The press, which will produce 96pp full-colour at up to 75,000cph, is part of a 10m spend that will also include an investment in mailroom kit.

Installation will begin next January, with the press scheduled to begin printing good copy by the end of March 2006.

Mortons Print managing director Barry Leatherland said that the investment would satisfy customers' demands for more colour, and "provide us with the opportunity to take on new business".

Mortons currently produces around 80 titles each week, both for third parties and for the firm's publishing arm, with run lengths typically between 15,000 and 20,000.

Leatherland added that the press included a raft of features including digital inking, power plate loading, automatic webbing and on-press colour registration.

It will be installed in a newly-acquired property next to Morton's existing site in Horncastle. Reel stands will be on the same level as the press positioned at right-angles in order for the press to fit into the building.

MAN Roland GB web sales director Norman Revill is pictured (left) with Leatherland.


Story by Josh Brooks