The Technotrans reverse osmosis system, the alpha.r, replaced an 18-year-old system of the same make, said production manager Shaun Kempshall.

“Filtration is new for us and we have also fitted the alpha.f system to our Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 74-6,” he explained.

“It will further enhance our quality and prevent dot gain. It treats the dampening solution and recycles 80% of the chemistry to save on the chemistry and waste disposal bills.

“We did look at alternatives to the Technotrans but it was price competitive and their support was better,” said Kempshall.

“We were very impressed by the planning and implementation of the installation. Technotrans was with us for two days but we lost only three hours of production for the installation.”

Dayfold in Dorset has 40 staff and generates a turnover of £3m from high-end print such as case covers for short-run books and presentational documents and folders.

As well as the Heidelberg, the company runs two HP Indigo 5500 presses, two platens and Kluge foiling equipment. Managing director Les Abbott-Fryer said the next investment will probably be in foiling.

“We will use Drupa to check out what's happening in foiling, possibly a Gietz or a similar, faster machine.

“We may however go for a second-hand machine rather than pay £500,000 for the kind of top-end model we need.”

Abbott-Fryer said Dayfold may also look at MIS systems, but could hold fire on any investment until after the Brexit vote, which he felt was causing uncertainty.