The 50-staff firm has installed a Screen PlateRite 8800 thermal platesetter, following the purchase last December of a secondhand 12-colour Heidelberg 102 perfector with CutStar.

EPC Direct managing director Matthew Trounce said the new capacity was likely to push turnover up from last year's 4.4m to more than 5m in 2005.

"It's increased our capacity and set the bar a bit higher for our sales team. It's also altered our approach to our business because we've now got to get out there and compete for the bigger jobs," said Trounce.

He added that the firm was widening its customer base to meet "the longer-run needs of banks, building societies and other financial institutions".

Major clients for EPC Direct, which also runs a five-colour Heidelberg SM102, include Future Publishing, Bafta and Somerfield.