The Exeter-based company has installed a Heidelberg Stitchmaster, a Stahl folder – also from Heidelberg – and a Duplo DPB-500 PUR binder.

According to managing director Dennis Mason, the investment in PUR binding was crucial because there was only one local provider the company could turn to.

He said: "We had an excellent relationship with the supplier, but with the digital side of the business increasing we needed to have more control on PUR binding. It is crucial to be able to provide fast turnaround and this investment matches our recent digital investments."

The binder was installed in October and was later joined by the Stitchmaster, which replaces an ageing machine.

Mason said that Pollards was looking forward to 2010 after three years of investments that had completely changed the £5.5m-turnover company's product-base.

He said: "If we had continued the way we were working, we probably wouldn't exist now. We were handling commercial stationery and there is just no room for it. We took advantage of the recession to change the direction of the company."

The business now offers web-to-print and said it has picked up some very big clients in recent years.

Mason said: "We moved from B3 into B2 and increased our digital work and introduced a design arm."

Pollards is still owned by the family that started it up in 1781 and today employs 72 staff.