"People have ditched us for bog standard work and tend to use us primarily for direct mail work now," said joint managing director Richard Anstock.

The latest round of upgrades includes the installation of two Muller Martini Bravo Plus four-station stitchers, with cover feeders, due for February. It has also bought two MBO B30 folders and a Schneider Senator guillotine, supplied by Friedheim International, which are already up and running.

"The Schneider has dramatically increased cutting efficiency," said Anstock. "And, although not fully automated, the new MBOs are perfect for the type of folding work we do as they complement the ink-jet and gluing jobs we undertake as a direct mail finisher."

The 1.8m turnover firm also spent 100,000 on a ink-jet system in 2004 for fully personalised digital print. It is also looking at further spend towards the end of the year by replacing a VideoJet ink-jet system as well as a another guillotine and two more folders.

Gemini was set up in 1992 as a sister firm to Nottingham Print Finishers. Both firms operated from the same premises and in January of this year were merged into Gemini Print Finishing.

Story by Darryl Danielli