The five-unit 32pp short grain press is expected to be fully operational by April 2006. It will be installed alongside Bradford's existing four-unit 32pp MAN Roland Lithoman, which also has in-line finishing capability.

The firm hopes the added ability to stitch in-line and twin stream off the end of both 32pp presses will enhance efficiency and save clients money.

"We looked for that gap in the market in which we could develop our business and found that there was high demand in the insert market," said divisional managing director David McGolpin. "This press will significantly increase our flexibility to supply traditional demand for medium-run 12, 16, 24 and 32pp, A4, 210mm square and other cut-off stitched booklets, catalogues and mailers."

It is Direct's largest purchase of kit, dwarfing its 1m spend in the digital side of its business last August, when it installed one of the first HP Indigo digital web presses in the country at its Leeds site.

"This new five-unit press will give the company the confidence to go out and win even bigger jobs and take the business forward," said MAN Roland's web director Norman Revill.