The two printers, the 44-inch SC-F6000 and 64-inch SC-F7000, can produce up to 57sqm per hour and use Epson’s first dye-sub ink Ultrachrome DS.

Applications include soft signage, sportswear, apparel, accessories, promotional products and decorated gadgets.

Epson UK professional graphics business manager Nick White said that the targeting of the devices at the promotional products and decorated gadget markets was a reflection of the growth in that sector and the need for more productive devices that could produce multiple items ganged up on a roll.

They will be available to buy in April. Pricing has yet to be finalised though is expected to be lower than comparable machines and offer a competitive total cost of ownership.

"We want it to be available through specialists in the dye-sublimation market," said White. "Those specialist dealers will be able to support the machines with their own preferred transfer papers and transfer presses."

The identity of the UK dealers will be announced soon, and they will be with Epson at Sign & Digital.

Epson will also be showing the SureColor SC-S range of eco-solvent machines, which it launched last year. White said that the SC-S range had gained a market share of 24% from a standing start in 2012 in the sector for sign and display printers up to 64inches wide. Included in that category were HP Designjet latex machines and rival eco solvent systems.

"If it excluded HP latex then the market share would have been much higher," he claimed.