small- and large-format print across multiple touchpoints.” With versatility in mind, Smith highlights an array of Canon technology which can help PSPs with maintaining print quality across a range applications. Canon’s UVgel technology, for example, pins ink to the media before curing it with UV LED light, meaning it can achieve precise dot placement and produce instantly dry, scratch and scuff-resistant output. “Finishing technology can add another dimension too,” adds Smith, who explains: “FLXfinish+ enables PSPs to combine matte and gloss effects within the same print without requiring an additional varnish channel, creating more opportunities to differentiate finished applications. FLXture builds on this by adding texture to prints, helping PSPs create a more premium look and feel and add value to applications in markets such as high-end retail and décor" When it comes to what printers and sign-makers should keep an eye on, Smith says productivity will continue to be a key challenge, especially as customers expect faster turnaround times without a comprise on consistency. “Products such as the Colorado M-series are not only fast but can operate effectively with minimal intervention and quality checking, helping skilled employees focus more of their time on areas such as finishing.” An Arsenal of Printers Another company which has significantly expanded its range of products within the past 24-months is Agfa, a provider of digital inkjet printing solutions which are designed for the sign, display, décor, and packaging markets. Speaking about its latest releases, Bruno Vermeulen, marketing director for Digital Printing Solutions (DPC), highlights the Jeti Bronco H3300 HS which launched at PRINTING United 2025 and was a winner of a 2026 EDP Award. “This 3.3m hybrid UV inkjet combines an integrated roll-to-roll system with a seven-colour plus white configuration to broaden application capability while maintaining high throughput,” says Vermeulen. Also recently launched was the Tauro range, which includes the new Jeti Tauro H3300 HS, which sits alongside the H3300 UHS and H3300 XUHSA. Vermeulen adds: “While the XUHS is the fastest printer in the range, delivering speeds up to 1,280m2/h, the H3300 HS provides an entry point into the Tauro family. This press makes industrial printing accessible and straightforward for a broader array of PSPs, with speeds of up to 680m2/h.” The H3300 HS has “key advances” from other Tauro products according to Agfa, featuring an updated media handling system that simplifies loading and IOT connectivity, facilitating remote service diagnosis. The Onset Panthera FB3216 is another press highlighted by the manufacturer which has released in the last two years. The company says it is the first true high-productivity flatbed inkjet with advanced LED curing and a staged curing approach for rapid, high-quality output. When it comes to small-scale and largescale projects, Vermeulen affirms its solutions can equally serve these markets. Vermeulen explains: “Compact hybrid models, such as the Anapurna Ciervo H2050 and H2500, provide smaller shops with access to all the features they need for value-added applications like POS in a less space-intensive footprint. Meanwhile, larger systems like the Jeti Tauro H3300 XUHS provide the level of throughput and automation needed for higher-volume work while still being flexible enough to run shorter, higher-margin jobs efficiently. Combined with Asanti smart workflow software, both small and large producers can easily optimise media usage and switch between formats with minimal downtime.” Speaking about the future of the industry, Agfa highlight the new work PSPs are exploring such as work in packaging prototyping, short-run corrugated printing, and interior and industrial décor applications. Vermeulen says: “Our view of the wide-format market is that competitiveness in 2026 is increasingly coming down to the combination PSPs use of hardware, inks, and software, and how well these elements work together as a complete ecosystem. “We are supporting this by continuing to push the performance of our wide-format presses while simultaneously ensuring that advanced capabilities are accessible to a broader range of PSPs. We see significant headroom for further gains through deeper automation and data-driven production, which should help PSPs to improve their productivity and profitability alike.” Crystal Clear Quality As was the case in previous years, this year’s Print Show was awash with wide-format kit, with exhibitors such as swissQprint, Mimaki, and the previously mentioned Agfa. One supplier that is able to demonstrate equipment from several manufacturers across print and finishing technology was CMYUK Digital, a seller of print and finishing hardware, as well as printable media. This year CMYUK put particular focus on the offerings of EFI, with one of their biggest sales announced at the show being Hollywood Monster’s purchase of a EFI VUTEk X5r roll-fed UV LED printer. When asked about standout releases from EFI, Chris Martin, sales director at CMYUK, responds: “That’s an absolutely pertinent question, because it goes straight to what continues to distinguish EFI. Its heritage in premium production printing continues to evolve, but the performance of its latest technology, particularly the combination of quality and consistency at unparalleled production speeds, puts EFI in a space of its own. “The VUTEk M3h, and now the new M3h X, are tangible proof of what sets EFI apart. You really do have to see these platforms running to appreciate what they can achieve. There are plenty of headline claims around speed and performance in our industry, but EFI consistently delivers against those benchmarks in real production. That combination of speed, quality, consistency, and reliability ▲ Duncan Smith, country director for Production at Canon UK&I WIDE-FORMAT PRINTERS PT. 2 | DAVID OSGAR 50 www.printmonthly.co.uk Issue 362 - November | December 2026 ▼ The EFI VUTEk X5r roll-fed UV LED printer comes with a CMYK ink set, with the option to add white and clear channels
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