It is RTI’s first move into hardware supplies and the wide-format market, having previously focused on consumables for toner-based continuous-feed printers for the transactional and data centre market. To support its move into hardware it has established a Print Solutions division.

"RTI has been in the digital print industry for over 20 years," said RTI vice president for sales and marketing Erik Norman. "We were starting to be asked for our advice about emerging technologies, and we took the decision to form a Print Solutions division, with the specific intention of bringing new technology developments to the market"

The Vortex range from Winjet includes the Vortex 4200 a 1,060mm-wide machine capable of producing 1,100sqm/hr, which is available for a list price of €79,000. Target markets include both CAD and display graphics.

RTI European business director Peter Barton said that the operating costs of the Vortex 4200 would be competitive with both toner and inkjet-based alternatives.

"What I’ve seen and shared with the market for its feedback suggests it will fit nicely, in particular with lower maintenance and support costs."

The Vortex 4200 is based on the Own-X WideStar, the first wide-format implementation of the Memjet Waterfall printhead, first shown at LabelExpo, Europe in September 2011.

Fuji Xerox and Océ both showed Memjet-based wide-format technology demonstrations at Drupa 2012, but have yet to confirm details of commercial availability and pricing.