The firm took advantage of the recent increase in the strength of the pound to slash the cost of its 3M-developed LF-200 flexible UV ink by 25%.

"Even while some of our rivals are still raising their prices we have lowered ours," said marketing manager Duncan Jefferies.

The firm calculated an ink cost of 81p per sqm using test images using the combination of the UJV-160 and the LF-200 inks.

Jefferies added that the price of the ink was now less per litre than some suppliers' solvent inks, and when coupled with UV ink typically offering double the coverage compared to solvent, it added up to substantial savings.

"This brings the flatbed technology of the UJV-160 within reach of sign makers," he said.

The firm sells the UJV-160, including tables for handling rigid sheets and automated take up reels for £39,995, which he called "a proper hybrid printer". When coupled with the flexible UV inks he claimed it could handle both UV's forte of rigid work and the flexible work that had been the preserve of solvent.

He added the quality of the UJV-160 was also high: "It's the good quality you'd expect from a solvent, a lot of the UV machines at that price point haven't produced the highest quality."

The LF-200 inks are also used in the recently launched Mimaki JFX-1631, which moves Mimaki into the high-end grand format market according to Hybrid. The 1.6x3.1m machine can handle rigids up to 50mm thick. Like the UJV-160, the JFX-1631 uses LED UV curing lamps, which are claimed to cut power consumption and lamp costs. It is also twice the speed of the UJV-160 thanks to the use of eight new print heads.