The Buckinghamshire-based UV dryer manufacturer installed its Dual UV system, launched last November, on Toronto-based customer’s Heidelberg B1 press and two Komori B1 machines at a printer in Montreal. The deals with the undisclosed companies totalled around £200,000 each.

The system can be retrofitted onto a vast range of presses and now comes with a spare Eco UV lamp cassette to enable users to cure both standard and low energy UV inks.

The installs follow the company securing a partnership with Pierry Manufacturing in the US. The Montana-based manufacturer will act as a distributor and service provider for the UK company across North America, and will eventually begin producing Benford systems for US customers.

Benford managing director Marc Boden said: "I think America and Canada are coming out of the recession a lot quicker than us, and we were there at the right time.

"We’ve just got our foot in the door in America and it’s a pretty big market. We want to get our name known for making a really good quality product and want to become the first choice for UV printers.

"I always have been proud of British manufacturing but I am truly proud of our product. It's innovative yet simple."

The company has now set its sights on other new markets, with Australia and South America, particularly Brazil, at the top of Boden's wish list.

Benford is also teaming up with its Indian distributor, MGE Graphic Systems, at Printpack India at the end of February, the first time it has ever had a stand at a trade show.