The Kettering direct mail house has invested in two new Buhrs BB600 envelope inserters, with full "read-in and read-out" facilities, giving the firm a total of 11 inserters.

It has also bought the UK's first 27in Hunkeler CS4W cutter-stacker from UK agent Friedheim International.

Chairman Charles Grant-Salmon said that productivity at the plant had been upped by 20% on the back of the investments. It now has the capacity to produce around 280m direct mail packs, both poly and paper. Last year it produced 220m packs.

The firm overhauled its digital lasering facilities with four new Oc VarioStream 7650 continuous printers, which were installed last month. They replaced older Oc machines.

4DM employs 220 staff across its sites in Kettering and Worcester and is on course for sales of 15m this year.

Story by Lauretta Roberts