The new B2 four-colour press will replace one of Doveton's three Heidelberg presses, an SM 74-4+L, and run alongside the firm's two SM 52 Anicolors (a five- and a four-colour) when it is installed in March 2015.

Due to its larger size, the firm is having to knock down one wall of its wholely-owned building and construct a 3m extension; a new floor will also be laid to cope with the vibrations from the XL press.

The necessary factory works mean Doveton will be without either its old SM 74 or its replacement, the new XL 75, for about three weeks although Heidelberg has lined up an alternative.

"Heidelberg have given us use of the press in their showroom for a couple of weeks for any big work like folders that we would have put on the SM 74," said Doveton Press director Mark Savage.

"We'll have three of our staff and probably myself down there at the same time going through the training on the new press."

Savage said that the reason for investing in the XL together with the Tharstern MIS, which replaces an in-house developed system, was to maximise the efficiency of the business within the confines of its existing Victorian end-terrace factory.

"We looked at moving factory and buying more or faster presses, but we've got quite decent equipment already and the building is all paid for, so the reason behind this investment was to make us as efficient as possible," said Savage.

The first stage of the investment was a £120,000 spend on a Duplo DBMI Saddle System that Doveton ordered at London Calling and that was delivered to the printer today (8 December).

This replaces an existing System 5000 stitch line and will enable the firm to bring all of its stitching work in-house, including the £5,000 a month it is currently having to outsource.