The Hawkshurst, Kent-based company, which publishes and prints a range of magazine titles, has taken delivery of a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75-5, Suprasetter 75 platesetter, Polar 92X guillotine and Prepress manager.

The new press will replace two existing B2 machines and will up capacity at the print business.

In addition to the weekly 104pp The Wealden Advertiser, the 40-staff business prints several other weekly and monthly magazines in runs of up to 34,500.

The £2.8m-turnover company also prints some short-run niche titles and has a burgeoning business in producing paper carrier bags for brands such as Marks & Spencer, Virgin Atlantic and Prada in runs up to 10,000.

Graham Thorn, general manager at Wealden Advertiser, said: "We are a bit of a unconventional company in what we do, but the addition of the press, platesetter and guillotine will help us expand that."

The company's XL 75 press offers it a wide range of stock handling, improved feeder board and increased throughput compared to its previous presses.

Thorn said: "Originally, we were going to buy secondhand, but we liked what Heidelberg could offer us via the XL 75 with its improved feeder board, speed and colour control and consistency."

According to Thorn, the business is now looking to expand its magazine reach across Kent.

"We're looking to where there is a need for print. If that means thinking outside the box, so be it," he said.