At this year’s inaugural edition of The Sign Show, HP showcased both the Latex 830W and the R530, giving visitors a hands-on look at its latest wide-format solutions. Discussing HP’s focus at the event, Easton says: “We focused on quality, flexibility, and the integration of workflow tools like HP PrintOS Production Hub, which helps print providers manage orders and production more efficiently.” By all accounts, HP’s experience was a positive one, with a number of sales announced following the event including the purchase of a Latex R530 and 830W by Trade Signs UK, a new signage division of Digiprint Group. Easton adds: “Visitors were impressed by the consistency and vibrancy of the output, as well as the sustainable design of the technology. It was a great chance to connect with the industry and hear how our innovations are helping print providers evolve.” New Sublimation Solutions Another wide-format press manufacturer bringing out a variety of new presses is Mimaki, with new upgrades and offerings being announced by the manufacturer with great regularity. One of these new solutions is the Mimaki TS200-1600, which is designed as an accessible entry point into dye-sublimation printing. The machine received its global launch at The Sign Show this year, with Hybrid Services, the exclusive Mimaki distributor for the UK and Ireland, showcasing its capabilities alongside a deluge of other print solutions at its stand. Andy Gregory, sales director at Hybrid Services, explains that the TS200-1600 is built on Mimaki’s 330 print engine, which he dubs as “a proven platform that delivers excellent precision and reliability, and introduces an expanded inkset including orange, violet, and fluorescent options alongside the usual process colours.” While dye sublimation may not always be front of mind for sign-makers, the machine provides a practical way to broaden application capabilities into areas such as soft signage, promotional items, and interior décor. As Gregory puts it: “For those already producing display work, the TS200 offers a straightforward, cost-effective way to add a complementary revenue stream.” As with many of Mimaki’s entry-level and mid-market offerings, the emphasis was on making high-quality technology more accessible to a wider customer base, in this case with a focus on dye-sublimation. Explaining how this concept impacted the development of the TS200-1600, Gregory says: “That meant combining trusted Mimaki engineering with a simplified workflow and low running costs, while retaining the output quality expected from a production printer. “The expanded colour gamut was also a key development focus, ensuring users can achieve vibrant results across both fabric and coated hard substrates. This gives the TS200-1600 a strong commercial proposition for businesses wanting to diversify their offer without significant additional investment.” Mimaki has banked on the fact that there is a growing demand for cost-effective solutions that enable print businesses to expand their application range. From the company’s viewpoint, dye-sublimation offers exactly that – the ability to produce Encad’s NovaJet series, which was released in the mid-1990s, is often credited for kickstarting the first boom in wideformat sign-shop inkjet production Factoid For those already producing display work, the TS200 offers a straightforward, cost-effective way to add a complementary revenue stream ▲Mimaki’s TS2001600 machine works across applications including garments, promotional textiles, and soft signage 41 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 262 - December 2025 | January 2026 WIDE-FORMAT PRINT KIT PART 2 | JONATHAN PERT
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