accommodates small boards and short runs, and both machines make it straightforward to print several smaller items at once. On the UJV200, smaller jobs can be nested in the RasterLink RIP, printed together on the roll, then contour cut with a Mimaki CG-FXII Plus plotter using the bundled FineCut cutting software and ID Cut feature to automatically retrieve the correct cutting data.” Speaking about what to consider when investing in wide-format equipment, Gregory encourages buyers to bring their own files and materials to demonstrations and to really analyse the quality, setup time, and finishing process, to find the best solution for your business. City-Sized Prints For some businesses it may be a case of diversifying into large-format print from small-format work, however, there are also those making substantial profit from superwide-format work too. While many of the presses mentioned in this feature are capable of large-scale prints, a brand that has become known for supplying hardware to providers of event and out-of-home (OOH) graphics is swissQprint. Describing the company, Erskine Stewart, managing director of swissQprint UK, says: “We build high-end UV-LED flatbed printers engineered in Switzerland for PSPs who cannot afford unplanned downtime or inconsistent output. Our approach starts with reliability, not features: every machine is built on an industrial-grade mechanical and electronic foundation designed to run day after day under commercial pressure.” Stewart adds: “We back that engineering with a 36-month warranty, a commitment few manufacturers in this market are prepared to make. For PSPs, that reliability translates directly into predictable scheduling, lower recovery costs, and the confidence to take on time-sensitive work.” Speaking about the company’s recent releases, Stewart highlights the Generation 5 platform as a standout in the past two years as it represents a complete redesign of the swissQprint range. “It is built on linear drive technology and efficiency-boosting features that remove friction from the production workflow, pushing throughput as high as 341m²/h on the flagship Kudu. The range spans five machines, from the compact Oryx 5 and Impala 5 through to the Topi 5, Nyala 5, and flagship Kudu, each sharing the same core platform but configured for different volume and format requirements. The Topi 5 in particular has stood out for small- to medium-volume producers who need large-format capability without compromising on reliability or print quality.” When it comes to working across multiple formats, Stewart says users of swissQprint presses can produce a variety of different work, from objects as a small as a USB stick to a panel measuring 3.2 x 2m large. “This versatility matters commercially: a PSP can quote confidently on a diverse mix of briefs, from small bespoke items to oversize panels, without turning work away or outsourcing it to a competitor” adds Stewart. For swissQprint, reliability and new innovations are paramount to a good investment. Stewart pinpoints swissQ’s ten individually configurable colour channels as its most commercially significant innovation, as it allows PSPs to add white, varnish, neon, orange, and primer to their standard CMYK set-up. “The oversize board option extends print length to four metres, opening up applications like glass splashbacks and oversize wall art that standard-format machines cannot produce,” says Stewart. “The dual roll option prints two rolls in parallel, doubling throughput on narrow-roll work without adding a second machine. Together, these options let a single investment serve a wider range of briefs, which directly protects margin and reduces the equipment footprint needed to compete for new business.” Final Whistle As evident in this, and our previous look at wide-format presses, there is plenty of solutions and hardware out there for businesses to consider. Most manufacturers are keen to demonstrate the innovations in their inks, applications, and automation, but one thing that is consistent amongst all the suppliers we have spoke to is the importance of being advised on the right solution. Whether you are moving into wide-format for the first time or upgrading old kit for a bigger and more versatile machine, speaking to the vendor and testing the press as much as you can, will always serve you well. The maximum print width of the Mimaki UJ330H-16 1.6m 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 ▼ SwissQprint hardware has ten individually configurable colour channels allowing PSPs to add white, varnish, neon, orange, and primer to their set-up WIDE-FORMAT PRINTERS PT. 2 | DAVID OSGAR 52 www.printmonthly.co.uk Issue 362 - November | December 2026
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