The company, which writes, prints and publishes local magazines and is a jobbing printer, has recently expanded its business to include a third publication.

Owner Mike Mayhew said: "Due to the success of the monthly Southwold Gazette and the fortnightly Aldeburgh Gazette, we decided to launch a third publication for the residents and businesses in Saxmundham and Leiston.

"This is when we started to look at automating our platemaking, which until very recently was done with a Xante laser film maker and a print down frame."

In total, the overall monthly circulation for the three publications totals approximately 5,700. Mayhew shrugged off concerns about the negative trend in the current local advertising market and is optimistic about his company’s future.

Southwold Press decided to install its own printer rather than rely on a larger printing multinational simply to try and keep control of costs.

The company put forward an application for a Presstek Vector TX52, a chemistry-free thermal metal CTP system, because of its previous experience with the Presstek ABDick-branded 9910 two-colour press.

The application to NWES (Norfolk and Waveney Enterprise Services) was successful for the most part due to the choice of the environmentally friendly system.

Mayhew continued: "The Vector was installed six weeks ago and, with excellent training provided by Presstek’s engineers, we were up and running very quickly. It outputs very high quality plates at a rate of up to 20 per hour, and is certainly saving us time and effort."