The company said it underwent the certification process to help it stand out from its competitors - it places it among the first in the area to achieve the accolade.

Joint managing director Andy Jackson said "buyers expect printers to have ecological and colour quality credentials. These are important buying points and we are pleased to be the first in the north to have the Heidelberg certification in place".

The company's printed work was sent to Germany for evaluation by experts at Heidelberg as part of the certification process.

Reeds Printers recently installed a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 74-4+L machine, optimised to run ecologically using alcohol-free processes and vegetable inks, to help it maintain ISO 14001 which it also holds.

In December 2010 the company was bought by one of its customers: Carlisle-based H&H Group, an unquoted PLC which owns a diverse range of businesses, including livestock auction, land agency, vehicle finance, insurance and property sales.