Stones Printers managing director John Stone paid £20,000 for the new model from Terry Cooper Services (TCS) in a part exchange deal for the old guillotine. He chose the fully automated CCM78 M5, which was demonstrated at TCS' recent open house, to deliver a speed advantage compared to the old machine, which used a periscope and magnetic tape to determine the back gauge.

He added that the investment had relieved a bottleneck for the £600,000 turnover company since it was installed this autumn. It has enabled the seven-strong team to produce more work through the normal working day due to its reliability, reducing the need for overtime, he said.

The quick turnaround and low set up costs of the machine have been passed to Stones Printers' customers, which Stone said set up the company's competitive edge in the trade form and B3 print market.

The deal reinforces a lengthy business relationship with finishing supplier TCS. Stones Printers bought its first litho offset press from TCS over 25 years ago and continued to call on the distributor for service and parts on the original guillotine.

Stone said: "The functionality of guillotines hasn’t changed much over 30 years but the technology and build certainly has.

"TCS have extensive experience in the service and supply of guillotines and also knew our business and we felt they were qualified to advise us on what type of machine would provide the best productivity."