The new press, the company’s first in six years, will be operated on a double-day shift basis at the County Antrim-based, commercial printer.

The 32 year-old firm chose the Speedmaster XL 75, which is being installed this week, for its low running costs and cost-per-copy rating, along with its fast makeready times and low maintenance requirements.

Dargan Press is also upgrading its workflow with Prinect Prepress Manager and Pressroom Manager to enable the operators to minimise makeready times and increase output.

The company offers digital and litho facilities, print management, graphic design, marketing consultancy and point of sale services and an online ordering facility.

Managing director Richard Traynor said: "We handle a wide range of commercial work for customers in Northern Ireland and Great Britain and we needed a flexible press which could handle process colour but also perfected spot colour work."