The new machine, which boasts a print width of more than 2.6m, has been purchased alongside a Kala Mistral laminator. The investments bring the company's spend to a total of nearly £200,000 in the past 12 months.

Key2's solvent-based Mimaki offers print resolutions of up to 1,440dpi and features an 'intelligent heater', which is claimed to heat the substrate to guarantee ink performance.

The company secured the Mimaki from the printer's UK distributor Hybrid after viewing the model at last month's Sign and Digital UK show.

Key2 successfully negotiated for the printer, which was set to become Hybrid's own test model ahead of its launch this summer.

Mike Keating, managing director of Key2 Group, said he was "knocked out" by the features on the Mimaki machine.

He said: "This printer will allow us even greater flexibility and freedom to get our clients’ messages across in a visual and effective manner.

"The fact that we are continually investing in state-of-the-art technology during the height of a recession speaks volumes about our commitment to ensure we offer a service to our customer base that is innovative, efficient and extremely effective."

The Mimaki JV33 joins equipment that includes a Roland VersaCAMM, a 2m Jetster Ultra, a Mimaki CG 160 FXII plotter and the UK's first Apollo 2216WW flatbed printer, installed in September.

"We are proud to continually invest in the very best machinery, equipment and personnel to ensure we stay innovative as well as competitive," he added.