"The EasyMailer opens up transpromo for smaller companies and, for personalised mailing, it is invaluable," said Kern UK general manager Peter Jolley.

"The timing is right now that a lot of firms are moving to digital because of the need to personalise and people expect more from an envelope, even if it's just to point you to a website."

The EasyMailer takes A4 or A3 printed sheets and turns them into a DL envelope and letter. A3 sheets are slit into two to create the inner and the envelope.

Working with a digital press it is possible to produce personalised mailings and envelopes with no need to hold any envelope stock.

The machine can produce a letter with up to three A4 sheets. The addition of an inserter increases the flexibility of the machine.

The EasyMailer costs £100,000 and the inserter option is an extra £15,000.

Although first shown as a prototype at Ipex 2006, and installed at 40 sites worldwide, Kern has yet to make any installs in the UK, but it believes the market and the technology are now perfect for its adoption.

Kern UK has shown the updated machine at Duplo's London Calling event this week, where it has attracted lots of attention.

Duplo UK marketing manager Peter Jolly said: "Annoyingly, everyone at the event has said the EasyMailer was the star of the show."