The work comprises distance learning packages for the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, with run lengths ranging from five to 800 across 85 different titles.

Jonathan Harry, managing director of 38-staff RPM, told printweek.com his firm was "geared up for this kind of work" and that it promoted the Chichester-based firm's "short-run, fast-turnaround" business model.

The £2.3m-turnover digital and litho operation runs a Xerox Nuvera, DocuTech and DocuColor 8000 alongside a web-fed Xerox 495.

Harry said the length of each run was the deciding factor in which kit was used, adding that longer-run covers could also be produced on one of its two B3 Heidelberg Speedmaster 52s, a two-colour and a five-colour.

"We think of it as a good example of what we can do with the kit we've got, from digital and litho to finishing and fulfillment."

He added that despite the ultra short-run component of the three-year contract, the deal as a whole made it "worth our while".