Robert Jupp, managing director of five-staff, Dorset-based DPI, said the £42,000 press would replace a Xerox 240 that had previously printed covers for perfect-bound books.

"We are now getting more glamorous work, such as glossy marketing," he said. "We're really touting it to customers and it hasn't stopped.

"The Xerox runs at 70 sheets a minute but it's not about speed when you have runs of 50 or 60. It's the quality, registration and lack of curl, saving time in finishing."

Jupp said he'd spent as much again on finishing kit for the £288,000-turnover business, including a Duplo DF 1000 suction folder, a DC 445 DuCreaser and a second DBM 120 bookletmaker with trimmer, as well as a James Burn DocuPunch.

"The investment is due to the amount of colour work increasing, requiring us to boost both the colour production and the standard of finishing kit," he added.