It has also launched a new top-end version of its Rho flatbed for the display and sign market, the Rho 600, which features higher quality and higher speed.

At the heart of the new 2.05m-wide machines is a modular print head, the Quadro Array, developed by Durst that allows the machines to print faster than rivals by squeezing more nozzles into a given space.

The firm has extended its Austrian factory to meet the expected demand for the new print heads.

Three versions of the Rho 600 are available the Basic, the Presto and the Rapid. The differences between the machines are the number of print heads and the maximum speed. The Basic has four heads and can churn out 40m per hour. Users of the Basic and the Rapid can field upgrade their machines to increase the productivity.

"The beauty of the new modular approach is that we can compete with a 170,000 Vutek with a four-head machine or against an Inca Columbia with a 16 head one," said Durst UK managing director Graham Evans. "It certainly gives people options a lot of people start with a toe in the water and then upgrade."

With the print head Durst claims to have cracked print-quality problems to create smooth solids with no banding or graininess and to produce text down to six point reversed out.

Both the Rho 600 and the Rhopac have the option of additional colour channels for special colours including white and varnish. They can also be fitted with Durst's unique automated loading and unloading.

The first Rhopac has been sold to SCA in Scandinavia and Evans was confident of signing several UK orders for the Rho 600 during Fespa.

Story by Barney Cox