Heidelberg will supply a CTP front-end system to Colchester, which already uses Heidelberg platsetters, while Creo will install CTP at the groups other UK web offset plants. Installation will take place over the next six months.

Polestar chief executive Barry Hibbert said the focus of the 6m investment had been on achieving efficient, reliable production, system resilience and delivering the advantages of filmless production.

Polestar said it chose Creo because its technology best fitted the groups strategy of using imaging hubs as centres of digital excellence.

Its Prinergy workflow was ideally suited to our type of work, said Polestar Imaging managing director Peter Pretlove, because of its true database structure.

Polestar said there was little inter-trading between Colchester and other group plants so the need for compatibility was less important.