The Gloucester-based business has invested in a C901 Graphic Arts Edition complete with scanner and inline finishing.

The company's new digital machine follows on from its £1.1m investment in a five-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75 perfecting press, which was installed earlier this year.

Alpha's Ricoh press will benefit from fully calibrated production by fitting in to the company's pre-press manager and pressroom manager workflow set-up.

According to managing director Jeff Williams, the company was confident of Heidelberg's support and integration services.

He said: "We were reviewing options before the Heidelberg-Ricoh worldwide agreement was announced and had viewed the Ricoh. This made the decision easy.

"Customers don’t care what technology is used to print their work, they care about price. Today quality is comparable and Heidelberg will calibrate all our equipment to a common standard."

Alpha Colour Printers, which was established in 1979, offers a range of litho, digital and wide-format services.