The five-colour Speedmaster SM 74 will be installed in March, replacing a five-colour B3 press.

Director Darren Roberts (pictured right) said the fifth colour would be used at its Merthyr Tydfil plant, mostly for time sensitive sealing work.

"This is also our first machine with Vario dampening, which will help us to run quicker and give us better quality control," he added.

Roberts reckoned the automation would allow it to run two-up B3 as well as B2 work on the press even for short runs.

The new machine will work alongside another five-colour SM 74. Alongside the press investment the firm is building a new department for its Mac-packed repro unit.

Rainbow also installed a Heidelberg Stitchmaster ST100 last year, which partly led to the latest press investment.