The Barnstaple-based business has installed the 2m wide flat-bed and roll-fed machine as a complementary technology to its in-house print and finishing operation.

Bruce Isaac, managing director at The Sign Shop, said investing in the M2050 machine has allowed the 10-staff company to broaden its product offering.

"We can now print onto plywood, which gives a rich and aged effect when printing photos and other applications," he added.

Established 18 years ago, The Sign Shop serves a range of trade and agency clients, including those in the retail and restaurant sectors.

According to Isaac the addition of the new machine places the company one step ahead of the competition.

"It has got to the point where most sign and display shops have some element of digital technology in their portfolio but the Anapurna M2050 ensures that we are pressing ahead of the rest," he said.

The M2050 is a six-colour plus white ink machine that can print on 4.5 cm thickness on rigid media. Typical output speeds on the model are 24sqm an hour using the machine's four-pass bi-directional mode

Isaac said: "The quality of print we’re achieving on the :Anapurna M2050 is defined by the small picolitre size of the print-heads which produces very fine standards of text and graphics.

"Another plus factor is the white ink which has enhanced our overall creativity using different types of material."