The company has bought its first KBA press, the ‘drupa-enhanced’ Rapida 106 model, which has a top speed of 20,000sph and can perfect at 18,000sph. A €3.7m, 10-colour machine will be installed at the Wales-based web and sheetfed printer in the autumn.

Westdale has also become the first UK purchaser of Goss’s Purlux 1200 saddlestitcher.

The 12,000bph machine being shown at drupa (Hall 17, stand A59) will be delivered to Westdale directly after the show.

Westdale runs long-perfecting sheetfed presses and a Goss M600 web. The firm specialises in high-quality magazines, brochures and catalogues for blue-chip clients, and has made something of a specialty of handling unusual formats and challenging stocks.

Managing director Alan Padbury said he had been impressed by the KBA press technology and control systems for colour fidelity. "The high production speed and incredibly fast changeovers are the icing on the cake for us."

KBA UK managing director Christian Knapp added: "It is very rewarding to see how Westdale has responded to our continuous press innovations by awarding us with this prestigious order."

On the stitching line, Westdale has opted for a six-station machine as part of a €931,000 bindery spend.

Padbury added: "Speed and efficiency are important, but the key is flexibility. We handle a huge range of stocks and formats and quality is everything – we’d rather slow a line down than produce something that’s not tip-top."

Goss International sales director, UK and Ireland John Chambers said he was delighted to secure the order. "It will be the first in the UK and hopefully the first of many," he said.

Westdale Press Group: the two UK firsts are part of a €4.7m spend