The company will use the unmanned machines, each of which is equipped with laser-guiding technology, to move material, including consumables and inserts, to and from all stages of its processes. The system was designed and implemented with the collaboration of JBT Corporation.

Andy Reynoldson, Polestar's managing director of gravure, described the project as innovative for the print sector. "Only a small number of printers worldwide use this technology and it is generally limited to despatch or paper reel handling only," he said.

"At Sheffield, we intend to transport automatically multiple printed products from press to bindery, then onto poly-wrapping and despatch."

He said that Polestar's Sheffield plant was perfectly suited to AGVs because of its high-speed presses and finishing technology.

"These vehicles are bespoke and are able to transport standard palletised and Ferag multi-disc products," he added.

A spokeswoman for Polestar confirmed that there would be no job losses as a result of the machines' installation, but said that jobs were being reallocated as part of the reorganisation of the plant.

Earlier this month, Polestar announced it had renewed its five-year contract to print Associated Newspapers' weekend supplements, including Weekend magazine for Saturday's Daily Mail.