The printer was installed at the beginning of May, and Inc Direct managing director Noel Warner said it is already bringing in new clients.

It replaces an outgoing Xerox iGen4, which was up for renewal, and joins two more Xerox digital printers, another iGen4 and an iGen 150. It was one of the last 7800s to be installed in the UK, as the 7800 has now been permanently replaced by the 7900.

Warner said: “This was predominantly about being able to have a wider colour gamut with seven-colour configuration and being able to print white with the ability to have raised inks and inline embossing. 

“We were working with some high-end luxury brands but with the current capability of the iGens we weren’t able to achieve what they wanted in terms of spot-colour and high-class litho finish. The indigo had the edge here.”

Warner also liked the Indigo’s 'One Shot' technology, allowing for printing on a number of different substrates. He looked around the market for six to seven months but found that the Indigo suited Inc’s needs in terms of moving into the more high-end direct mail market.

“Indigo in general is the flagship in the whole digital space. In the market we are in, Indigo was the perfect fit, so we considered others but it ticked all the boxes,” said Warner.

Inc Direct operates from a 1,400sqm premises in Enfield, London, with another smaller development office down the road housing six staff.

Turnover last year was £7m, with Warner believing this will improve by the end of this financial year, with more high-end jobs gained by the purchase of the Indigo.

The former PrintWeek Company of the Year Award-winner mainly produces high-end direct marketing. Other than the Indigo and iGens, it also has a Horizon stitchliner and laminating equipment.

Warner said it is due shortly to announce a new senior staff appointment and a restructure of the board.

“Our plan for the future is to grow the business through acquisitions and a big drive on new business through the new technology gained by the Indigo,” he said.