Polestar will spend 25m spend on presses, including a second 3.52m wide gravure press for the UK, complementary to the existing one at Varnicoat.

The investment also includes four web offset presses, among them a secondhand 48pp KBA 618 for Hungary. The group is in negotiations for 64pp, 48pp and 16pp machines too. The most likely outcome is that one press will go to the UK and two to its Spanish operations.

Chief executive Barry Hibbert said it was difficult to comment on the new gravure operation until the full details were known. Weve been expecting it for two years. We knew someone if not two would come. Theres no question this is a European market. Well respond accordingly.