The Zund 250-Combi, is a 2.5m-wide machine that can handle roll-fed and flat sheet materials up to 100mm thick.

Like the Durst Rho and recently announced Lscher JetPrint, the 250-Combi has a white ink option.

The eight-colour machine can produce 25-50m2 per hour and is expected to cost 150,000, which is less than comparable machines.

"The new Zund is extremely well built, and is a genuine second generation machine," said B&P Lightbrigade marketing manager Marc Burnett. "Zund really knows the issues from an end-user perspective and this system deals with all the issues."

B&P is looking for UK beta sites for the machine, which will be commercially available in the UK from September.

Zund has also launched upgrades for its 215-C machine that double productivity, improve quality and give a white ink option. Prices start at 25,000.

There are 60 of the flatbed UV-cured ink-jet machines installed in the UK.

B&P Lightbrigade has bought Manchester-based laminating and finishing equipment company Elaco, its first acquisition.

The firm will remain in its current location with no change in staff.

"Finishing and laminating is an area of our product and service portfolio that has been perceived as weak," said B&P managing director David Burton. "The acquisition of Elaco gives us a successful finishing and laminating business and addresses this perceived weakness."

Elaco produced the Guardsman laminator, which B&P sold as part of its Uniform range of wide-format printing and finishing products.