Chief executive Tony Jones, who led the MBO, said the south-east Wales firm had always planned to purchase a second eight-unit press.

"It was inevitable we would get a second press, but initially it wasn't in the plans for this year," Jones admitted. The latest investment, which includes a Heidelberg TH82 folder with pallet feeder, takes the company's total investment in new equipment to just over 4m since the MBO.

The new SM102-8P will be installed on 19 July, and will replace an existing four-colour unit at the Blackwood plant. The press will increase capacity by around 40%.

Jones said the plan to install an additional press had been brought forward due to its success in new contract wins, which had seen it increase the amount of titles produced at the plant by around 18% to approximately 177. Employees are also set to increase, with two bindery operators already being recruited.

Story by Andy Scott