In the past few months the Glasgow-based commercial printer, which has a turnover of around £13m, has installed five Technotrans 200-litre barrels onto the Rapida.

KBA recommended Technotrans’ kit to the firm to help it manage the expected volume increase driven by the new press.

“The delivery of the ink into the ducts is far superior and the benefit of having 200-litre pumps makes a big difference,” said J Thomson print manager Iain Jackson.

“It made sense to make the investment and in addition we also have beta.c temperature control, beta.f filtration and a fluidos dosing system, also supplied by Technotrans, on the new presses.”

He added: “The system really does work itself, training was more about getting the barrels safely into the units and making sure you look after them.”

The addition of ink pumping means that operators no longer need to constantly change 2kg cartridges, which increases efficiency.

“And we have the added benefit to the business, and to the environment, of not requiring to dispose hundreds of those same cartridges,” said Jackson.

Besides its core print service, J Thomson offers more than 1,000 customers a project management service which includes design, web-to-print, augmented reality, storage and distribution services.

The 115-staff firm also operates a second KBA press, which is equipped with LED-UV drying technology, as well as two HP Indigo digital presses.