Machines are already being beta tested, including one at an undisclosed UK operation.

The long expected and hinted-at machine was confirmed at the firm's 10th annual end-of-year press conference at the Heidelberg headquarters yesterday (6 December).

The launch of a perfecting XL 105 will not mean the end of the hugely successful 102P series, which will remain to address applications and markets that don't demand the XL's higher productivity.

The soft launch of the long perfector came as chief executive Bernhard Schreier said the firm wouldn't wait for shows to launch products.

"There is no need for customers to hesitate," said Schreier. "We've opened the curtain before Drupa. We already said two years ago about the VLF presses. There will not be a new machine at Drupa that has never been seen before. It's not fair for the customer any more. There should be no surprises."

He added that the firm would be showing new business opportunities and applications at the show.

Schreier said that innovation cycles in products were getting too quick to hold back for a big show every four years.