Alan Johnson, director at 22-staff Worksop-based BPC, said: "I am confident this saddlestitching service will bring in new work, we have already handled a 27,000 run 12pp A4 saddlestitched product. This is typical of the work, although runs can extend to 40,000 or 50,000."

He added that one customer had already committed to having 1m saddlestitched books per year.

Initially, the saddlestitcher will run single-day shifts but will eventually marry up with the extended days that the pressroom runs.

Bayliss Printing is a 57-year-old company that offers general commercial print and short-run magazines. Its print business has a turnover of around £1m.