The press, which has AxisControl colour measurement, will be installed at Leigh-on-Sea in December and will be commissioned in January.

It will replace a MAN Roland R708 and will complement Perivan White Dove Press six-colour R706 and the R708 that the company bought earlier this year (PrintWeek, 24 January).

Perivan White Dove Press managing director Mark Croucher said the firm had opted for Heidelberg due to its proven workflow system.

Its a proven product, which is what we need to become one of the elite. I had experience of working with Heidelberg from my time at Westerham Press, said Croucher.

He said the AxisControl might be upgraded to ImageControl when the company bought more Heidelberg presses.

Perivan White Dove Press has 75 employees and is aiming for a turnover of 10m next year.

Croucher joined the company just under a year ago from St Ives Westerham Press, where he had been general manager.