The London-based print firm trades as a co-operative with 11 equal partners in the company.

Ruth Lukom, one of the partners, said she hoped there would be more investment in the near future, but that this spend would satisfy the company's current requirements. "We hope this will improve quality and turnaround," she said.

The PM 74 is the firm's first four-colour press, and it replaces a Speedmaster SM 74-2.

Lukom said the company was developing a reputation for fine art and catalogue printing and that she hoped the new press would help
to improve business in those areas.

Aldgate reported a turnover of around 850,000 in 2004 and the figure for this year is expected to be in the same region.