The 500,000 UV two-colour press, which comes with autosplicer and a high speed sheeter, is the firm's first three A4 page wide press.

"It offers an instant 50% increase in capacity over two wide," said production director John Robertson.

Rotherham-based HBPG has recruited two new business development directors. Jon Aitchison has joined from Elanders Hindson and the second director will be announced in September.

The firm, which has grown from 3.5m turnover five years ago to 15m today, aims to break 20m with a mix of investment and new appointments.

Other buys include a Heidelberg Topsetter 74, two Sakurai presses, a two- and four-colour, and finishing equipment.

"We have capacity now to increase our workload by anything up to 50%, without any additional investment," said Robertson. However, the firm is now looking at entering the digital market.

HBPG, which produces "operational print" for a selection of blue-chip clients, has also secured a new warehouse, converting the old site to a web facility. This gives it three factories, including a sheetfed site with 13 Quickmasters under one roof, the most in Europe.

Story by Darryl Danielli