an eight-colour B1 with coater as well as six further four- and six-colour B2 presses.

CPI Colour division managing director Alison Kaye said the investment will enable the business to pursue its growth strategy.

“By offering a complete solution, we have been able to attract some significant new business wins, as well as deepening our relationships with some existing accounts,” said Kaye.

“Our target is to grow CPI Colour by 50% within two years and to open the door to further significant investment, cementing CPI Colour’s position as a major player in the UK market for the long term.”

Furthermore, the business has purchased a range of Epson proofing devices and will install the new version of Kodak’s Pre-Press Prinergy workflow next month.

The firm said the system will enhance its productivity by using JDF to share job data and other information with content preparation and other systems, giving improved control and automation.

CPI is also set to invest in expand its digital offering with further investment in the new year.

The firm will not yet reveal specific details but said the investment "will take CPI into the B2 digital arena" and give it greater production flexibility, substrate versatility and increased digital capacity for both commercial and book work.

The company already operates two HP Indigo sheetfed digital presses: a 7600 and a 7500.

CPI UK, which manufactures 160 million books every year, has a turnover of more than £100m, employs just under 1,000 staff and operates from six locations.

The firm recently broadened its offering into POS and exhibition graphics by establishing a new creative agency, CPI Connect.