The Ipswich-based business, which specialises in printing on to plastics, opted for a five-colour configuration, with coater and interdeck drying. The press is also adapted to handle thicker substrates, up to 600micron.

Tom Clougherty, managing director at Deben Print, said the B3-format press was "ideal" for the production of the credit card style cards the 12-staff company prints.

He said: "As we produce membership, store, and gift cards, as well as vinyl stickers, window graphics, menus, shelf wobblers and other point-of-sale material we liked the flexibility the SM52 offers.

"The diversity of the material the SM52 can cope with, such as PVC, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyester, besides card and paper was also a deciding factor in the purchase of the machine."

Instead of opting for a new model, Deben invested in a refurbished press from Heidelberg in Germany.

Clougherty said: "Because of the speed and ease in making ready to print, wastage costs in time and material can be kept to a minimum.  

"This will open even more doors to us in the short and long-run markets where we have already established a good reputation for competitive pricing and good service."