The purchase, timed to land the machines in the new site just after the move, saw DMS install a continuous-feed inkjet Colorstream 6000 press and an imagePress V1000 toner machine, both from Canon, alongside a new CMC enclosing machine and Hunkeler finishing machines.

The Colorstream is DMS’ first digital web press, and follows its installation in 2020 of two Canon inkjet sheetfed presses, including the UK’s first varioPrint iX3200.

Adding digital web – alongside its four-colour litho web Muller Martini press – has helped DMS push growth in its transactional business, according to Simon Smode, DMS’ CEO.

He told Printweek: “We always wanted to go web. So as we knew we were moving, we looked into the web market.”

The move to a new 2,800sqm factory, while prompted by an expired lease, has given DMS more room to play with.

“We have a much better environment now, and we’ve created a better workflow within the factory,” Smode said.

“Three months in, and it has all been a very good investment so far.”

Including CMC encloser and Hunkeler Gen 8 and Gen 6 finishers – operating off the line to cut and stack the printed webs – the company put around £1m into its summer investment round.

DMS turned over £8.4m last year, with Smode optimistic that the new Canons will help it target reliable growth over the next few years.

“We want to keep growing steadily,” he said.

“These investments have been made to be more efficient, and add growth – but we’re doing it carefully, and we want to make sure we’re dealing with the right customers.”

DMS’ investment round is not quite finished, however, with the firm eyeing up another web printer slot to help it target direct mail, which makes up around 50% of its business.

“The Colorstream is very good for the transactional, but it’s mainly for uncoated work. We’re looking for another web engine for coated stocks.

“We’ve been talking to a number of people,” Smode added.

DMS employs 44 staff at its Crawley site.