CPS commercial director Jonathan Woodcock said that the new site would help CPS gain the required accreditation to move into the food packaging arena. The company currently produces outer wraps for the magazine sector.

"We had to make the jump or we would not have gone anywhere," said Woodcock. "If you play it safe then the market just catches up with you and we found that more clients wanted eight-colour work.

"Magazines have set us up nicely and it means that we have the skills to go into another market."

Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Patricia Hewitt formally opened the new 3,100m2 facility on a 2.5 acre site, half a mile away from its old factory.

The move was made to accommodate a new eight-colour Comexi FB press which features a gearless direct drive computer control system. The press is also equipped with a reprint system allowing up to 16 colours to be printed in two passes.

Story by Philip Chadwick