The Knowsley, Liverpool-based firm has also outlined plans to invest a further £600,000 on a second Vutek and a five-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster SM72-5 to cater for its largest client.

The 15-staff company, which recently moved to its current site in Alchemy Way, anticipates the kit spend will help it keep the majority of its point-of-sale work in-house.

Northern Print managing director Richard Parker told printweek.com: "The new Vutek will definitely help broaden our offering and speed up our operation".

He said the new investments are all centred around an on-going contract with its main client.

Parker said Northern Print, established eight years ago, carries out a range of point-of-sale work for the customer, which has a presence in 82 countries as well as general commercial work.

The firm's EFI Vutek QS3200 can print at resolutions up to 1080dpi on a variety of rigid and flexible substrates. The machine can output up to 84sqm an hour on substrates up to 5.8cm thick and 3.2m wide.