Cambridge-based Plumridge installed the UK's first Horizon BQ160 single clamp binder, a Horizon APC-61SB guillotine and a Creasematic 50 suction-fed autocreaser.

According to Oliver Plumridge, who runs the company with his father Tim Plumridge, the firm undertook a company-wide review of 18 months ago, which led to the installation of an Océ 2110 and a CS665, its first move into digital.

"Digital printing is a perfect way for small companies like us to compete in a market that was previously beyond our scope," said Plumridge. "Since then we have tried to bring as many processes in house as we can. Not only does that mean we are more responsive as we can turn the work around faster, but it also minimises our outgoings.

"We were sending all our perfect binding out but the local company we used went into receivership, so we had to start using another firm further afield. It just wasn’t cost-effective or a valuable use of time to send a few copies to be completed. We also couldn’t really wait for orders to be batched together because customers want a much faster turnaround these days," he added.

The £200,000-a-year turnover company's BQ160 features a colour touchscreen and comes in a number of operation modes: with cover, without cover, tape bind, padding, notching and without notching.