The secondhand press is a late 2008 model with a "very low impression count", according to MTP managing director Alistair Sanderson who said that it would bring the firm's Kendal facility "up to date".

It features full closed-loop spectrophotometer and densitometer colour control, which has helped slash makereadies from 40-45 minutes on the old four-colour press down to 5-10 minutes with the new machine.

"It's got a running speed of 15,000sph versus around 10,000sph on the old machine, as well as faster makereadies and greater colour control," said Sanderson.

He added: "We've been running overcapacity for well over 12 months. We've had to farm out £30-40,000 of work in the past six months because of that and this investment will allow us to bring that back in and to build on what we've got."

The secondhand press purchase takes MTP's total investment to more than £500,000 over the past 18 months, including an upgrade to its digital facilities, the addition of a 16-station Horizon booklet maker, and the purchase of the company's premises.

"We hope over the next six months to increase the output of the company, with a view to create some more jobs in the near future," said Sanderson.

A timelapse video of the old press being removed and the new machine coming in can be viewed here.