Previously, the company had used a number of hand-fed platens to die-cut its work, but additional work from customers such as Tesco meant it needed a semi-automatic machine.

Managing director Bradley Slade said: "We have seen a huge increase in our run lengths. As our clients have become bigger and their estates have grown our quantities have gone up and up.

"Tesco has several thousand stores; if each store has 20 hanging signs, that is a long run. That is the quality of client we are working for now though."

The £200,000 machine has a cutting pressure of 450 tonnes and can handle sheet sizes between a minimum of 500x600mm and a maximum of 1,500x 2,120mm. It runs at 2,500 sheets per hour.

Slade added that speed-to-market was also key in the 150-staff company’s decision to automate its die-cutting.

He said: "Promotions are so last minute now. We have promotions that are in and out in 24 hours and despatched directly to stores. We needed something quick and flexible to handle that."

SMP Group has ramped up its effort to bring in new business in the last three years, resulting in a number of new accounts and tender wins. It has increased turnover from £20m to £26m in the past year.