DI presses cater for the short-run colour market - mainly lengths between 250 and 1,000 impressions – because of their high-quality output times and ease of use at a lower cost.

US-based Presstek reported a 72% increase in DI revenue in 2006, exceeding market expectations.

The Nasdaq-listed company shipped 244 DI presses in 2006, including its 52DI and 34DI models.

In total, more than 3,000 DI presses are now installed worldwide.

Presstek chief marketing officer Todd Chambers said: “DI presses have grown into a mainstream product that has been embraced by an increasing number of commercial and in-plant printers around the globe.”