Initially intended for the proofing market, the firm made a last-minute decision to gauge the reaction of the signage and display market after it overcame some initial limitations.

"We found that, contrary to our initial expectations, it is possible to maintain the white effect after lamination, but you need to use a thermal laminate," said Epson Europe LFP supplies product manager Frans Graandijk. "Now we’re looking for lower cost silver substrates suitable for display applications."

He explained that although Epson’s own metallic proofing foil was much more cost-effective than current proofing substrates, its price at "tens of Euros per square metre" was too much for display graphics where prices are more typically "Euros per square metre".

Epson’s demonstration of the WT7900, the only water-based machine to offer white ink, producing images on silver foils was only one of a raft of metallic approaches on show. INX and Eckart revealed their partnership, with INX selling Eckart’s silver Jetfluid solvent ink with plans to launch a UV version next year.

Roland DG showed its range of metallic-capable solvent printers, while Tecco launched Photo Iridium Silver Gloss, a metallic base material.

IGS showed samples printed direct onto aluminium by its new Elements range of water-based outdoor durable printers; Sepiax also showed its water-based ink printing onto metal, while Encyan showed a water-based dye ink for printing onto metal.

Meanwhile for narrow-web inkjet applications Industrial Inkjet (IIJ) was showing how a white-coated metallised foil from US firm Technicote could produce metallic effects when printed using UV-cured CMYK.