The digital press went live in March to further expand the York company's capability so it can print A4 landscape-format brochures.

Established in 1905, the company has been run by the Richardson family since the 1920s.

Sales director Alan Coulson, who has been with the company for 40 years, said it recently installed Infigo's Catfish software and hoped the new machine and online ordering capability would be used by consumers wanting bunting, flags and cards for parties.

“We've always been a business-to-business printer but we hope these investments will make Joe Bloggs in the street say 'I want two dozen flags for a party'.”

The Xerox Versant 180, which costs around £75,000, can run 6pp A4 portrait prints or A4 landscape prints, which was a major plus for Wood Richardson, Coulson said.

The device is additional to existing kit, which includes a Xerox Versant 2100, a Xeikon D500 and a six-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster CD B2 litho press. The 25-staff firm makes a turnover of just under £2m.

Coulson added: “This printer increases our capability to print A4 documents in a landscape folded format quickly, more cost-effectively and onto a broader range of stocks.

“Currently this is not widely available in the print industry and so we hope this will give our customers more choice and value for money.”