Diamond Printed Products aims to boost its turnover by 1m after launching a new digital print system.


The Maidstone firm has spent 400,000 and three years fine-tuning its digital transfer printer for anything from toothbrushes to 3m-long acrylics.


"We hope to increase our turnover by 1m in the first year," said managing director David Hitch. "Transfers are produced in four colours with lacquer at fairly high speeds and are competitive for runs of millions. But because there are no origination costs, they are also suitable for short runs."


Hitch declined to reveal details of the digital machine but the firm aims to sell systems as complete packages. The process was good for point-of-sale material, bottles and bottle tops, CDs, DVDs and mobile phone parts, he added.


Diamond hopes to add plastics, bottling and drug firms to its existing client list of brewers and distillers.


The process is suitable for any hot-foil press. Diamond, which uses a PB Marking press, has 22 staff and a turnover of 1.2m.