The two-colour QP25 will replace AB Dicks existing 9900 series but has "quicker set-up, more rolling power and better registration", according to AB Dick sales and marketing director Raymond Hillhouse.

Hillhouse anticipated the new machine would be popular among existing 9900 users who wanted to upgrade. "Weve got so many in the market in just about every Kall Kwik and Prontaprint in the country so there will be a healthy volume of replacements."

AB Dick, which distributes Hamada machines in the UK, will also show the Japanese manufacturers new Hamada B552-AI on its stand.

The five-colour 52cm machine will be "fully-loaded", said Hillhouse, with automatic plate changing, ink-key control, inline aqueous coating and I/R dryer.

Hillhouse said AB Dick had "convinced" Hamada to show a five-colour machine as demand for more units in the small-format market was on the up.

"Lots of two-colour printers are moving towards four-colour. Theres a fundamental belief [in that market] that they need to move into colour presses," he said.

On its own stand Hamada will launch its new Impulse 452, a "heavy duty" four-colour machine from the Hashimoto factory.

Hillhouse said the highly automated 52cm machine was a "significant launch" for Hamada, and claimed that makeready was less than five minutes.

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Story by Lauretta Roberts