Prototype versions of Memjet machines The M1 envelope printer and Speedstar 3000 label printer were both shown at Northprint in April; both machines are now available to the UK market.

According to AMS managing director Kevin McPheat, the M1 could find its way into many different sectors.

He said: "You could see it at a digital printer or at a commercial plant. It can be used to print corporate logos on an envelope, barcodes or there is even an attachment that allows it to print individual business cards."

It is capable of printing full process colour at the rate of 3,600 A4 sheets or 9,000 envelopes per hour and is available from £12,950.

The Speedstar is a reel-fed machine that runs in full colour at 1,600 x 800 dpi at 300mm/second or 1,600 x 1,600 dpi at 150mm/second. Print width runs from 50mm to 222mm and it can handle substrates from 0.13mm to 0.33mm thick. It has a list price of £9,500.

McPheat said: "In a way the Speedstar 3000 will be an even bigger product for us. If somebody comes to a litho printer and asks for 1,000 labels they will have to add a set up charge and you are talking about £500 for the job. The Speedster removes that cost."