The new machine is for the CPI Mackays site in Chatham, Kent.

The company bought its first Corona in 2008, a move that was heralded as the company's most "significant investment in 20 years". Ian Smith, chief operating office at CPI's UK book division, said that the company opted for a second Corona as the first one had proved to be such a hit.

"We aim to duplicate our success and the second system has added features to enhance and streamline our manufacturing capabilities," said Smith. "The Corona will bring significant new capacity and prepare us for future digital production methods. It also perfectly complements our existing equipment."

Muller Martini UK managing director Andreas Schillinger said that he was proud of his firm's relationship with CPI and pledged to ensure that the "new binder provides them with even greater productivity".

The Corona C12 has a top speed of 12,000 copies per hour and offers fast makeready thanks to its automated set-up screens. It will be fitted with the latest ASIR 3 signature recognition device, which helps to eliminate mis-collation errors.

The investment is part of a wider strategy to ensure that the company remains a leading UK book printer.

"CPI is committed to the latest technology in order to remain the most comprehensive business partner for our UK publishing customers into the future," explained Smith.

CPI UK, headed up by chief executive Francois Golicheff, has three divisions: CPI Antony Rowe, its printon-demand and short-run operation; CPI Clowes, geared towards the production of bespoke products; and its trade plants CPI Mackays, CPI Bookmarque and CPI Cox and Wyman, responsible for production of mass-market paperbacks.