Delivery of the first 30,000cph line began last week, with the other three to arrive at four-week intervals. Each line will come on stream after an eight-week period of installation and training.

The new equipment at the Leeds plant will replace four Muller Martini lines, which will be redeployed elsewhere within the Polestar group.

Lindsay Atkinson, Polestar Petty managing director, said: "Obviously we also considered Muller Martini, but Ferag offered the all-round package that Polestar was looking for."

Atkinson could not reveal the value of the deal with Ferag, but said that it was part of the 100m investment in the True North project.

The order for the six machines, made in January of this year, represents Ferag's single largest order for gatherer-stitcher lines.

The installations will allow Polestar Petty to continue to produce eight weekly magazines, and to add titles currently printed at Polestar Watford.

Story by Josh Brooks