It has been available for purchase since the start of May and retails at €7,295 (£5,700).

Epson European product manager Marc Boehmer said sales had been successful at Drupa, with around 10 being sold, including four to France-based Picto, who also put in an order for four SC-P20000s.

Boehmer said: “The SC-P10000 is the little brother of the 20000. It has just earned the EDP award as best photo printer. Interest has been very high, especially from high-production customers.”

The new printer is meant for in-house production of high-quality products. It uses UltraChrome 10-colour ink, with four variations of black, and has an LCD colour display. It prints at 17.5sqm/hr in 600dpi.

Epson is also launching, in partnership with Swiss-company Data Image, a DJet1000 double-sided printing system, which features two SC-P10000s, although it is not on the stand as originally planned.

It is designed for the fast production of double-sided imposition proofs and links the two printers in sequence, offset by 180°, so each prints one side of an uncut roll

It will be available from after Drupa and will be supplied in the UK by Bodoni Systems.