During 2008, the Gloucester-based company had also invested in a new Series 5000 bookletmaker, a Morgana Autocreaser 33, a Gemini laminating line, a new Konica Minolta 6501 digital press and a Renz heavy-duty paper-punching machine.

The three-year-old company recorded a turnover of £500,000 for the year – double that of the previous year, and also moved premises (next door) after outgrowing its existing base.

According to managing director Laurence Felton, the 2008 investments were the result of a growth in brochure and booklet sales and because the company was experiencing bottlenecks in its finishing department.

Duplo's DuBinder was also added to increase the speed of its digitally printed perfect-bound book department, which previously ran on a manual system.

Felton said: "Although we do print short-run books for the general public, most of our books are printed for trade customers.

"We needed a significant boost in productivity and the reassurance that each and every perfect-bound book we make will be perfect."