As part of its move into the high-end digital print market it has launched the CPP 500, a 50ppm digital press using the latest Konica Minolta printer with a Creo workflow.

It is the first digital print supplier, apart from Xerox, to use Creo's digital print server technology.

The PowerPro 500 is a Windows-based server that supports Creo's Darwin variable information tools as well as VPS, PPML and PDF.

Ikon said that it was expanding in the European market "based on the fact that technology innovation by hardware manufacturers has caused the need for services that address networked convergence for all manufactured brands".

The firm supplies a range of print engines including Konica Minolta, Canon and HP alongside its own services and software including consultancy.

Its move into the high-end digital print market follows other firms more traditionally associated with office imaging eyeing the commercial print market such as Danwood, which set up a production division headed up by Gerry Mulvaney at the start of this year.

Story by Barney Cox