The Northern Ireland-based display and point-of-sale business signed for the new machine, which is supplied by Digital Print Innovations (DPI), at last week's Sign and Digital UK show in Birmingham.

The company's latest acquisition, which can cut, crease and mill, can output at speeds up to 100sqm an hour on a cutting table area of 1.68x3.05m.

According to Barry Desmond, sales and marketing manager for Alexander Boyd, the company wanted to offer more intricate and innovative designs to its retail point-of-sale customers, "while also increasing finishing throughput for our larger, outdoor work, and the EskoArtwork Kongsberg XP24 table from DPI allows us to do both".

He added: "Having researched all the options and all the channels, we liked the prospect of DPI's full service and support, and its commitment to helping us get the most out of our investment."

The 45-staff company's Kongsberg XP24 is capable of finishing a range of materials, from single-flute corrugated and foam to MDF, Plexiglas and aluminium.

Stewart Bell, managing director of Digital Print Innovations, said Alexander Boyd was "a prime example of a business that needs fast throughput for short- and long-run outdoor applications" as well as the capability to tackle attractive, complex retail work.

"Sign and Digital UK proved to be the right showcase and we look forward to helping them as they realise the full potential and power of their new cutter," he added.