The wide-format kit and consumables supplier will show a range of Roland DG print and cut technologies at the new demo centre for London and the South East at its showrooms in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

“We’re planning a relaxed, informal event for companies and sole traders interested in printing, cutting or finishing,” said marketing director Huw Davies of the event from 11 to 14 September.

“It will be an opportunity to give visitors hands-on experience with technologies and do some serious research - something that can prove difficult in an exhibition environment.”

He added: “London and the South East have become harder to serve as there are fewer exhibitions than there used to be. We thought a showroom 20 minutes from the capital would be good idea.”

Davies said he expects between 10 and 15 companies to visit on each day of the event, and that opening between 8am and 10pm will enable people to visit after work or pop in for a flying visit.

“There will be a full range of print kit, from small desktop machines to high-volume printers churning out metres upon metres of printed material.”

Kit on show will range from Roland’s SolJet EJ-640 high-production printer to the entry-level desktop BN-20 printer-cutter.

A SolJet XR-640 and the latest TrueVis VG printer-cutters will run alongside the VersaExpress RF-640 printers, the VersaUV LEF direct-to-object printers, and a new CAMM1 GR Series.

“More and more people are becoming interested in direct-to-object printing so they can customise and personalise everything from golf balls to phone cases,” Davies added.

He said the event with a BBQ and drinks would also act as the launchpad for a new range of laminators and flatbed mounting equipment.

The Duramount is a flatbed roll-on applicator, while the Duralam roll-to-roll laminator has a tilting table that can be slid away to make space in finishing rooms.

Davies said the open house would be the first opportunity for many to learn about the new ink-efficient DuraUV 1600 printer, developed by CSL and based on a Roland printer platform.

The four-colour, 1.6m UV LED printer delivers the advantages of UV printing in an easy-to-use format but with low running costs, he said.

Visitors can also test the Fujifilm Acuity 1600 II UV LED printer. The hybrid machine prints on roll media and rigid sheet materials up to 13mm thick and features white ink printing.