"The big KBA provides fast plate changing, quick makeready and fast running speeds. But most important of all is the sheet size giving us 64pp in one pass," said managing director Allan Hicks.

The Trowbridge, Wiltshire-based firm's two-colour 130a-2-SW1 will run alongside three two-colour and one four-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster 102s. The 965x1,300mm format press replaces a two-colour 102.

Earlier this year Cromwell formed what it described as the UK's first "print co-operative" when it struck a deal with fellow academic book and journal printer Arrowsmith.

Cromwell was founded in 1991. It has a turnover of more than 7m and employs 78 staff.