Additional to the Leicester-based firm’s kit portfolio, the machine was installed at its 745sqm premises towards the end of January and will support the production of items including business cards, invitations, greetings cards, mailers, book covers, boxes and presentation folders.

After applying a UV varnish on a DuSense Sensory Coater, Digifoil users can add a foil finish using a range of laminated films and 3D foils in different colours. The machine, which runs at speeds from 1-10m/min on sheets up to 380x700mm, will be officially launched at Packaging Innovations in Birmingham later this month.

Flexpress managing director Steve Wenlock told Printweek: “We already do traditional and digital foiling but raised foiling is brand new and quite literally adds a new dimension.

“There are still very few companies, particularly trade print companies, offering embellished print and even less that cater for one-offs and bespoke work so we’re optimistic it will open some doors into new clients for us and help our existing clients offer something a bit more exciting.”

He added: “We have no problem pioneering new tech. You get the advantage of being first mover, but this has to be balanced against also being somewhat of a beta-tester. We were first in the UK with the DuSense, so this is a natural progression for us.”

26-staff Flexpress also operates a raft of other Duplo kit and finishing machinery from other suppliers, plus a mix of litho, digital and large-format printers from manufacturers including RMGT (Ryobi), HP and Canon.

In September the business, which is expecting to exceed its £3m turnover target this year, was the first UK company to install the Horizon StitchLiner MKIII with the new high-capacity VAC-L600H tower collators.

This followed the installation of three other Horizon finishing machines earlier in 2019: a BQ-280 PUR single-clamp perfect binder, an HT-30C three-sided trimmer and a CRF-362 creaser-folder.