The printer, a version of Konica Minolta's bizhub Pro1050, has a top speed of 6,300 A4 sheets per hour with a maximum volume of 1.5m pages per month.

"The high-volume market is one in which we are just scratching the surface and it is an area where we are getting more involved," said Imagistics managing director Adam Sheppard.

The monochrome 1025 will be available at the end of this month. The firm, which has its UK head office in Harlow, is also looking to grow through acquisitions. Imagistics has already bought Birmingham-based Rentokil Office Solutions.

"We aim to support organic growth through acquisitions," added Sheppard. "I am confident that there will be a purchase in north-west England shortly."

Imagistics is one of several firms on the government's list of preferred print and photocopying suppliers. As well as supplying the NHS, Imagistics has supplied and maintained kit for the Warwickshire Police and Lambeth Council.

Story by Philip Chadwick