According to the article on the Express website yesterday (3 May), the company plans to spend £100m over the next five years on new kit, beginning "immediately" with the purchase of four KBA presses.

Further investments will allow it to print OK! magazine, as well as magazines for The Express, Sunday Express and The Star, in-house.

It is unclear exactly what presses have been bought and KBA was unable to comment on the situation. However, the article states that each press is capable of handling 90,000 copies an hour.

Also unclear at this stage is where the presses will be installed. The article says that the investment has been made by Express Newspapers' print subsidiary Westferry. However, it does not specifically state that the presses will be installed at the east London site.

According to industry speculation, Northern and Shell is planning to build a new facility somewhere north of London.

Northern and Shell owner Richard Desmond told the Express: "I am delighted to announce this investment in our print products at a time when the rest of the industry is either stagnating or selling off titles.

"The Daily Express and Sunday Express will benefit massively from expanded editions, full colour for readers and advertisers, and later deadlines meaning even fuller coverage of breaking news. This move will allow us to accommodate the rising circulation of the Daily Star. We will overtake the Daily Mirror sooner rather than later.

"A few years ago, I made a pledge that we would remain committed to our print products and would invest whatever it took to keep control of our printing in our own hands. This upgrade puts our group at the cutting edge of print technology and gives us a vital edge on our rivals in these competitive times."

Northern and Shell was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.