The company has entered into a strategic agreement with Kern and Pitney Bowes.

The Leicester site will take delivery of three high-speed Pitney Bowes APS enclosing machines and a new high-speed Ehret sheet and folding line. The move is designed to increase capacity from 250m packs a year to 400m.

"In order to reach our targets we have had to get an investment plan together and this spend is the first part of that," said Vertis Leicester managing director Richard Husband.

The Croydon site has taken delivery of two 2500 Kern enclosing machines with inline folding capabilities for A3 and A4 documents.

The new additions double the site's capacity to 100m packs a year.

"One benefit to Vertis is the machines are scaleable and will support further growth in our business. We are already securing additional contracts," said Vertis Europe managing director Adriaan Roosen.

Husband took over as managing director last year, having joined from direct mail printer K2.

Story by Philip Chadwick