The first press of this specification, which uses both UV and conventional inks, went in last year and opened up new packaging and commercial opportunities for the company.

The new machine will be delivered in January, joining the existing UV/conventional hybrid press and a B1 Speedmaster XL 106-8-P Push to Stop long perfector. All three presses run around the clock for six days a week.

The new XL 106-5+LX3 will come equipped with Inpress Control register and colour control and adjustment, an Autoplate Pro plate changing device and wash up systems for both UV and conventional work.

Zenith Print Group managing director John Mooney said: “As expected the first hybrid or combination press has run three-quarters of the time as a conventional press, but having the ability to quickly and easily change to UV is a real advantage.

“This is ideal equipment for our company, which handles both commercial and packaging work, requiring different stand-out finishes.

“All our consumables are supplied by Heidelberg because we trust them to have tested them for different applications and it means we have one port of call if anything does go wrong and we need advice. We rely on their knowledge and first-rate support.”

Zenith Print Group, headquartered in Treforest, Pontypool, also comprises Zenith Media and Zenith Print & Packaging, spanning Pontypool and Pontypridd, as well as three further bases solely dedicated to its digital print and display graphics arm C3 Imaging.

The group has been undertaking an extensive spending spree in the last few years. C3 Imaging took delivery of a number of new large-format devices, including four HP Latexes, in April and May while other recent installs within the group have included a triple investment in Heidelberg Versafires and a Stahlfolder.

The three new Polar N115 Plus guillotines, two for Zenith’s Pontypool site and one for its Pontypridd base, will also be installed in January.