London-based Marstan, which has also added ImageControl colour management in the last year, said that the investment – though a risk – was necessary to remain competitive.

Joint managing director Martin Lett Snr said: "You've got to give clients the cheapest price because everybody's buying on price, but then you've got to give them the top quality and the top service as well, otherwise you don't survive.

"Having colour management gives you top quality but it also helps with speed. It's all about quicker, faster, cheaper but to do that we've got to stick our heads out and borrow some money."

The Bexleyheath-based 55-year-old printer, which employs 50 staff and has a turnover of £4.5m, has also upgraded its bindery with the installation of two Stahlfolders and a Polar 115 Autotrim Flowline.

Lett said: "I had folders that had been in there for 17 years, so we've reinvested in new kit and we're literally producing about 50% more than we were on our old folders."

Joint managing director Martin Lett Jnr added that the company's new Suprasetter, which replaced two Presstek Dimension platesetters, had also boosted productivity and accuracy.

"It integrates fully with our ImageControl colour management device, which should lead to even better efficiency and higher quality in both the reprographics department and the pressroom," he said.

"These areas are linked using Prepress Interface which helps preset ink ducts, leaving the press minder to handle the fine adjustments. We can be confident that the job will be colour accurate to ISO12647 standards."

The company, whose clients include charities, publishers, banks and other blue chip organisations, is outputting around 700-800 Saphira chemistry-free plates a week on the Suprasetter.