The Ashford-based magazine and journal printer invested in the Software as a Service (Saas) ,based on YuDu software's digital editions technology, in order to provide digital versions alongside their printed counterparts for its publishing clients.

Managing director Roger Pitt said: "It may seem a contradiction in terms for a printer to embrace the digital revolution and offer an 'online media' service.

"But one of Headley Brothers' key strengths is that we are able to provide comprehensive print and media solutions with one point of contact, all from the same site, and this latest investment complements that."

YuDu sales and marketing director Les Csonge, who has a background in print and previously worked at Wace, revealed that its partnership with Headley Brothers was one of a number of deals it has signed with printers.

He said: "We already partner, empower and enable a number of large printers including Pensord, Stephens and George, and Acorn Press, and we will be signing another deal this afternoon.

"The print industry is a very strong and growing channel for us because printers are looking for new revenue sources and they are the best placed to actually deliver this service because they already have the PDF files."

Headley Brothers' HeadTurner-branded YuDu Pro system includes a statistics package to track reader behaviour, as well as an email collection facility, a subscription management system and video, audio and flash insertion.

HeadTurner is also fully compatible with measuring online readerships that are certified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC).

The announcement follows Headley Brothers' award of Emap Inform's £5m annual print contract, alongside William Gibbons, which is set to kick off in April.