The digital offset printing equipment supplier has installed at least nine of its direct imaging (DI) presses in the UK so far this year, ranging in price from £100,000 to £300,000, to organisations including Falkirk Council's print facility, Multiflow, Ryedale, Light Brigade, Seargant Brothers and Rival Colour.

Presstek’s DI machines are sheetfed digital offset presses which produce high quality, short- to medium-runs.

UK sales director Peter Banks said: "The market has been buoyant so far this year and I am happy we are ahead of target.

"Some of these companies are medium-sized so these presses represent a significant investment.

"It’s testament to the fact that we are able to demonstrate to our customers that our presses will fit their needs and that the return on investment is there.

"Direct Imaging presses fit into a particular area of the market place; while they don’t offer personalisation, for example, they make sense for people doing high quality run lengths of between three and five thousand.

"They are waterless presses that offer minimal start-up times and wastage and there is no offline plate-making."

John Watt, manager of Falkirk Council’s print facility Printworks, which recently installed a 52DI press, said: "We chose the new press because it would boost our productivity; previously we had to image plates and manually fit them which was too time consuming and also needed someone to make the plates.

"The type of work that we produce fits right into that DI niche and it also meant that we didn’t have to invest in a new computer-to-plate system. From an environmental standpoint the new press is great as it is waterless and there is less wastage and make-readies."

Last month Presstek unveiled an upgraded version of its flagship 75DI digital offset press at Drupa, which has a bevy of new capabilities including variable data - which can be achieved with the addition of inline imprinting systems - and perfecting.