Jetfire 75. Doherty sees Kyocera as a competitor in the lower-volume inkjet space, with the TASKalfa Pro 15000c noted as “one of the most underutilised products on the market” despite its cost-effective system being ideal for transactional print. Doherty anticipates Kyocera’s forthcoming Pro55000c to be transformative in the space due to its high print resolution and ability to print on coated and uncoated stocks as standard – he calls this “a game changer for inkjet.” Despite these innovations, Doherty asserts the real ‘inkjet revolution’ that the industry has been promised is still yet to happen. As he puts it: “Is inkjet improving? Yes, absolutely. Will inkjet replace toner and/or lithography? Not in my working life (about 20 years).” According to Doherty, while inkjet printing technology has a growing place alongside toner and litho, it is still not a ‘catch-all’ technology. He explains: “It’s important for companies looking to invest in inkjet to know exactly what to expect from their investment. That’s where DPS comes in – we have a very specific process that we follow to truly understand the requirements of our clients.” DPS’s core aim, in Doherty’s words, is to make the “management and operation of the equipment supplied as easy and pain-free as possible.” He continues: “We have a number of unique initiatives that we use to ensure this happens. I’m not going to share all my secrets or everyone will be following suit, but I’m happy to discuss our approach with anyone who feels we could help them.” In terms of his vision of the future of inkjet, Doherty believes that significant innovations are anticipated in the SRA3/B3 format space, highlighting the flexibility of the format for a variety of commercial print work. He sees less chance of major advancements in B2 inkjet in the short-term, adding: “I’m not convinced there’s much more to do in the B2 inkjet space, although I’m sure some will disagree with me.” On this point, Doherty cites the potentially high investment cost and poor value-retention of B2 digital presses which in his opinion can make the systems a risky financial choice. He also notes that Fujifilm’s recent withdrawal from the B2 inkjet market in Europe, indicating a potential industry shift towards SRA3 offerings, with other manufacturers expected to follow suit. As he puts it: “Believe me when I tell you that Fujifilm know exactly what they are doing. Globally, Fujifilm are probably the strongest manufacturer operating within the commercial print sector – they know digital printing inside-out and they didn’t make this decision lightly. I fully expect to see a new SRA3 offering from Fujifilm at some point in the future.” Max Volume Another company with a broad perspective on inkjet is PrintMAX, a UK-wide supplier of Roland, Mimaki, and Summa wide-format printers and cutters. According to PrintMAX managing director, Michael Bolton, the company has seen a clear shift in what customers are asking for. He explains: “Many want to increase productivity, but without stepping into the costs or complexities that typically come with industrial systems.” Bolton sees the launch of the Roland TrueVIS XP and XG platforms as being a clear reflection of that shift. He says: “The XG-640 in particular sits in a space that makes sense for established sign and graphics businesses. It offers the speed and durability needed to scale output, but without forcing customers to completely rethink their workflow or operating model.” He also notes the Mimaki CJV330-160 and CJV200 series as providing continued appeal to customers who value flexibility, stating that they work “particularly well for businesses producing a wide mix of signage, display, and short-run graphics,” where factors such as reliability, colour accuracy, and application range matter just as much as outright speed. PrintMAX works with Hybrid Services, Mimaki’s 50 Issue 359 - March | April 2026 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk INKJET PRINTERS | JONATHAN PERT I’m not convinced there’s much more to do in the B2 inkjet space, although I’m sure some will disagree with me By 2024, digital printing (led by inkjet) was estimated to account for almost 20% of all print value globally, according to a Smithers report 20% ▼ Will Doherty of DPS highlights innovations including the Canon iX1700 and HEIDELBERG Jetfire 75
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