A ten-colour new generation Rapida 105 fitted with the "no sidelay" technology that was unveiled at last year's Drupa will arrive in October. It joins a six-colour KBA Rapida 105 at the Northampton firm this summer as part of a 3m investment.

"We wanted to push forward to the next stage," said Printhaus joint managing director Mark Hughes. "Investing in this equipment was the only way we could get more capacity."

The investment is part of a shift in strategy for the company, which has traditionally been a Heidelberg house. It currently has a 10-colour Speedmaster 102, which will move from the company early next year.

Hughes added: "We have recently achieved ISO 14001 and the KBA presses are more environmentally friendly. We are looking at reducing alcohol levels to zero or near zero."

Printhaus has also won a contract to print 64pp, A4 magazine The Environmentalist. The title is produced for the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment.

Printhaus has a workforce of 70 and a turnover of 7m, which Hughes hopes to increase to 8.5m.

Story by Philip Chadwick