The new machine is running at the group's Hull facility and has helped the printer cut makeready times, while significantly increasing the speed of its perfector printing.

ImageData's investment comes just months after the group completed a £6m spend in a purpose-built 6,225sqm facility in East Yorkshire. The development in Howden represented part of an ongoing push to expand the company's digital offering.

Its new press will complement a litho set-up that includes two other Komori machines and will allow the group to handle heavier stocks, especially in perfecting mode.

David Danforth, chief executive of ImageData Group, said he was delighted with the new investment, "The Lithrone LS-1040P(H) is built for speed, delivering 12,000 sheets per hour, even in perfecting mode.

"There's a lot of demand for perfecting work at the moment, so the Komori is great for helping us pick that up."

ImageData has installed the new press with an automated ink delivery system from technotrans. The ink-trac ink pumping system will act as a central ink supply system for all the company's litho presses.  

Danforth said: "We have opted for a highly automated specification for this machine and we firmly believe that cost efficiencies are certainly achievable, even on shorter runs.

"We're looking forward to the future and the new press reflects our ability to produce work quickly and to a high quality."

See also:

ImageData Group completes £6m digital print site