The second machine, an eight-colour long perfector, is due to be installed in August and will replace a Ryobi 925. It runs at 15,000sph and will be used for business cards, posters and leaflets, typically in runs of around 2,000.

Tradeprint managing director Rod Scrimgeour said the new machine cost around £3m and will run alongside the first Speedmaster XL, a 10-colour machine that cost about £3.5m.

"The first press did everything we expected and more," he said. "We had anticipated it being up to four times as productive as the SM 74-10P it replaced, but in fact, it has given us a five-fold increase.

"Makereadies of four to four-and-a-half minutes are ideal for the high volume of short runs we handle on a daily basis. Before, 99.8% of orders went out on time; now we are hitting 100%.

The company is also upgrading its processors and adding lasers to its original Suprasetter 105 to increase the speed of output of its Saphira NA101 plates. This was critical to keeping two "very hungry presses supplied for maximum performance", he said.

Scrimgeour added: "Expensive price points are unsustainable. By having the best software systems, accessible online web-to-print services and the best equipment we are able to attain the price points today’s trade market requires.

"We are commodity, commercial printers combining many jobs per plate to maximise time and waste efficiency. That approach, combined with a clear business plan, is why we are in a position to invest for further rapid growth."

The £8m investment programme includes an extension of the Tradeprint.co.uk offices in Dundee.

"We employ more software developers than we do print minders and have recently beefed up our development team," explains Scrimgeour. "Investment is crucial to staying ahead of our competitors and is the key to our success."

Heidelberg said the sale represented the fastest repeat order for the XL 106 in the UK to date, possibly the world.