Slough-based X1 has installed the colour production press as part of an on-going investment programme that has already seen the 22-staff business acquire a local printer and revamp its litho offering this year.

The company anticipates that the new digital machine will help grow the business over the next 18 months in a bid to double turnover to more than £3m.

According to Tim Lance, sales director at X1, the business is expecting digital work to make up half of its output within the next two years.

He said: "Today’s commercial environment demands a near instant response to customer requests and favours personalised communication and one-to-one marketing.

"We can now offer our customers a more comprehensive service, from design and branding, litho and digital printing, through to direct mail and fulfillment."

The press has arrived with Kodak Nexpress dimensional clear dry ink, which allows for a three-dimensional effect to be applied on print jobs.

Dimensional ink printing is carried out by loading clear dry ink into the Nexpress's fifth imaging unit, which creates a clear raised layer on the page.

According to Lance, the ink helps give jobs the "wow" factor and has had a positive reaction from clients for jobs such as mailings and brochures. 

He said: "The solution is at the vanguard of print technology and is perfect for marketing and communications agencies that want to create high-impact campaigns.

"It is ideal for companies that want to rebrand and change their corporate identities using creative design and print."

The company's latest investment ties in to its growing web-to-print offering, which has been trialled with some of X1's customer base.

"We are taking full advantage of the latest print technologies and combining them with the power of the internet and social media to reach out to more customers," Lance added.