The Italian printing operation will install a Cerutti 335R gravure rotary press at its Verona operation at the beginning of next year.

Mondadori Printing chief executive Alberto De Matthaeis (pictured) said that the press would be operating at full capacity by May.

"The ongoing investment is part of our plan for improving our position in Europe."

He added that the firm also hopes to increase its revenue from the UK, which currently stands at 18.2m (26.4).

"We have all operations, from printing to binding and finishing, under one roof," said De Matthaeis.

Clients include Emap, Grattan, Ikea, National Geographic, Pearson, Sky TV and Thomas Cook.

In 2004 the print operation generated sales of 313m (456m), with foreign sales totalling 55.5m.

The company employs more than 2,000 staff. Its main foreign markets are the UK, Austria, Belgium Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Scandinavia and the US. It was founded as a small printing shop in 1907 by Arnoldo Mondadori.

It is now part of the Mondadori Group, which has worldwide sales of 1.13bn.