Four lines, including MSD-M inserting drums, RollStream winding kit, SNT trimming and StreamStitch inline stitching will be installed at the plant.

The site produces a range of national and regional titles including the Daily Record, Sunday Mail, Scottish Daily Mirror and Racing Post.

Swiss firm Ferag's UK agent WRH Marketing brokered the deal, the latest in a string of installations for publishers including News International, Guardian Media Group and Johnston Press.

Duncan Gilchrist, Saltire director and general manager, said that the Ferag kit had been chosen for its "lower equipment lifetime cycle costs" and its small footprint.

Installation will begin next year for the lines, which will allow Saltire to produce a stitched and trimmed paper or magazine up to 260pp inline.

The deal comes as Trinity Mirror, under the leadership of group director of manufacturing Rupert Middleton, upgrades its national print network to print full-colour by 2008.

An overhaul of Saltire's four KBA Commander presses to print in full colour is planned. Sources say that KBA will be chosen to complete the upgrade.

For Trinity Mirror's Watford site, MAN Roland is expected to complete a deal soon to beef up its 12 Colorman lines to full-colour production.

Press rivals Goss and Wifag have also provided presses for Trinity Mirror in recent investments, notably at its Cardiff, Midlands and Oldham sites.

Ferag's 2005 mailroom deals
News International: Waltham Cross,
Knowsley and Glasgow
Guardian Media Group: Guardian Print Centre, London
Johnston Press: Peterborough Web
Cambridge Newspapers
The Scotsman Publications: Caledonian Offset