Norhaven, which is located in Norway, is active in the UK and Europe and owns the UK-based book printer Creative Print and Design.

Gopsons hopes the purchase will lead to increased work for the company. Director Vasant Goel said: "Since the capacity is no longer available in Europe, we hope that some of the publishing work will now be outsourced to India."

Goel added: "Most of our investment is in the purchase of equipment for high-volume book manufacturing, which will be installed by the end of 2008."

This includes bindery from Nordbook (a unit of Norhaven), a Kolbus book production line and Muller Martini in-line hardcover book production line along with CTP.

In addition, Gopsons has bought a Timson T 32 Book Press, which will be used for black-and-white production.

Goel said: "The Timson T 32 is ideal for medium- to long-run work as the machine produces more pages per signature with corresponding savings in makeready time.

"It also increases bindery efficiency and can be utilised with a number of different folder designs. The machine will produce 64-page open three-sided signatures from a single web.

"With its speed of 400m per minute, the press will produce more pages per hour than any other book press with us."

The company now anticipates a substantial growth in hardcover books, as well as paperback.

In 2006-07, it produced more than 10m centre-stitch books, 2.8m hardbacks and 6m paperbacks. However, in 2007-08 it has already produced 2m hardbacks, with six months of the year yet to go.

The company has also announced it is to triple the size of its site in Noida, National Capital Region, with a £6-£7m investment, to accommodate the predicted expansion.