Both machines, supplied by Ashgate Automation, have been installed at the council's printing department.

The large-format 'lay-flat' bookmaker, coupled with the Casematic hardcover maker, allows the print operation to offer photobook printing and finishing to more than 120 schools in the region.

Angie Moakler, design and production manager within the print department, said: "I don’t know of another council that has made this type of investment, which we believe makes very good commercial sense, as well as helping our education department.

"There are 123 schools within South Lanarkshire to whom we can now offer this service, primarily through their Parent Teacher Associations."

School yearbooks are digitally printed on the council's Canon 7000VP before being creased then folded and finally finished on the Fastbind FotoMount.

Each page block is then trimmed and attached to a hardcase cover on the Casematic machine.

"Finishing a job in a hardcover gives it impact and makes a big difference when handing out photocopied or digitally printed material," Moakler added.