The four-colour press was marketed under the 'DigitalXtra' banner by UK RMGT distributor MPL, which supplied it to Healeys. It was installed last month at the company’s Ipswich premises.

Healeys configured the B3, 11,000sph machine with LED-UV drying technology, so that it's output could go straight into the bindery for finishing.

Managing director Philip Dodd said: “We have been seeing increasingly buoyant volumes of litho work coming in.

“Whilst our digital workload is still very strong, we were beginning to experience some difficulties in keeping up with litho demand during certain busy periods with our Heidelberg 75 XL B2 press.

“The DigitalXtra positioning of this technology by MPL makes great sense; it fills that gap between true digital work and the long-run printing that requires a B2- or B1-format litho press for cost-effective production.

“The new press will ensure that we keep up to date with our litho work, but also provide us with backup for the B2 press on the rare occasion when it might be needed.”

Healeys has had a year of streamlining and growth, investing in its second Ricoh C9200 in August to bring “commonality and quality” to its digital print services. In March it also took delivery of two Heidelberg Polar guillotines, an N115 Plus and an N92 Plus.

The company operates a 24hr/six-day shift pattern with a fleet including three Ricoh digital presses – two of the C9200 model and one of the C7200 – and a Heidelberg Speedmaster 75 XL litho press in addition to the new DigitalXtra offering.

The firm's turnover last year was £4.2m and is eyeing £4.6m in 2019.