The deal marks GAE's first major push to provide paper-counting equipment, which tends to be aimed at customers that require security measures across their printing process, such as exam paper printers.

Tony Hards, GAE's joint managing director, told printweek.com: "The only other paper counting machine supplier [in the UK] is Vacuumatic. But, we are not aiming to become the market leader. It fits in with our range of finishing equipment, a lot of which is sold as part of a package deal."

The Uchida range complements GAE's existing supply of finishing machines, which includes kit manufactured by brands Horizon, Perfecta, Dürselen and Kirikko.

Priced from £10,500, the paper counting range includes a number of models, such as the flagship Countron Twin, a double-headed B1-plus system which is capable of the simultaneous counting of two corners of the same stack, which ensures greater accuracy, or individual operation, doubling the machine's counting rate.

At its Perivale-based showroom, GAE is displaying the Countron 2200, which can handle sheets ranging in size from below A6 up to B1-plus and between 22gsm and 255gsm. Standard features include auto-count, tab insertion, number checking and a self-diagnostic function that informs the operator of any malfunction. Options include different sizes and types of table, including folding and air bed, and a variety of suction blades. The machine's counting speed is 2,200 sheets per minute.

In January, GAE was bought for £2.3m by Litho Supplies.

Uchida is a Japanese firm that sources machines from a variety of manufacturers and sells them under its own brand name.