The Milton Keynes-based company said that it realised the need for the machine because, while its overall print volumes had not changed, run lengths were falling.

Business and marketing manager Christopher Ward said: "Whereas run lengths used to be predominantly between 2,500 and 5,000 they are now 500 to 2,000 so we have to find ways to help handle the same volume of work but with more makereadies.

"The new folder makes a big difference to the speed we complete our folding work and therefore our productivity as a whole."

CUP's PF-40L paper folder features a suction rotor feeding mechanism that can handle a wide variety of paper stocks from 52.3-157gsm.

Up to 20 jobs can be stored in the on-board computer for instant recall and it can handle from 390 sheets per minute. The machine's high capacity feed table can hold up to 1,300 sheets.

Although CUP is a commercial printer, a large amount of the £650,000-turnover, eight-staff company's work comes from Cranfield University and its students.

It runs a Heidelberg DigiMaster, Canon ImagePress C6000, Canon VP150, Oce 65e and a Canon wide-format poster press.