J Thomson Colour Printers has bought Scotland's first 12-colour press, a Heidelberg SM 102-12P, as part of an on-going self-financed 3.5m investment.

The Speedmaster is the Glasgow-based financial printing specialist's first non-MAN Roland press.

J Thomson's managing director, Tommy Graham, said: "We felt we needed a 12-colour press, as the time was right for us to expand, but MAN Roland only go up to a 10-colour."

He said the company carried out extensive trials on various machines, but found that the Heidelberg offered better image control. The firm's decision further extends Heidelberg's lead in the "long perfector" market.

"It also provides us with greater flexibility for the type of printing we can produce," said Graham.

The 8.5m-turnover company has not ruled out further investment.