The Cardiff-based company anticipates the machine, which will be on show at Drupa, will help the business reach 60m impressions a year.

Heidelberg's 12-colour press is part of an £8m investment programme by Westdale. It was installed at its plant in December 2007, but has been kept under wraps while being tested.

At Drupa 2004, managing director Alan Padbury was said to be on the verge of buying a shorter XL 105, but decided the company needed the long perfector capability.

He said: "This is a short-run press as well as a long-run press, but you need to make use of its full format. Makeready is extremely fast – we have attained 15 minute set-ups – and the net running speed is at least 25% faster.

"This has been a great installation for us. Our overall output has lifted by more than a quarter. Printers buying this technology will need pallet space at the feeder and delivery ends to take full advantage of its productivity."

The Westdale Press handles runs from 500 sheets through to 1m plus. Its customers include the National Assembly for Wales, Fabbri, Hachette Filipacchi, National Magazines and Open University.