The dual five-colour SM 74-5P order will arrive later this year, with one machine set to be installed at Fingerprint's Barrow-in-Furness site in Cumbria.

The other Speedmaster will be located at sister printer, Warminster Press and Baskerville Press in Salisbury, Wiltshire. It is expected the two sites will be consolidated prior to the machine's arrival.

Allan Kerr, group managing director, at Fingerprint, said: "I have been reviewing the presses market for 18 months to two years, initially looking at second-hand, but swayed to buy new because of the cost competitiveness in the current market."

The new presses, which will run with the Prinect Press Center and Intellistart software, will replace Heidelberg machines including a Quickmaster DI, a SM 52-6+L, a MOVPS and a Speedmaster 72-2.

Kerr said: "It was time to re-invest; it keeps us up-to-date. The Heidelberg machines proved to be the best value and they are tried and tested."

Fingerprint describes itself as a "jobbing printer" that also handles a range of direct mail and exhibition work and counts charities among its client base.

The five-colour perfectors will run on single shift days with seven days in Barrow and five days in the Salisbury site.

Allan Kerr bought the 89-year-old Warminster Press from managing director Rob Fryer last month. The 10-staff printer brings the group's staff numbers to just under 50.