printers faced with shorter runs, quicker turnaround times, and price pressures are looking at inkjet to not only help migrate some of their traditional work, but to also expand their offering into new markets, including data-driven work. “They now understand that inkjet is very much complimentary to their offset and digital toner operational capabilities.” For print companies considering the inkjet market in 2026, Crane stresses that the range of inkjet offerings is growing, with no one-size-fits-all solution. He believes that it is important to consider volume and throughput, noting that: “Continuous feed solutions will produce more volume at higher speeds, but at a higher investment cost than cut sheet and with more complexity and less flexibility than cut sheet.” He also stresses the ever-important presence of print quality, the core of which he says is still “determined by printhead and ink technology,” as well as substrate breadth and flexibility, which he stresses is particularly important “within a commercial environment.” Jet Tech’s support of customers on their ‘inkjet journey’ starts with an application audit to identify what work is appropriate for the technology. This typically involves testing of customer applications, while allowing the customer to quantify the balance between image quality and cost-per-page. As Crane describes: “Our consultative approach continues post-sale, helping customers with onboarding new jobs and ensuring they maximise their investment.” "Manufacturers will continue to push the boundaries. New developments in both printhead and ink technology will continue to see higher image quality levels on a wider range of stocks, as well as reducing ink costs allowing more applications and volume to transition to inkjet." Crane affirms that new inkjet innovations are on the way and that “manufacturers will continue to push the boundaries.” With Jet Tech holding regular open days at its Warrington showroom where it showcases its print and finishing solutions, you may well see some of those innovations there. Quality Suppliers Rounding out our inkjet experts is Quality Print Supplies (QPS) which offers a variety of wide-format inkjet solutions to the UK market. QPS are the official UK distributor for The ColorJet Group, supplying a range of its UV inkjet printers including flatbed, hybrid, and roll-to-roll variants. This includes the full ColorJet Verve and Vulcan Hybrid ranges – the largest of which being the 5100mm-wide Vulcan 5003. QPS are also long-standing authorised dealers for Roland DG UK, offering the full range of its wide-format inkjet printers. Alongside the machines, inkjet inks are also an important part of QPS’s offering, with the company being the main UK distributor and stockholder for Nazdar Ink Technologies. QPS also stocks and supplies DuPont Artistri Textile ink solutions for a wide range of textile printing platforms. With such a variety of products, QPS has gained insight into the adaptations of the market. Chris Bailey, director at QPS, says: “We have seen the increasing use of linear drive on a wider range of printing technology, including all ColorJet units, which increases performance and reliability.” Bailey also describes how printhead manufacturers have continued to innovate, with the latest developments being incorporated into new units to boost quality, speed, and consistency. On the ink side, Bailey points out that “Nazdar continues to develop new digital ink products with added benefits, particularly UV curing ink.” Describing what he sees as the key components of the inks, he says: “They offer market-leading adhesion to difficult substrates, increased abrasion, and water resistance. All Nazdar UV digital ink products are also GREENGUARD Gold certified.” Bailey notes that the purchase of new solutions, particularly a grand-format flatbed or hybrid printer, is a significant investment for any print company, regardless of size. As he describes: “Track record and support are therefore vitally important. With an increasing influx of lower cost equipment being imported, the longevity of the equipment and the support networks also needs to be considered.” On that end, QPS offers nationwide technical support on a wide range of its printers, with its engineers backed up by a comprehensive spare parts inventory and the company providing a range of tailored service contracts. As the company puts it on its website, the core goal is to provide “technical support and peace of mind.” Jetting Ahead Among all these viewpoints, a recurring theme is that while inkjet technology will continue to advance and many new innovations are just over the horizon, the sector's evolution is moving beyond a binary measure of size, quality, and speed. For many PSPs, the question has evolved from whether inkjet can match the quality of traditional methods to how it can best be integrated into a diversified workflow. Ultimately, the future of the market does not belong to a single technology, but to those who can leverage inkjet’s versatility to meet the demand for shorter runs, faster turnarounds, and more relevant content. As the lines between market segments continue to blur, inkjet stands as the potential catalyst for a more responsive and adaptable industry. 52 Issue 359 - March | April 2026 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk INKJET PRINTERS | JONATHAN PERT ▲ Jet Tech hosts a range of events at its demonstration centre in Warrington, UK ▼ QPS offers the full ColorJet Verve and Vulcan Hybrid ranges
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