The 24-station binding line has been relocated to the 65,000sqm Prinovis UK site in Liverpool from the group’s Itzehoe gravure facility in Germany, which ceased production in April.

“It’s actually a hybrid binder – it’s part-C18 and part-Norm,” explained Richard Gray, managing director of Prinovis UK.

The Norm binder was originally installed in the UK, at Ebenezer Baylis, where it was used for Great Universal Stores catalogue work. It was subsequently relocated to Germany.

“It’s in really, really good condition. You wouldn’t know it’s not a new machine,” Gray added. “It has all the bells and whistles on it, including double nips and double gluing.”

The Norm binder is being installed now and should be fully up and running next month. It joins an existing Kolbus Publica perfect binding line, which the firm bought four years ago.

Separately, Prinovis UK has just been recognised as an Investor in People, and has gained the accreditation’s bronze standard. The £63.7m-turnover gravure printer employs more than 400 people at its Speke plant. 

Human resource director Vicci Tatton said it was testament to the company’s ‘People Matter’ approach: “It is particularly pleasing that the assessment recognised the passion and pride demonstrated by our workforce, together with our standing as a good neighbour in the local business community.”

The firm has also had two new liveried trailers produced, emblazoned with the Prinovis logo and the strapline 'Delivering the power of print'. It produces magazines, newspaper supplements, brochures and catalogues for a wide range of customers including Argos, Ikea, News UK, B&Q and Asda. 

Prinovis is part of Be Printers, the printing wing of German media giant Bertelsmann.