The 64pp web press, to be delivered next month, was ordered at Drupa and will have a four-unit over four-unit stacked configuration.

The Warrington plant has also bought a second Muller Martini C12 Corona perfect binding line, which is due to be installed in early 2005.

Chief executive Graham Luff said that the investment will allow the publisher, owned by Guardian Media Group (GMG), to end outsourcing of print for certain magazines, as well as shoring up the company's disaster recovery capability.

He added that the press would allow TMG, which publishes Auto Trader and 70 other titles, to print more contract work, including possible supplement printing for The Guardian and The Observer. "We have some spare capacity, and thus the flexibility for The Guardian to use our presses if appropriate," said Luff.

The investment follows  a multi-million pound upgrade by TMG to Creo CTP at Apple Web Offset and Wiltshires in Bristol (PrintWeek, 19 August).

Meanwhile, Luff will is to step down as TMG chief executive and GMG board member next March, to be replaced by Jerry Fowden, president of brewer InBev's western, central and eastern European operations.

Story by Josh Brooks