The Bedford-based company bought a pumped ink system with five 200-litre barrels carrying the four process colours, plus a seal to its first long perfector.

Operations manager David Hennessey said: "Using pumped ink has enabled us to make the 10-colour a one-operator press.

"It would be physically impossible if one had to run up and down changing the cartridges and cleaning away spillages or ink knives and still keep the machine running cost-effectively. We estimate the inking system alone is saving us about an hour a day."

According to Hennessey, an estimated 99% of the work through Newnorth's Speedmaster SM 102-10-P will be two-sided full-colour work.