Installed at the start of November, the machine was brought into the St Austell operation’s 650sqm base to work alongside a Vivid Matrix laminator with foiling capabilities used for short-run work.

Nationwide, the PrintWeek Awards 2018 Environmental Company of the Year, considered other options but said the Komfi best suited its needs.

Managing director Julian Hocking said: “It had a number of draws for us – price, efficiency, reduced footprint, speed, and general recommendation from our colleagues in the sector.

“It comes with a wider range of capabilities in terms of the stock it can take, compared to our Matrix, ranging from 115-600gsm alongside being quicker, newer and generating a smaller carbon footprint through reduced energy usage.”

Running at speeds up to 35m/min, the Komfi Delta 52 comes with an automatic feeder and sheet overlap control. It takes sheets from 200x200mm to 540x760mm and has a warm-up time of approximately three minutes.

Among a number of applications, it will be used by Nationwide to produce items such as brochures and menu covers. It is the company’s first purchase from Friedheim, an experience Hocking said had been favourable.

With kit including a five-colour and a two-colour press from heidelberg, two Ricoh digital printers, a bookletmaker and a perfect binder from Duplo and a number of other finishing machines, Nationwide’s next step is to focus on investing in its software. In April, the firm spent £200,000 on upgrading its MIS and online marketing software.

Nationwide Print employs 16 members of staff.