The printer, which was launched at the Large-area, Organic and Printed Electronics Convention in Frankfurt, is used for the precision printing of functional fluids such as conductive silver inks for electronic circuits and fluids for biotech applications such as bio sensors.

It is targeted at research and development groups and universities that are developing technology such as fluids for solar cell manufacturing and bio sensors.

Fujifilm Dimatix would not disclose the price of the new printer.

The DMP-5005 differs from earlier models in that it is capable of ink jetting several fluids in the same machine. It has a printable area of 500x500m and uses a temperature-controlled vacuum platen to manage materials such as plastic, glass, ceramics and flexible substrates including gels and thin films during printing.

Martin Schoeppler, CEO and President of Fujifilm Dimatix, called the new printer an "industry first"

"The DMP-5005 facilitates R&D process development using inexpensive, user-fillable cartridges to full manufacturing capability with production grade, performance orientated printheads," he added.

The DMP-5005 joins the DMP-2800, DMP-3000 and DMP-5000 printers, introduced in 2005, 2009 and 2010 respectively.