The first XL 105 is only the second to be installed in the UK, and the other will arrive at the start of November. Both are six-unit presses with coater and extended delivery.

Managing director Chris Cooper (pictured) hopes the spend will enable the firm to increase turnover from 15m to 20m over the next few years.
"Like every printer, our delivery schedules seem to get tighter," he said. "This new capacity should open new doors for existing and potential blue-chip clients."

Hampton prints brochures and promotional materials for BMW, NatWest, Lloyds, Lexus, Orange and others.

"Our run lengths can vary from 3,000 to over 1m, so we needed versatile presses," said Cooper. "Its speed, turnaround and makeready time is phenomenal."

Hampton has also bought a ST 400 saddlestitcher and two TH 82 buckle folders. "We were placing quite a bit of finishing work out, so the logical step for us was to increase our finishing control in-house," said Cooper.

The firm's last big spend was a 600,000 Agfa repro suite in early 2005, comprising an Apogee X Workflow, two Grand Sherpa 50s and an Xcalibur 45 XT Elite CTP.

Cooper plans to invest in a 12-colour press in mid-2006. "If a company doesn't continually invest and keep up with new developments the standard of work will suffer."