The new equipment was installed at the firm’s Oldham, Manchester-based production facility last week, replacing its Edale Alpha four-colour press.

“I am really impressed with the quality of the print and vibrancy of the colours. We couldn’t have asked for more really,” said managing director Chris Simmons.

“We had some colour consistency issues on the previous machine because our new inks were drying too quickly meaning we kept having to stop and start the machine to clean it down for a simple run of 3,000 labels, so it was imperative that we switched to the new UV machine,” he added.

Simmons said he hoped the new machine would help the £2m-turnover business to increase sales by 30-50% over the coming year. 

“It’s an ambitious figure but we are taking into consideration the potential customers we have had waiting on the sideline for us to invest in this UV machine,” he explained. 

The new Edale press is the latest in a string of investments made over the last few years that have helped the firm grow from a design agency to a fully fledged design and print operation.

The spends include a CNC router in 2011 and two Océ Arizona flatbeds, a 350GT with white ink installed in 2010, and a new 360GT at the beginning of 2012. Additionally last year the business installed two HP Latex 6500 wide-format printers at its circa 465sqm facility. 

Since launching the business in 2009 with just two graphic designers on its staff, Simmons has expanded the business to 15 employees, and an in-house print facility. 

Simmons said that he hoped to continue investing next year “if all goes to plan” with a potential spend of £200,000 on another label press and a move into more short-run digital work. 

“We do a lot of rebrand work, designing and printing labels and point of sale products. Many of our clients have brochures as well and we have to farm that out currently but we are looking to bring that in-house and that’s where a digital investment would come in,” he added.